Well as promised here is the first of our breed profiles. Kicking things off we take a look at: Alaskan Malamute!! Commonly known as the Malamute, or Mal or Mally for short, these big furry dogs belong to the utility group. In Australia, the utility group consists of larger breeds of dogs that were originally bred for carting and/or guarding. Males stand around 63.5cms at the shoulder and weigh 38.5kgs while females are smaller at 58.5cms and 34 kgs as their breed standard. They possess a thick double coat which keeps them warm in their natural environment, the undercoat being quite woolly. The coat comes in a range of colours with black, grey and white being most common. Unlike their cousin the Siberian Husky, Malamutes should only have brown eyes, not blue. This thick coat needs LOTS of regular brushing so owners will need to be prepared to put sufficient time into this and still be prepared to have hair around the house. The history of Malamutes can be traced back to the dogs that were kept by the Mahlemut Eskimo tribes of Alaska. There they were used for hauling supplies although some sources also credit them with hunting duties. As with any dogs that were bred to work, Mals need lots of exercise and would benefit from engaging in activities for which they were bred, such as weight pull. In general Malamutes are considered to be friendly dogs and are not known for strong guarding instincts. Although they are intelligent, their strong independent streak can make them difficult to train, especially for a first time dog owner. They are generally quiet and don’t bark much, but when they feel the need to say something a howl is much more likely. Overall I think Mals are lovely dogs and would consider them suitable for people who are already active every day, like big dogs, don’t mind hair around the house and are experienced dog owners or are willing to seek the help needed in controlling this independent breed.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 09:46:59 +0000
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