Meet the Alaskan Malamute.

ALSKAN MALAMUTE:

The Alaskan Malamute is a the largest and oldest of the Arctic sled dogs, the Alaskan Malamute possesses great strength and endurance. He is not designed to race, but rather to carry large loads over long distances. Today, many Malamutes are family pets, but are highly athletic and still capable of enjoying sledding, weight-pulling, back-packing, jogging and swimming with their owners. The Malamute coat is thick and coarse, with a plumed tail carried over the back. The coat usually ranges in color from light gray to black or from sable to red. Face markings, including a cap on the head and a bar/mask on the face are often distinguishing features. 

HISTORY:

Is believed that the Alaskan Malamute's forebears crossed the land bridge from Siberia to Alaska with native peoples thousands of years ago. One tribe, known as the Mahlemuts, settled in the northeastern area of the Seward Peninsula and it's there that the Alaskan Malamute was developed. The dogs were used to hunt seals, chase away polar bears, and pull heavy sledges loaded with food or camp supplies. 2004 shows that Malamutes are one of the oldest breeds of dog genetically distinct from other dog breeds. A study in 2013 showed that the Alaskan Malamute has a similar east Asian origin to, but is not clearly related to, the Greenland Dog and the Inuit Sled Dog (Canadian Eskimo Dog), but contains a possible admixture of the Siberian Husky.

PURPOUSE:

The Alaskan Malamute is large breed dog used for hauling heavy freight because their strength and endurance, with time evolved into one of most favorite dogs used in Dog Sledding competitions and overall, house pet.

TEMPERAMENT:

The Alaskan Malamutes will win you over with their playful, outgoing dispositions. They greet everyone as a friend even strangers and first-time house guests so they don't make good watchdogs, but they are extremely loyal to their family and friends. Malamutes are pack animals, and they enjoy spending time with their human pack, insisting on being included in all activities that their family undertakes. They're not big-time barkers, but they do howl and they're known for making a characteristic "woo woo" sound.

BREED STANDARD:

The desirable freighting sizes are males, 25 inches at the shoulders, 85 pounds; females, 23 inches at the shoulders, 75 pounds. 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. 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.

HEALTH ISSUES:

Malamutes are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions such as:

• Cataracts: Usually present by 1 to 2 years of age, known as juvenile cataracts. This type of cataract rarely progresses to blindness.
• Hip Dysplasia: This is a heritable condition in which the thighbone doesn't fit snugly into the hip joint.
• Hypothyroidism: This condition is often misdiagnosed because tests to evaluate the condition are not specific and can be inaccurate. Hypothyroidism is the result of abnormally low production of the thyroid hormones.
• Hemeralopia (Day Blindness): This usually begins to show when the puppy is eight weeks old and can be recognized easily by observant owners. Affected dogs bump into or stumble over things.

SELECTION:

• Know what to look for in your potential new puppy.
• Consider different possibilities for getting the puppy.
• Do all your research carefully.
• Find a reputable breeder or a trusted adoption center.
• Ask the breeder or shelter about shots, dewormings and exams the puppy may have already have had.
• Research the history of incidence of all diseases in the puppy's parents and further down in its lineage.