ALASKAN MALAMUTE
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 a proud carriage,
with head erect and eyes alert showing interest and curiosity. 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.
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. 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.
Size, Proportion, Substance
There is a natural range in size in the breed. The desirable freighting sizes are males, 25
inches at the shoulders, 85 pounds; females, 23 inches at the shoulders, 75 pounds.
However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type, proportion, movement and
other functional attributes. When dogs are judged equal in type, proportion, 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.
Head
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. The eyes are obliquely
placed in the skull. Eyes are brown, almond shaped and of medium size. Dark eyes are
preferred. Blue Eyes are a Disqualifying Fault. 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 dog is at work, the ears are sometimes
folded against the skull. High set ears are a fault.
The 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. The 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. In all coat colors, except reds, the nose,
lips, and eye rims' pigmentation is black. Brown is permitted in red dogs. The lighter
streaked "snow nose" is acceptable. The lips are close fitting. The upper and lower jaws
are broad with large teeth. The incisors meet with a scissors grip. Overshot or undershot
is a fault.
Neck, Topline, Body
The neck is strong and moderately arched. 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. The
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.
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. The 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.
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, the legs
stand and move true in line with the movement of the front legs, not too close or too
wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are undesirable and should be removed shortly after
puppies are whelped.
Coat
The Malamute has a thick, coarse guard coat, never long and soft. The undercoat is
dense, from one to two inches 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 the
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.
Color
The usual colors range from light gray through intermediate shadings to black, sable, and
shadings of sable to red. Color combinations are acceptable in undercoats, points, and
trimmings. The only solid color allowable is all white. White is always the predominant
color on underbody, parts of legs, 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 colors extending over the body or uneven splashing are undesirable.
Gait
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 or too wide. At a fast trot, the feet will
converge toward the centerline of the body. A stilted gait, or any gait that is not
completely efficient and tireless, is to be penalized.
Temperament
The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, friendly dog, not a "one man" dog. He is a
loyal, devoted companion, playful in invitation, but generally impressive by his dignity
after maturity.
Summary
IMPORTANT: In judging Malamutes, their function as a sledge dog for heavy freighting
in the Arctic must be given consideration above all else. The degree to which a dog is
penalized 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. The legs of the Malamute must indicate unusual strength
and tremendous propelling power. Any indication of unsoundness in legs and feet, front
or rear, standing or moving, is to be considered a serious fault. Faults under this provision
would be splay-footedness, cowhocks, bad pasterns, straight shoulders, lack of
angulation, stilted gait (or any gait that isn't balanced, strong and steady), ranginess,
shallowness, ponderousness, lightness of bone, and poor overall proportion.
Disqualifications
Blue Eyes
Approved April 12, 1994
Effective May 31, 1994