Facts about Alaskan Malamute Puppies

It's an Arctic sled dog and was developed by (and named after) Mahlemuts, an Inuit tribe in Alaska.

It was bred for endurance and ability to perform in freezing temperatures.

Initially used to pull freight, it's now used mainly for companionship.

Physical Characteristics of Alaskan Malamute Puppies

The Malamute is a large and powerful dog. It has a deep chest, wide head and muscular body. Its ears are triangular in shape and erect. The tail is curled over the back.

Not as fast as other Nordic breeds, it's one of the strongest.

As can be expected from an Arctic dog, Malamute has a thick double coat.

The height and weight in the table below are the averages for the breed. Both, males and females, can be significantly under and over the listed figures.

Temperament

Malamutes are gentle, affectionate and playful dogs. They also love to receive attention. These are the qualities that make them excellent family pets but terrible guard dogs.

Though intelligent, Alaskan Malamute puppies get bored easily, making training difficult. To compensate, keep training sessions short.

Malamutes are patient by nature and will tolerate young children much better than most other breeds.

Malamutes are known to cope poorly with smaller animals, including other dogs. At the same time, some dogs are known to befriend small animals, including kittens. To raise a more tolerant dog, start puppy socialization while he is still young.

Best Owner / Living Conditions

The Alaskan Malamute is a very active breed and doesn't do well in an apartment setting. An "ideal" owner lives in a cool climate. He or she is active, lives in a suburban environment, and has a large yard.

Some Alaskan Malamute breeders may interview prospective owners to make sure this is the right breed for them.

Activity and Exercise

To keep your pet in top shape, provide him with plenty of exercise. Since this is a breed that prefers cold weather, be careful not to overdo with exercise when the weather is warm.

Grooming

Twice a year, Malamutes completely shed their undercoat. Each shedding period can last couple of weeks. As you can guess, daily brushing is required.

For the rest of the year, there isn't much shedding, so brushing 2 or 3 times a week will be sufficient.

This is a very clean dog without any dog odor and, because shedding of the undercoat removes all dirt, doesn't require a lot of bathing.

Health Concerns

Like all dog breeds, the Alaskan Malamute is susceptible to complications caused by parasites such as dog ticks, fleas, and puppy worms, including tapeworms, roundworms, and heartworms.

Additional health problems common to Alaskan Malamutes include tendon injuries, fractures, arthritis, and hip dysplasia. Bloating is another common problem.

To learn more about dog diseases and health care, visit dog health problems.

To reduce the risk of the above and many other health problems, buy only from reputable Alaskan Malamute breeders (visit dog breeders to learn how to identify responsible dog breeders).

No matter how small the risk of health problems is, any puppy may get sick or injured. Many health problems will require an immediate attention from your Vet, but there are many others that will not, and you may handle them on your own.

To save time and money, learn how to diagnose and treat dog health problems that don't require your Vet's attention.

Life Expectancy

The average life expectancy for an Alaskan Malamute is between 12 and 14 years.

Did you ever consider adopting your next pet?

If this is the breed you are interested in, and adoption appeals to you, consider contacting your local Alaskan Malamute rescue. There are thousands of pets waiting for a loving home and, yes, it's possible to adopt a purebred dog.