Dog Breeds: Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute was originally an Arctic sled dog and looks a lot like the Siberian Husky.  Being a dog bred for such a specific task creates a lot of power in these dogs.  If you own an Alaskan Malamute, which you probably do since you are reading this, you will need to walk them almost everyday to keep them happy.  They need that kind of exercise because of the way they were bread, imagine pulling a sled all day, they need to compensate for not doing that all the time.  The one thing you need to remember when taking Alaskan Malamutes on walks, especially long ones in the heat, is that they get overheated really quickly in warm weather.  Remember that these beautiful creatures are native to the snow, so if you live in Arizona, please don't take him/her on a walk in the 120 degree weather!  A couple things to be careful of when looking after the health of your Alaskan Malamute:

1. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

2. Bloat

3. Chondrodysplasia (CHD) 

The history of the Alaskan Malamute is of Arctic origins.  The name of the breed comes from the Malamute Indian tribe that resides in Alaska.  They pulled all the sleds for these Indians and were very prized animals.  Alaskan Malamutes have an amazing sense of direction and smell, they were bread to do so.  Their long curly tail is used when they get cold, they are able to utilize it to cover their nose and eyes during snow storms.  The demeanor of the Alaskan Malamute is confident, loving, and full of life.  Typical head shape is broad, ears mostly stand up as if they are always alert.  Their coats are always thick and woolly, used of course to shield them from the fierce snowy winters.  Coat colors are typically light Gray although they can get darker, but it is unusual.  If you are looking at getting an Alaskan Malamute be ready for a dog that sheds a lot.  If you plan on having your Malamute inside, expect a lot of hair, this is due to the thick undercoat.  These dogs need a lot of space so they are not recommended for people without a large backyard.