VARIOUS STANDARDS OF THE BREED
Alaskan Malamutes are classified differently depending on the countries. In North America, Malamute belongs to the Working Dog class as the same for England. In Australia, Alaskan Malamutes belongs to Utility Dog class.
In North America, the Malamute Standard is classified by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), whereas in Australia by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC). In England by the UK Kennel Club (KC) and Countries registered with the Féderation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) which is mainly European membership, inclusive of countries such as Russia, Japan, follows the FCI Standard being similar to that of the “Country of Origin” as for each specific breed.
With the FCI the Alaskan Malamute belongs to Class 5 “Spitz and Primitive breeds”, Section 1 – “Nordic Sled Dogs” - without the working tests", with 4 classified breeds, being the Alaskan Malamutes, the Siberian Husky, the Samoyed and the Greenland Dog.
In South Africa, although being a full member of the FCI, we don’t follow the FCI classification, but rather by choice follow the standard of the UK Kennel Club (KC) with the differences mainly being.
WHAT IS A BREED STANDARD?
We can dare say it's a description of an ideal representative of the breed. The AKC Alaskan Malamute standard is the original standard that influences cynological organizations in other countries like the FCI or ANKC. The land of origin of the breed is almost always the biggest source of information about that breed.
AKC (American Kennel Club) STANDARD
General Appearance:
The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, is a powerful and substantially built dog with a deep chest and strong, well-muscled body. The Malamute stands well over the pads, and this stance gives the appearance of much activity and a proud carriage, with head erect and eyes alert showing interest and curiosity. The head is broad. Ears are triangular and erect when alerted. The muzzle is bulky, only slight diminishing in width from root to nose. The muzzle is not pointed or long, yet not stubby. The coat is thick with a coarse guard coat of sufficient length to protect a woolly undercoat. Alaskan Malamutes are of various colors. Face markings are a distinguishing feature. These consist of a cap over the head, the face either all white or marked with a bar and/or mask. The tail is well furred, carried over the back, and has the appearance of a waving plume. The Malamute must be a heavy boned dog with sound legs, good feet, deep chest and powerful shoulders, and have all of the other physical attributes necessary for the efficient performance of his job. The gait must be steady, balanced, tireless and totally efficient. He is not intended as a racing sled dog designed to compete in speed trials. The Malamute is structured for strength and endurance, and any characteristic of the individual specimen, including temperament, which interferes with the accomplishment of this purpose, is to be considered the most serious of faults.
Size, Proportion, Substance:
There is a natural range in size in the breed. The desirable freighting sizes are males, 25 inches (63,5 cm) at the shoulders, 85 pounds (38,5 kg); females, 23 inches (58,4 cm) at the shoulders, 75 pounds (34 kg). However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type, proportion, movement and other functional attributes. When dogs are judged equal in type, proportion, movement, the dog nearest the
desirable freighting size is to be preferred. The depth of chest is approximately one half the height of the dog at the shoulders, the deepest point being just behind the forelegs. The length of the body
from point of shoulder to the rear point of pelvis is longer than the height of the body from ground to top of the withers. The body carries no excess weight, and bone is in proportion to size.
Head:
The head is broad and deep, not coarse or clumsy, but in proportion to the size of the dog. The expression is soft and indicates an affectionate disposition. The eyes are obliquely placed in the skull.
Eyes are brown, almond shaped and of medium size. Dark eyes are preferred. Blue eyes are a disqualifying fault! The ears are of medium size, but small in proportion to the head. The ears are triangular in shape and slightly rounded at the tips. They are set wide apart on the outside back edges of the skull on line with the upper corner of the eye, giving ears the appearance, when erect, of standing off from the skull. Erect ears point slightly forward, but when the dog is at work, the ears are sometimes folded against the skull. High set ears are a fault. The skull is broad and moderately rounded between the ears, gradually narrowing and flattening on top as it approaches the eyes,
rounding off to cheeks that are moderately flat. There is a slight furrow between the eyes. The topline of the skull and the topline of the muzzle show a slight break downward from a straight line as they join. The muzzle is large and bulky in proportion to the size of the skull, diminishing slightly in width and depth from junction with the skull to the nose. In all coat colors, except reds, the nose, lips, and eye rims' pigmentation is black. Brown is permitted in red dogs. The lighter streaked "snow nose" is acceptable. The lips are close fitting. The upper and lower jaws are broad with large teeth. The incisors meet with a scissors grip. Overshot or undershot is a fault.
Neck, Topline, Body:
The neck is strong and moderately arched. The chest is well developed. The body compactly built but not short coupled. The back is straight and gently sloping to the hips. The loins are hard and well muscled. A longloin that may weaken the back is a fault. The tail is moderately set and follows the line of the spine at the base. The tail is carried over the back when not working. It is not a snap tail or curled tight against the back, nor is it short furred like a fox brush. The Malamute tail is well
furred and has the appearance of a waving plume.
Forequarters:
The shoulders are moderately sloping; forelegs heavily boned and muscled, straight to the pasterns when viewed from the front. Pasterns are short and strong and slightly sloping when viewed from the side. The feet are of the snowshoe type, tight and deep, with well-cushioned pads, giving a firm, compact appearance. The feet are large, toes tight fitting and well arched. There is a protective growth of hair between the toes. The pads are thick and tough; toenails short and strong.
Hindquarters:
The rear legs are broad and heavily muscled through the thighs; stifles moderately bent; hock joints are moderately bent and well let down. When viewed from the rear, the legs stand and move true in line with the movement of the front legs, not too close or too wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are undesirable and should be removed shortly after puppies are whelped.
Coat:
The Malamute has a thick, coarse guard coat, never long and soft. The undercoat is dense, from one to two inches (2,5 - 5 cm) in depth, oily and woolly. The coarse guard coat varies in length as does the
undercoat. The coat is relatively short to medium along the sides of the body, with the length of the coat increasing around the shoulders and neck, down the back, over the rump, and in the breeching and plume. Alaskan Malamutes usually have a shorter and less dense coat during the summer months. The Malamute is shown naturally. Trimming is not acceptable except to provide a clean cut appearance of feet.
Color:
The usual colors range from light gray through intermediate shadings to black, sable, and shadings of sable to red. Color combinations are acceptable in undercoats, points, and trimmings. The only solid color allowable is all white. White is always the predominant color on underbody, parts of legs, feet, and part of face markings. A whiteblazeon the forehead and/or collar or a spot on the nape is attractive and
acceptable. The Malamute is mantled, and broken colors extending overthe body or uneven splashing are undesirable.
Gait:
The gait of the Malamute is steady, balanced, and powerful. He is agile for his size and build. When viewed from the side, the hindquarters exhibit strong rear drive that is transmitted through a well-muscled loin to the forequarters. The forequarters receive the drive from the rear with a smooth reaching stride. When viewed from the front or from the rear, the legs move true in line, not too close or too wide. At a fast trot, the feet will converge toward the centerline of the body. A stilted gait, or any gait that is not completely efficient and tireless, is to be penalized.
Summary:
Important: In judging Alaskan Malamutes, their function as a sledge dog for heavy freighting in the Arctic must be given consideration above all else. The degree to which a dog is penalized should depend upon the
extent to which the dog deviates from the description of the ideal Malamute and the extent to which the particular fault would actually affect the working ability of the dog. The legs of the Malamute must
indicate unusual strength and tremendous propelling power. Any indication of unsoundness in legs and feet, front or rear, standing or moving, is to be considered a serious fault. Faults under this provision
would be splay-footedness, cowhocks, bad pasterns, straight shoulders, lack of angulation, stilted gait (or any gait that isn't balanced, strong and steady), ranginess, shallowness, ponderousness, lightness of bone, and poor overall proportion.
Disqualifications:
Blue eyes.
Approved April 12, 1994 Effective May 31, 1994
CHARACTER
The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, friendly dog, not a "one man" dog. He is a loyal, devoted companion, playful on invitation, but generally impressive by his dignity after maturity. Even when a Mal grows up he is usually a playful dog. My Sophie was very lazy and didn't want to play in the summer but she acted like a puppy again in the autumn and winter. Some Alaskan Malamutes don't very much like the hot summer weather but of course they can adapt to almost all conditions. The fact is, that there are some Alaskan Malamutes living in Australia, South Africa, Spain and other warm climates without problems.
Some Alaskan Malamutes have a strong hunting instinct. It goes back to the time when they were used for many different purposes - including hunting - by their Inuit owners. My girl Sophie hunts almost everything smaller than she and that moves - including cats (on occasion she has a respect for them), chicken, shares, pheasants, etc. This instinct may be stronger than the Mal himself. When some Alaskan Malamutes encounter "prey" nobody (if he isn't on a lead) and nothing can stop him. The water is usually a source of fun for Alaskan Malamutes. Some love to swim, some not. My Sophie is quite a good retriever too, she likes to retrieve logs and other things that I throw in the water. Almost all Alaskan Malamutes, especially young ones, like to put their paws in their water bowls and dig. When it's hot, it's a good idea to refresh a Mal by sprinkling him a little with a hose. One very interesting fact about Alaskan Malamutes is that they bark very little. They use howling to communicate and sometimes they can be very talkative. Truly, they sometimes seem to be trying to talk with us and the sounds they make sound quite similar to human speech. Alaskan Malamutes are very clean and they have a nice smell that is different from other dogs. Alaskan Malamutes usually lose their coat two times per year This can be a difficult time for their owners - but for the rest of the year they won't drop any hair. Some Alaskan Malamutes (especially those with longer hair) may lose their coat slightly throughout the year, but only in small patches. It isn't necessary to keep a Mal as a pack animal with other dogs. Of course a Mal can enjoy your company without any other dogs around. Some people that have become familiar with this breed sometimes can't help themselves and a friend of the same breed may arrive soon afterwards.
Some Males and females can be aggressive to dogs of the same gender, but aggressiveness to people, puppies or dogs of the opposite sex is unwanted and usually not tolerated. Females may be more aggressive and less obedient before, in and shortly after their heat cycle. Bitches, in almost every case, have two heat cycles per year. Females may be great mothers and are usually very careful with their puppies. Litters may be quite big (around 6 puppies) but sometimes only one puppy will arrive.
TRAINING:
The Malamute is a true pack animal with the natural instinct to "lead or be lead"; therefore, training must begin as early as three to five months of age. Some people think that Alaskan Malamutes are dumb, but they really aren't. They're very very clever, especially when they want something. They can do almost anything to get it. A Mal can be trained as any other dog, the problem is that they're sometimes strong-headed. On the other hand, my Sophie on occasion has been more obedient than German Shepherds and other similar breeds. The key to having a (relatively) obedient Malamute is careful and kind training that must start early. If the trainer becomes angry and hysterical, he will "create" a similar behaviour in his dog. Alaskan Malamutes (especially males) can sometimes be dominant, especially during their teens (12 months-3 years). You need to show them as early as you can that you're their master and leader. This will avoid many problems in the future. When they're well trained and educated, Alaskan Malamutes make friendly, playful and kind companions. They can be kept together with a small children, but of course (as with all other breeds), always with adult supervision. Not only their appearance but also their special character makes the Malamute a jewel in the dog world.
