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.
DISQUALIFICATION
Blue Eyes
Approved
April 12, 1994
Effective May 31, 1994
