Breeding the Balamut: Breed Description and Dog Care

Unlike most traditional breeds, the Malamute is interesting because it originates in Alaska. It also differs from its relatives in its external characteristics, the most important of which are its remarkable endurance and strength. These dogs were primarily used to transport people and various cargo in extremely harsh conditions. This naturally influenced their appearance.

Therefore, when speaking of a malamute, we usually mean an animal with a strong, broad chest and large paws, whose body is adorned with a coarse, thick coat. Because malamutes closely resemble wolves in appearance, their image is often used as characters in various films, and their photos are also featured in magazines.

Malamute Breed Description

Among the characteristic features of dogs of this breed it is worth highlighting the presence of a wide body and back, as well as an elongated, strong back. These animals have straight legs with well-developed muscles, allowing them to easily endure prolonged exertion. The Alaskan Malamute is distinguished by its thick coat, which can come in a variety of colors.

Within this breed it is customary to distinguish two main directions.

• Kotzebue. This category generally includes all Malamutes that were the first members of the American Kennel Club. They differ from other standards in that they are shorter in stature. Distinguishing features include a strong head and small ears. They have a deep, capacious chest and powerful legs, which allow them to move smoothly. These animals rarely initiate fights, but they are excellent at learning commands.
• M'lut. Dogs of this group were first bred in 1947, when the breed was re-registered. Animals of this line are characterized by such traits as tall stature, a long muzzle, a broad skull, and long, high-set ears. The differences between the first line include a shallower chest and weaker legs, which prevents them from performing such smooth movements. It should also be noted that they are very aggressive creatures, making training challenging. Therefore, a strong will is required from the owner.

Standard

Despite the fact that within this family There are several typesThey all share common characteristics. These are the basis for official standards. These include conformation, character, appearance, and constitution. Deviations from these characteristics are grounds for declaring the animal to have a fault. This can pose a serious problem for participation in shows and service. Therefore, before getting a malamute, it is important to know its appearance. According to the accepted standard, a true malamute can be identified by several parameters.

Head

Dogs of this breed have a powerful, wide head that is proportionate to the size of the body. Between the ears is a rounded skull, tapering smoothly towards the eyes, between which is a furrow. Near the forehead and bridge of the nose, there is a slight downward slope. The animal has moderately flat cheeks.

The breed description necessarily includes the stop. This is formed by the pads around the eyes. It is considered to be of medium size, as a too pronounced stop will distort the eyes, causing them to appear round. If the stop is severely underdeveloped, the eyes will be very close together. Judging by the facial expression and head shape, the Malamute is a highly intelligent animal.

Paws

Dogs of this breed are also distinguished by their limbs, which have pronounced muscles and strong bonesThe hind legs should be in line with the front legs. Thick pads are a distinctive feature of the sturdy paws. The spaces between the toes are covered with protective hair. After birth, the fifth toe of puppies must be removed. Thanks to their well-developed paws, dogs of this breed maintain balance and can move calmly. The main driving force is the hind legs.

Wool and its color

Malamutes have a thick, wiry topcoat. The coat can be of varying length on the sides. However, the hair becomes thicker around the neck and shoulders, and this is also evident in the tail and paws. As a result, the hair on the animal's body forms something resembling pants. The correct coat is considered to be: the wool is not too soft and not too long.

Malamutes typically have white as their base color. Sometimes this can be a combination of black, red, and other shades. Some specimens may have markings on their forehead and ruff. These markings make each dog unique. The muzzle, which can be completely white or have a mask-like appearance, can have an unusual appearance.

Character

Those who have met this animal at least once know that it always has friendly and playful expression.

• These creatures are very sociable.
• They attract attention to themselves by not demonstrating an aggressive attitude towards strangers.
• Malamutes are also able to easily establish friendly relationships with other household members, but this is possible if they do not want to take over the leadership in the house.
• If another dog behaves disrespectfully toward a Malamute, it will immediately engage in a fight. Given its long history of living among other Malamutes, its nature is such that it always wants to be the leader. Its owner should take this into account and be firm in training it from the very beginning.

To prevent a dog from developing unwanted skills and habits, it is necessary to work very closely with young puppies during the first months of their life. At this time, you can also begin actively train a dogHowever, it's important to keep in mind that malamutes easily learn any command the first time they're taught. They're highly intelligent animals, so they quickly become tired with repetition. An owner will face significant difficulties if, when trying to develop a particular skill, the pet doesn't see it as necessary. A malamute will only learn a specific command if it clearly understands what's required of it.

Content

These animals are very low-maintenance in terms of grooming. Therefore, you won't have to pay much attention to their coat—brushing and washing it is rarely necessary. However, this only applies to those animals that live in a private home. They will be able to keep their coat clean themselves. Malamutes are usually shed twice a yearIt is at this time that you need to pay close attention to the animal's fur, which needs to be combed very carefully.

• In summer, when it gets especially hot, it is advisable for the dog to be kept away from the sun, otherwise, due to the heated, coarse and thick fur, it may suffer heat stroke.
• Bathing is not a mandatory or regular procedure; washing the dog is only necessary if it becomes very dirty. Malamutes are generally very clean creatures and have no odor.
• You also won't have to do any trimming, but you definitely need to trim the claws.

Malamutes delight their owners with their activity and energy. However, keeping them in an apartment isn't the best solution. In a private home, they require constant supervision, as they'll try to release their energy. they may start digging holes or chase small animals.

Owners of this breed should treat their dogs with respect and only entrust them with the work they were bred for. These dogs can be used on hikes, with appropriately weighted loads. Malamutes' abilities are impressive, as they can pull objects weighing up to 400 kg. This makes them effective at weight pulling. However, acclimating them to such loads is only possible after their muscles have developed. Morning jogs or bike rides, with the dog running behind their owner, are excellent training.

Conclusion

Malamutes are a fascinating breed with many advantages. First and foremost, they stand out from their peers. large sizesHowever, their owners are primarily drawn to their good-natured nature, so it's rare to see them display aggressive behavior, even toward strangers. But overall, this depends on proper training.

This is a crucial aspect of caring for these animals, as they are full of energy and need to expel it somewhere. Therefore, it's essential to create favorable conditions for maintaining high activity levels. This can be achieved through varied walks, during which you can provide the malamute with specific exercise.