Alaskan Malamute

The original Alaskan Malamute was a working dog utilised by the Alaskan Mahlemut Inuit tribe. These powerful dogs were used for hauling heavy loads such as kill. As with the Siberian Husky, these dogs thrive in the harsh Arctic environment on minimal food.

The gold rush in Alaska and subsequent settlement in remote areas saw an increased demand of such dogs for transportation. Many dogs were crossed with other breeds in the rush to produce enough suitable dogs for the burgeoning need. However, the influence of these other dogs would have quickly disappeared due to the genetic dominance of the northern-type dog, and no cross-breeding has been recorded in pedigrees since they began in the 1930s.

Malamutes were involved in the 1925 Serum Run. Nome desperately required diphtheria vaccine and this had to be freighted from the railhead at Nenana in one of Alaska’s worst winters. The usual two week run took only five days. There is a statue of one of the lead dogs, a Malamute known as Balto, in New York’s Central Park to commemorate this event. The annual Iditarod follows the same trail. Over 1000 miles in length, Malamutes still compete in this race, although today Alaskan Huskies are more commonly used.

Today Malamutes are often a long way from home, doing things very different from their original function. Yet the essence of the Alaskan Malamute remains unchanged. The inscription on Balto’s statue reads: “Endurance, Fidelity, Intelligence”. Today’s dogs have lost none of these qualities.

» Breed Standard