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Country
of Development:
United States of America
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 proud carriage, with head 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 colours. 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.
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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. |
CHARACTERISTICS
- Important: In judging Malamutes, their function as a sledge dog for heavy
freighting in the Arctic must be given consideration above all else. The legs of
the Malamute must indicate unusual strength and tremendous propelling power.
Face markings are a distinguishing feature.
TEMPERAMENT:
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.
HEAD
AND SKULL: 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.
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.
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. The lips are close
fitting.
Nose,
lips and eye rims’ pigmentation: is black in all coat colours except red
dogs. The lighter streaked "snow nose" is acceptable.
EYES:
The eyes are
obliquely placed in the skull. Eyes are brown, almond shaped and of medium size.
Blue eyes are a disqualifying fault.
EARS:
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 dogs is at work, the ears are sometimes folded
against the skull. High set ears are a fault.
MOUTH:
The upper and lower jaws are
broad with large teeth. The incisors meet with a scissors grip. Overshot or
undershot is a fault.
NECK:
The neck is strong and
moderately arched.
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.
BODY:
The chest is well developed. The body is compactly built but not short coupled.
The back is straight and gently sloping to the hips. The loins are hard and well
muscled. A long loin that may weaken the back is a fault.
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, legs stand and move true in line with the movement of the front
legs, not too close nor too wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are undesirable and
should be removed shortly after puppies are whelped.
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.
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.
GAIT
AND MOVEMENT:
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 nor too wide. At a fast trot, the front will converge toward the
centreline of the body. A stilted gait, or any gait that is not completely
efficient and tireless, is to be penalised.
COAT:
The Malamute has a thick,
coarse guard coat, never long and soft. The undercoat is dense, from 2.5-5 cm
(1-2 ins) 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 he
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. 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.
COLOUR:
The usual colours range from light grey through intermediate shadings to black,
sable and shadings of sable to red. Colour combinations are acceptable in
undercoats, points, and trimmings. The only solid colour allowable is all white.
White is always the predominant colour on underbody, parts of legs and feet, and
part of face markings. A white blaze on the forehead and/or collar, or a spot on
the nape is attractive and acceptable. The Malamute is mantled, and broken
colours, extending over the body or uneven splashing are undesirable.
SIZE
- Size, Proportion and Substance:
There is a natural range of size in the breed. The desirable freighting sizes
are:
Dogs: 63.5 cm (25 ins) at the shoulders - 38.5 kg (85 lbs)
Bitches: 58.5 cm (23 ins) at the shoulders - 34 kg (75 lbs)
However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type, proportion,
movement and other functional attributes. When dogs are judged equal in type,
proportion and 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.
FAULTS:
The degree to which a dog is
penalised 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.
Serious
faults: An
Faults:
High set ears
Over or undershot
Broken colours extending over the body or uneven splashing.
Disqualification: Blue eyes.
NOTE:
Male animals should have
two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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