alaska malamute
GENERAL APPEARANCE : The Alaskan Malamute is one of the oldest sled dog breeds. He is a powerful dog, of solid build, with a deep chest, a strong and well-muscled body. The Malamute does its stand correctly, and with this posture it suggests a lot of activity and proud bearing; with his head held high and eyes intent, he shows interest and curiosity. The head is wide. The ears are triangular and erect when at attention. The muzzle is massive, slightly decreasing in width from the root to the nose. It's not pointy or long and it's not short and thick. The coat is thick, the outer hairs are coarse and of sufficient length to protect the woolly undercoat. Malamutes come in many colors. Head marking is a distinctive feature. It consists of a kind of cap over the head. Faces can be all white or marked by a stripe and/or a mask. The tail is well feathered, carried over the back and has the appearance of an undulating plume. The Malamute must be a heavy-boned dog, with perfect limbs, good paws, a deep chest and powerful shoulders, in addition to having all the other physical attributes necessary for an efficient performance in the fulfillment of its task. The movement must be firm, balanced, tireless and totally efficient. He was not created to compete in sled races, in sprint events. The Malamute is structured for strength and endurance and no individual characteristics, including temperament, should interfere with the achievement of that purpose, should this occur, it should be regarded as the most serious of defects.
Personality: Active, alert and agile.
Energy Level : Very Active. This dog is active and energetic, and needs daily exercise.
Good with children: Yes.
Good with other dogs: With supervision.
Grooming: Seasonal.
Life Expectancy : 10-12 years old.
Bark level: Moderate.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
alaska malamute (in English: Alaskan Malamute) is a breed of dogs from the alaska, us United States. Considered ancient, its origin is imprecise, although it is known that they were developed by Alaskan tribes for work. Created to pull sleds and assist in hunting, it was named in honor of the tribe that first developed these canines, the Mahlemuts. Resistant and strong, they were fundamental pieces for the colonizers of the region during the period of gold rush.
Country of Origin: USA.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Affectionate, friendly, not a “one owner” dog. It is a loyal companion, devoted, playful, but usually impresses by its dignity after maturity.
HEAD: Wide and deep, it is neither coarse nor clumsy, but in proportion to the size of the dog. Her expression is sweet and indicates an affectionate disposition.
CRANIAL REGION
Skull: Broad and moderately rounded between the ears, gradually tapering towards the eyes, rounding towards the cheeks. There is a small groove between the eyes. The upper, skull and muzzle lines show a slight downward break at their junction point.
Stop: Take.
FACIAL REGION
Nose: Of all coat colors except red; the nose, lips and eye rim pigmentation are black. Brown is allowed on red dogs. Light stripes (snow truffle) are acceptable.
Muzzle: Large and with good mass, in proportion to the skull, slightly decreasing in width and depth, from the junction with the skull to the nose.
Lips: Adjusted.
Jaws and Teeth: Broad jaws with large teeth. The incisors articulate in scissors. Overshot or undershot is a fault.
Cheeks: Moderately flat.
Eyes: Obliquely set in the skull. They are brown, almond-shaped and medium in size. Blue eyes is a disqualifying foul.
Ears: Of medium size, small in proportion to the head. The shape of the ears is triangular, with the tips subtly rounded. Set well apart on the posterior outer edges of the skull, with the lower half inserting into it. They are aligned with the upper corner of the eyes, giving the impression that their tips, when erect, emerge from the skull and turn slightly forward. But when the dog is working, sometimes the ears are tucked against the skull. High-set ears are a fault.
NECK: Strong and moderately arched.
BODY: Compact in construction, but not short. The body is not overweight and the bone structure should be proportionate to its size.
Back: Straight and slightly bent towards the hip.
Loin: Strong and well muscled. The long loin that could weaken the back is a fault.
Chest: Well developed.
TAIL: Moderately set on; initially following the line of the spine. Carried over the back when not in motion. It is not a broken tail, nor curled over the back, nor is it covered with short fur like the fox's. The Malamute's tail is well furred and has the appearance of an undulating plume.
MEMBERS
FOREQUARTERS: Heavy boned and muscular, going directly to the pasterns when viewed from the front.
Shoulders: Moderately slanted.
Pasterns: Short and strong, slightly sloping when viewed in profile.
HINDQUARTERS: The hind legs are broad. Viewed from behind, the legs, whether the dog is stationary or in motion, should be in a line with the forelegs, neither too close nor too far apart. Ergos on the hind legs are undesirable and should be removed soon after the puppies are born.
Thighs: Heavily muscled.
Knees: Moderately angled.
Hocks: Moderately bent and well let down.
Feet: They are of the “snow boot” type, closed, with very thick pads that give a firm and compact appearance. They are wide, toes close together and arched. A protective hair grows between the fingers. The pads are thick and hard; nails are short and strong.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: The Malamute's gait is firm, balanced and powerful. He is agile for his size and build. Viewed in profile, the hindquarters have a strong drive that is transmitted through a well-muscled loin to the hindquarters. previous. These receive the impetus from the hindquarters with a regular step. When viewed from the front or from behind, the legs move in a line, neither too close nor too far apart. At a fast trot, the feet should converge towards the center line of the body. A bouncing movement or any movement that is not completely efficient and tireless must be penalized.
COAT
Coat: The Malamute has a thick, rough protective coat that is never long or soft. The undercoat is dense, 2.5 to 5 cm long, oily and woolly. The coarse protective coat varies in length as well as undercoat. The coat is relatively short to medium on the sides of the body, with the coat length increasing around the shoulders and neck, under the back and over the croup, on the breeches and tail. Malamutes typically have a shorter, less dense coat during the summer months. The Malamute is shown naturally. Trimming is not acceptable other than to give the paws a clean appearance.
COLOR: Colors typically range from light gray through the intermediate shades of black, sand, and shades of sand to red. Color combinations are acceptable on the undercoat and ends. The only solid color allowed is all white. White is always the predominant color on the lower body, part of the legs, paws and part of the face markings. A white spot on the forehead and/or a necklace, or a spot on the back of the neck is attractive and acceptable. The Malamute is mantled. Irregular colors or splashes that extend over the body are undesirable.
SIZE AND WEIGHT: There is a natural range of sizes in the breed. The ideal measurements for traction dogs are: Males: 63.5 cm, at the withers – 38.5 kg. Females: 58.5 cm, at the withers – 34 kg.
However, considerations of size should not be more important than considerations of type, proportion and functional attributes such as shoulders, chest, feet and movement. If during the trial some dogs are equivalent in type, proportions and functional attributes, the one closest to the ideal size for traction dogs will be selected.
FAULTS
Any deviation from this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well-being of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.
• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.
• Atypical dogs.