Alaskan Malamute
General Appearance
The breed was primarily a working sled dog used for hauling heavy freight. It is a heavily-boned, well-muscled, medium-sized dog, with a thick double coat, fox-like face, erect ears and a curled tail carried over the back. Characteristics
Should be a friendly dog. He is loyal but not a one-person dog. He is a devoted companion and playful, but with a tendency to be aggressive toward other dogs. Head and Skull
The head is broad and powerful and should be in proportion to the size of the dog. The skull is broad between the ears, gradually narrowing to the eyes; moderately rounded between the ears. A slight but perceptible stop. The muzzle is large in proportion to the skull. TEETH -- A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite. EYES -- Almond-shaped, brown, moderately large, set obliquely. Dark eyes preferred except in red and white dogs, where light eye color is permissible. EARS -- Small in proportion to the head. They are triangular in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, set wide apart at the back of the skull. When erect, the ears should point forward. When the dog is working, the ears are often folded against the skull. NOSE -- Black, except in the red and white dogs, in which it is brown. Neck
Strong and moderately arched. Forequarters
Shoulders moderately sloping. FORELEGS -- Forelegs heavily boned and well muscled, indicating unusual strength. Straight as far as pasterns, which should be short, strong and almost vertical when viewed from the side. Body
Strong and powerfully built, the chest strong and deep. The back straight and gently sloping to the croup. The loins well muscled and never so short as to interfere with an easy movement produced by the powerful drive from the hindquarters. No excess weight. Hindquarters
The hind legs should be broad and powerfully muscled through the thighs. HIND LEGS -- Stifles moderately bent. Hock joints broad and strong, moderately bent and well let down. When viewed from behind, the hind legs should be vertical, standing and moving true; in line with the movement of the front legs. Single tracking at the trot is normal, but movement should not be too wide or too close at any gait. The legs should indicate tremendous propelling power. Dewclaws on the hind legs undesirable and should be removed. Feet
The feet should be large and compact. Toes tight fitting and well arched; pads thick and tough. There should be protective growth of hair between toes. Tail
Moderately high set and following the line of the spine. Well-furred and carried over the back when the dog is not working, not tightly curled to rest on the back, nor short furred and carried like a fox brush, but of the appearance of a waving plume. Coat
Thick, coarse guard coat, not long and soft. Dense undercoat, from 1 to 2 inches in depth, oily and woolly. The coarse guard coat stands out, and there is thick fur around the neck. The guard coat varies in length as does the undercoat, but in general the coat should be of medium length along the sides of the body, increasing somewhat around the shoulders and neck, down the back and over the croup as well as in the breeching and plume. Color
Colors range from light gray through the intermediate shadings to black or from gold through the shades of red to liver. Always with white on the underbody, parts of legs, feet and part of mask markings. The markings should be either caplike or masklike on the face. A white blaze on the forehead, white collar or a spot on the nape is acceptable and attractive. Broken color extending over the body in spots of uneven splashing is undesirable. The only solid color allowable is all white. Height and Weight
The ideal freight size and weight for males is 25 inches at the withers and 85 pounds; for females is 23 inches and 75 pounds. However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type, proportion and function. The dog nearest the ideal freight size is preferred. Gait
Steady, balanced, tireless gait. The hind legs should move true in line with movement of the front legs with tremendous power, not too close or too wide. Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme viciousness or shyness. Albinism.
The breed was primarily a working sled dog used for hauling heavy freight. It is a heavily-boned, well-muscled, medium-sized dog, with a thick double coat, fox-like face, erect ears and a curled tail carried over the back. Characteristics
Should be a friendly dog. He is loyal but not a one-person dog. He is a devoted companion and playful, but with a tendency to be aggressive toward other dogs. Head and Skull
The head is broad and powerful and should be in proportion to the size of the dog. The skull is broad between the ears, gradually narrowing to the eyes; moderately rounded between the ears. A slight but perceptible stop. The muzzle is large in proportion to the skull. TEETH -- A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite. EYES -- Almond-shaped, brown, moderately large, set obliquely. Dark eyes preferred except in red and white dogs, where light eye color is permissible. EARS -- Small in proportion to the head. They are triangular in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, set wide apart at the back of the skull. When erect, the ears should point forward. When the dog is working, the ears are often folded against the skull. NOSE -- Black, except in the red and white dogs, in which it is brown. Neck
Strong and moderately arched. Forequarters
Shoulders moderately sloping. FORELEGS -- Forelegs heavily boned and well muscled, indicating unusual strength. Straight as far as pasterns, which should be short, strong and almost vertical when viewed from the side. Body
Strong and powerfully built, the chest strong and deep. The back straight and gently sloping to the croup. The loins well muscled and never so short as to interfere with an easy movement produced by the powerful drive from the hindquarters. No excess weight. Hindquarters
The hind legs should be broad and powerfully muscled through the thighs. HIND LEGS -- Stifles moderately bent. Hock joints broad and strong, moderately bent and well let down. When viewed from behind, the hind legs should be vertical, standing and moving true; in line with the movement of the front legs. Single tracking at the trot is normal, but movement should not be too wide or too close at any gait. The legs should indicate tremendous propelling power. Dewclaws on the hind legs undesirable and should be removed. Feet
The feet should be large and compact. Toes tight fitting and well arched; pads thick and tough. There should be protective growth of hair between toes. Tail
Moderately high set and following the line of the spine. Well-furred and carried over the back when the dog is not working, not tightly curled to rest on the back, nor short furred and carried like a fox brush, but of the appearance of a waving plume. Coat
Thick, coarse guard coat, not long and soft. Dense undercoat, from 1 to 2 inches in depth, oily and woolly. The coarse guard coat stands out, and there is thick fur around the neck. The guard coat varies in length as does the undercoat, but in general the coat should be of medium length along the sides of the body, increasing somewhat around the shoulders and neck, down the back and over the croup as well as in the breeching and plume. Color
Colors range from light gray through the intermediate shadings to black or from gold through the shades of red to liver. Always with white on the underbody, parts of legs, feet and part of mask markings. The markings should be either caplike or masklike on the face. A white blaze on the forehead, white collar or a spot on the nape is acceptable and attractive. Broken color extending over the body in spots of uneven splashing is undesirable. The only solid color allowable is all white. Height and Weight
The ideal freight size and weight for males is 25 inches at the withers and 85 pounds; for females is 23 inches and 75 pounds. However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type, proportion and function. The dog nearest the ideal freight size is preferred. Gait
Steady, balanced, tireless gait. The hind legs should move true in line with movement of the front legs with tremendous power, not too close or too wide. Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme viciousness or shyness. Albinism.
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