ALASKAN MALAMUTE STANDARD
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 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 colours. 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.
CHARACTERISTICS
Important: In judging Malamutes, their function as a sledge dog for heavy freighting
in the Arctic must be given consideration above all else. The legs of the Malamute
must indicate unusual strength and tremendous propelling power. Face markings
are a distinguishing feature.
TEMPERAMENT
The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, friendly dog, not a "one man"
dog. He is a loyal, devoted companion, playful on invitation, but generally
impressive by his dignity after maturity.
HEAD AND SKULL
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.
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. 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. The lips are close fitting. Nose, lips and eye rims'
pigmentation: Is black in all coat colours except reds.. Brown is permitted
in red dogs. The lighter streaked "snow nose" is acceptable.
EYES
The eyes are obliquely placed in the skull. Eyes are brown, almond shaped and
of medium size. Blue eyes are a disqualifying fault.
EARS
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.
MOUTH
The upper and lower jaws are broad with large teeth. The incisors meet with
a scissors grip. Overshot or undershot is a fault.
NECK
The neck is strong and moderately arched.
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.
BODY
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.
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 nor too wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are undesirable and should
be removed shortly after puppies are whelped.
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.
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.
GAIT/MOVEMENT
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 nor too wide. At a fast trot, the feet will converge toward the centre
line of the body. A stilted gait, or any gait that is not completely efficient
and tireless, is to be penalised.
COAT
The Malamute has a thick, coarse guard coat, never long and soft. The undercoat
is dense, from 2.5 - 5 cm (1 - 2 ins) 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.
COLOUR
The usual colours range from light grey through intermediate shadings to black,
sable and shadings of sable to red. Colour combinations are acceptable in undercoats,
points, and trimmings. The only solid colour allowable is all white. White is
always the predominant colour on underbody, parts of legs and 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 colours
extending over the body or uneven splashing are undesirable.
SIZE
Size, Proportion and Substance: There is a natural range of size in the breed.
The desirable freighting sizes are: Dogs 63.5 cm (25 ins) at the shoulders -
38.5 kg (85 lbs) Bitches 58.5 cm (23 ins) at the shoulder - 34 kg (75 lbs) However,
size consideration should not outweigh that of type, proportion, movement and
other functional attributes. When dogs are judged equal in type, proportion,
and 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.
FAULTS
The degree to which a dog is penalised 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.
Serious Faults: Any characteristic of the individual specimen, including temperament,
which interferes with his strength and endurance is to be considered the most
serious of faults.
Any indication of unsoundness in legs and feet, front or rear, standing or moving.
Faults under this provision would be:
Ranginess, shallowness, ponderousness Lightness of bone Poor overall proportions
Straight shoulders Lack of angulation Bad pasterns Cow hocks Splay-footedness
Stilted gait, or any gait that is not balanced, strong & steady.
Faults: High set ears Over- or undershot Broken colours extending over the body
or uneven splashing.
Disqualification: Blue eyes
NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.
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