Meet the Alaskan Malamute

Powerful, loyal, and funny

Built tough to last, the Alaskan Malamute always gets the job done. From their deep chest to their large size, thick bone, and double coat, the Alaskan Malamute is made to work.

Often mistaken for a "big Husky," the Alaskan Malamute is a different Spitz-type breed from another part of the world and are used for a similar but different task. While Siberian Huskies move lighter loads fast, Alaskan Malamute move heavier loads slower. Think of Siberian Huskies as speed racers and Alaskan Malamutes as freighters. ¹

The Alaskan Malamute’s name comes from the Mahlemiut, Inuit people who resided in northwestern Alaska. ² The relationship between the two was vital for making life in such a harsh environment possible. The Mahlemiut people utilized their incredible ability to work together in packs to haul heavy loads at low speeds over long distances. ³ They were also used for artic hunting. The Alaskan Malamutes could locate seals using their sense of smell over ice and would help bear hunters by locating polar bears sleeping in their winter dens. ⁴ During the brief summer months, they used their muscles to carry packs for their people. ⁵
 
To learn more about this fascinating breed, I asked my friend Jennifer Remazki. Jennifer and her husband, Edmund, acquired their first Alaskan Malamute in 1996 and bred their first litter in 1998. They breed under the prefix Spiritrun Permanently Registered Alaskan Malamutes and are CKC Master Breeders.

Growing up in Toronto, two neighbours in Jennifer's community had Alaskan Malamutes, and as a child, Jennifer knew she would have one in her life one day. Ironically, these two gentlemen that owned the Malamutes that imprinted on Jennifer as a child now own Spiritrun Malamutes today! Jennifer and Edmund did not start off looking for a show dog but did start to attend dog shows and working events like sledding, backpacking, and weight-pulls with their Malamute, and once they tried conformation, there was no turning back!

Jennifer told me that the personality of the Alaskan Malamute was shaped by the environment and purpose of the breed. This breed is thought to be one of the oldest and largest sled dog breeds. The Iñupiat/Inuit people were nomadic and moved about the vast northeastern coastal regions of the arctic, rarely meeting other family groups. The Malamute dogs and their people had a symbiotic relationship upon which their survival in the harshest environment depended on each other. Jennifer explained that today that history translates into a dog that lives with you and not for you. Alaskan Malamutes are highly intelligent, independent thinkers who may or may not be obedient. They learn tasks quickly, get bored easily, and will make up their own rules if their human isn’t quick to catch on. Jennifer told me that Alaskan Malamute owners have to have a good sense of humour as Malamutes are often considered the class clown. Watching an Alaskan Malamute in performance events or classes can, at one moment, have you entirely impressed by their majesty and dignity, and in the next moment, laughing so hard to the point of tears and frustration. Jennifer tells new owners that they have to stay one beat ahead of this breed at all times, as they are that smart. The Alaskan Malamute should have a very friendly disposition; they should be "playful in invitation," as the Official Breed Standard states. Invite them to engage, and you might be met with a high five or a giant leap and face cleaning. Pack-oriented in nature, they form strong attachments with their family but are not one-person dogs. They will easily bond with the person who has the treats in their pocket.

I love Jennifer’s Instagram page @spiritrunmals. She’s always out on adventures with her dogs. I asked Jennifer to describe living with an Alaskan Malamute and what one needs to know before committing to the breed. She said that "They require active humans who love the outdoors in all types of weather, who possess a great sense of patience and humour, but also maintain a firm and fair disposition. An Alaskan Malamute, highly attuned to pack hierarchy, requires clear leadership, structure, and consistency. Without this in place, the Alaskan Malamute will see the void and need to fill it. This is where an Alaskan Malamute may exhibit signs of resource-guarding, prey drive, dominance, or reactivity. All of this can be managed through early socialization and continuous training for both the humans and the Malamute. They need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation, or else they get bored, which leads to destructive behaviour and howling, which your neighbours may not appreciate. An Alaskan Malamute who is getting all he needs in terms of stimulation will be a more relaxed and affectionate companion when indoors with the family. An Alaskan Malamute requires a securely fenced-in yard with no escape loopholes. They are master diggers, so if you love a landscaped garden, their idea is more of a moonscape, so give them their own area to do with it what they will. They can climb over a fence but are more apt to dig under or go through, so ensure they are secure before leaving them unattended for long stretches of time. They love the cold and winter snow, and when the temperatures drop below freezing, good luck coaxing a Malamute to come inside!”

 Jennifer also explained how they are with children. "This breed is affectionate towards children when properly socialized with them, ideally from a young age. Common sense dictates that this is a large, powerful breed that possesses big paws, great strength, and a big, exuberant personality, which can mean trouble for small children or frail adults. A big paw extending for a handshake can cause unintentional damage to the skin or knock a child to the ground. As with any breed, the Alaskan Malamute should never be left unattended in the presence of young children. Accidents can and do happen, and the blame falls on the dog. It is up to the responsible adult to ensure these situations are safely managed."