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BREED
IMFORMATION

GENERAL INFORMATION











Alaskan Malamutes are happiest when they are allowed to share in family activities. The best arrangement is one in which the dog can come in and out of the house on it's own free-will, through a dog door. If a dog door is not possible, then try training the dog to go to an outside door to be let out this is usually very easy to do. Once outside, your dog should have a large, fenced yard. The fence should be strong and be at least 6 feet tall. It 's also a good idea to bury chicken wire in the ground to discourage digging out. Malamutes are notorious for digging. To make your dog happy you could set up a sand box somewhere in a shaded part of the yard and encourage digging there. Malamutes should not be allowed to roam around the neighborhood. If you choose to kennel your Malamute, his kennel should be chain link, with a concrete run, and should be about 8 ft wide and 15 to 20 ft long. It should be at least 6 ft high with chain link across the top. This should also be in a shaded location and you should have a dog house with a door for shelter from the elements.

Due to the fact that the Malamute is an arctic dog, he can remain outside in cold weather. However, he should be provided with shelter from the elements in the form of a good sturdy house.

 

Origins

The Alaskan Malamute originated with a group of native Eskimos known as the Mahlemiut. The dogs at that time were quiet large and were capable of pulling heavy weight in extreme conditions. The Alaskan Malamute was used to move food back and forth between villages. It was used as a heavy freighting dog, because it was able to pull a incredible amount of weight for long distances at a steady pace.

Today, there are two different "types" of Alaskan Malamutes. One type is referred to as the M'Loot and the other is the Kotzebue. One difference between these two types of dog is it's size. The M'Loot Malamutes are larger than the Kotzebue's. True Kotzebues have only wolf-gray coats, whereas M'Loots will come in a variety of colors, such as wolf-gray, black and white, sable and white, seal, blue, and white. Kotzebues tend to be less aggressive than the M'loot, however they can be more hyper. Amongst professional breeders, there is some argument as to which type is the "correct" Malamute, but In spite of this, the Alaskan Malamute is credited as being one of the few breeds that is still very close to its original form and function.



Early History

Around four thousand years ago(maybe even earlier) Eskimos crossed the Bearing Straits when their tribes moved East from Siberia. With them they brought dogs (their prized possessions) to help in the moving of food and people. Evidence from archaeologists shows that these dogs also hunted polar bears and other arctic animals for themselves and their masters. They were extremely strong dogs and had adapted to the incredibly low temperatures that were common in Alaska.

The Alaskan Malamute (along with the Alaskan Malamute, Chow Chow, and Samoyed)is a member of the Spitz breed of dog. Some people think that the Alaskan Malamute came from the early dogs and domesticated wolves from long ago, and still others think that the Alaskan Malamute is the oldest breed of dog in the North American continent and is the breed most associated with man.

 

Your Dog's Coat; Correct Grooming & Bathing

Some of the more useful equipment in the care of your dogs coat would be a SLICKER type BRUSH,a sturdy RAKE and a STEEL COMB. A long-haired dogs under-coat must be thoroughly brushed to the skin with the slicker or the rake. This will be done by holding up the top coat and brushing the under-coat a section at a time covering the whole dog. Once done,the dogs coat will be able to be combed through with a steel Comb. At this time there should be no tangles or matts to imped the comb You may need special with DEMATTING your dog.

The nails should be trimmed often,removing the tips with a good pair of NAIL CLIPPERS.

The dogs eyes should be wiped clean and if there is tearing then EYEWASH may be necessary. Ears should be kept as clean as possible so that they are not a place for bacteria to grow in which could lead to infections,so clean ears are a must. They may be cleaned using an EAR CLEANER and a cotton tipped swab for that purpose. Always clean ears with out pointing the cotton stick into the ear canal. A soft cloth can also be used to clean the ears if you so prefer.

Always bathe a fully brushed out dog. If not the dogs fur may matt to the body making matting problems worse. Always use a good quality dog or puppy SHAMPOO, human shampoos can ruin a dogs coat. With longer haired dogs you may find that a good CONDITIONER makes our responsibility of keeping up with a long-haired dogs coat much easier. If you choose to use a dryer to dry your pet,then keep the setting on low and keep the dryer at least ten inches from the dogs skin. While using the dryer continue to brush until the dog is dry. A PIN BRUSH will be fine at this point.



Bringing Home Your Puppy

Now it is time to prepare for your puppies homecoming. We will try to cover everything to make you and your puppy's first days easy and comfortable ones. Lets first go through food and water DISHES. There are many different types, ones for small dogs, ones for large dogs and ones for long eared breeds and short eared breeds. Be sure to look at your many options when making your hoice,and get the ones that are most functional for your needs. They will then most likely remain bowls and not additional new chew toys.

Next we will need to have some toys ready. They will need them for TEETHING and EXERCISE as well as old fashion playing. The selection of toys today is enormous. We recommend choosing several of different textures to begin with. A HARD TOY will distract your puppy from chewing hard things around your home. Second, he should have a SOFT TOY, something he can chew up with out getting into trouble. When he has his own fuzzy to carry around he won't have to borrow from you. Also an ACTION TOY that would involve you would be a wise choice. There are tug of war types or a fetching toy. There are many choices, choose one you can use together.

When you bring your puppy home you should have a proper sized or adjustable COLLAR and a LEASH. First put the collar on the puppy and let him get used to it. There may be some attempt by the puppy to remove it, ex: trying to scratch it off... Gradually he will become accustomed to wearing it. Once used to the COLLAR we can now try the LEASH. At first your attempts to walk the puppy should be done in a fun place. Like outside,where his natural instinct to explore things will distract him from the feel of the leash. Shortly he will be accustomed to the leash and then to being walked.

Puppies need a safe-play area in the home to adjust to his new surroundings. This also aids in HOUSEBREAKING. We usually suggest using a GATE to confine the pup in the kitchen or other room. Therefore he can be confined and safe,but able to eat,drink and play with toys. Also to use papers if left alone for long periods of time. A KENNEL is highly recommended to use as your puppy's own safe place as well as a bed. He will look upon the kennel as his own den, this will greatly assist in the housebreaking. Being a den animal by nature dogs and puppies do not like to soil their den.

In preparing a puppy for travel, or temporary confinement, water should not be given for several hours before being crated/confined for over two hours. Your puppy should have the time to eliminate it before it is crated for the night. There should be no food in the crate, only in the play area or other parts of the house. However BEDDING and toys are definitely allowed in the CRATE. This is your puppies special area and he should enjoy it.

Other items that you should have on hand for the new puppy are good puppy SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER (if necessary) and proper BRUSHES and COMBS needed for your breed. As discussed in the grooming section, SLICKERS, RAKES and STEEL COMBS are very useful.

You are now ready for your puppy,and probably a little more aware of the responsibility you are undertaking. One I believe is well worth all of your effort. Being well prepared to bring the new puppy home can now be a fun and learning experience.



Temperament

Alaskan Malamutes tend to be a very friendly breed and require a lot of attention. They are a pack oriented dog and do best when they are one of the family rather than be put outside. They are an intelligent breed and can be very stubborn and easily bored. They are not recommended to a first-time dog owner because mistakes are easy to make and sometimes hard to correct unless you know what you are doing. The Malamute can be a challenge to train, due to their stubbornness. To get an Alaskan Malamute to do something over and over again is incredibly challenging, because of their stubbornness nature and the fact that they become very easily bored. This is quite common in most of the northern breeds. The size of a Malamute can become an obstacle to first time dog owners as well. Unfortunately many Malamutes will end up in the pound or could even be destroyed because an owner fell in love with the cute puppy but could not handle the large, stubborn adult.

Due to their strong nature, Alaskan Malamutes can be more aggressive towards dogs of the same breed, and tend to be more lenient to other breeds. So it is highly recommended to socialize your dog with other breeds when he/she is a puppy.



Socializing & Training Your Puppy

All puppies should be well socialized at a very young age. They should interact with as many types of people,of all ages as possible. It is good to take your puppy to places where there is a lot of activity, such as, parks, schoolyards, and any local ball games. Also,in the same way expose your new puppy to other dogs of all ages. You will control these new situations by always having the puppy on a LEAD. Different environments and situations show the puppy that the world is a much bigger place than home. All of this is usually well accepted by a puppy. He is young and curious and will most likely thoroughly enjoy all these new adventures.

Though the puppy thinks these excursions are adventures and fun times, they are much more. Introducing all these new things from people, other dogs and new situations to different environments while your puppy is young will assist you in owning a well adjusted dog in the long run. Any puppy that is not well socialized young, can pose a challenge to the human trying to socialize the dog at an older age. Bad habits will have been picked up and it will be three or four times the work for you to correct and re-teach. You do not want an antisocial, poorly adjusted dog,so start early with your puppy. Both you and your dog will benefit and enjoy each other much more.

In addition to being socialized your puppy needs to be house broken and taught basic puppy obedience. These goals can be reached with at-home-training by you, up to date BOOK assistance, or professional obedience lessons.

For at-home puppy obedience there are a few basic rules. First work with your puppy for short periods of time as your puppy has a very short attention span. Usually ten minute lessons at first are the longest that should be used.The key is to train often and every day but only for a short time. The five basic commands are: come, sit, down, stay and heel. Come is by far the most important. Only to be taught when you have the puppy on a LEAD at first,leaving no room for error. It is not necessary to teach these commands in any special order. Choose one and get the basics down on that command before bringing in a second command.

Verbal praise should be given lavishly each and every time your puppy pleases you. It is very important your puppy feels that praise for they thrive on pleasing the people they love the most. Also it is of great importance that each lesson end on a successful note, with praise. If your puppy looks like he is getting tired or bored, stop the lesson before he starts making mistakes because his attention wanders, or associates boredness with that lesson. Always remember that puppy lessons should be fun for both you and your puppy. TREATS are a running second after lavish praise from their master. Soft small TREATS work best because you do not want them to take long to eat them. However use them sparingly so your puppy does not tire of them or worse, mind only on the expectation of a treat. For further in depth information on training check out dog and puppy TRAINING BOOKS, or enroll in a local puppy kindergarten class with your new puppy.


POTENTIAL
HEALTH RISKS

PRONE TO YOUR BREED


Proper Nutrition For Your Puppy

Puppies are bundles of energy, mischievous and lots of love. They are not unlike human babies. Like any growing animals their diet must meet certain requirements. It is important to choose a food of high quality that is nutritional. PUPPY FOOD needs a high content of protein. Protein is necessary for the proper growth of muscles and tissue. However there are many types of protein all made up of smaller amino acids.Amino acids, as well as carbohydrates and fiber provide your puppy with energy.

Puppies need protein that is easily absorbed and used, as opposed to ones that serve little or no purpose. Please feel free to call the 800 number on any bag of high quality puppy food, they will be more than happy to further inform you.

Puppies have small stomachs and if fed a lesser quality food they will be full before their nutritional needs are met. However if the same puppy is fed a high quality PUPPY FOOD his requirements will be met by consuming less food. One very important part of a puppy's diet is a proper balance of calcium and phosphorus. This ratio if unbalanced has been linked with skeletal deformations. A level of calcium that is too high can cause a puppies growth rate to exceed the norm, possibly to a danger level. It has been known to add to his chances of hip dysplasia or other skeletal diseases.

A puppy food must be palatable and must contain enough protein for tissue and muscle growth. Easily converted quality fat must be contained in the PUPPY FOOD in order to supply sufficient energy these will also produce skin and a coat that will do the breed justice.

Finally some helpful hints to find the right PUPPY FOOD as easily as it really is:

1. Feed a PUPPY FOOD that is high in nutrients.

2. Do not supplement the same nutritious food.

3. Feed to obtain a moderate growth rate.

4. If abnormal growth rate is observed (too thin-too heavy) then adjust
food levels

5. Do not attempt to grow or raise your puppy too rapidly

6. Please feel free to use the 800 numbers on all puppy food packages, they are all working towards the same goals.

 

Proper Nutrition For Adult Dogs

Adult dogs are what your bundle of energy have grown into. They are still mischievous and have lots of love to give. Now though, they are slightly more refined and most certainly more devoted to their owners and families. Though stubborn at times, yet friendly, they most likely would protect their people with their lives.

Assuming that your treasured friend has been fed a nutritious food throughout it's youth now is time for a change. He/She should move on now to a nutritious ADULT DOG FOOD, as it is formulated for an adult. You will find that some dietary requirements will change.

A medium size dog over the age of nine months requires a slightly lower protein level. Quality ADULT DOG FOODS have been formulated to give your dog just that. Your dogs muscles and tissues are still developing, however not at the same rate. Therefore requiring less protein. It is very important that the protein used is both easily consumed and utilized. Rice, egg, cottage cheese, poultry, lamb and small amounts of red meat.

Quality ADULT DOG FOOD will use the products that are mentioned above. They have also done studies on the ratio of protein and amino acids and the ratio of calcium and phosphorous. Dogs will greatly benefit from such studies.

Since ADULT DOG FOOD contains the necessary supplements, further ones are not needed. In addition to protein you should be aware that quality food contains proper amounts of easily converted amino acids and starches. Both when converted supply the energy your dog requires. Some helpful hints for assisting your adult dog to live a long and full life:

1. Feed a high quality ADULT DOG FOOD.

2. Make sure he/she gets plenty of exercise to properly develop his/her muscle tone.

3. Have your dog seen regularly by the veterinarian of your choice

4. Remember, you are your dogs best friend

 

Special Nutrition During The Senior Years

Your dog has reached or is approaching his golden years. Naturally you want to keep him as healthy and fit as possible. Dogs mature at much different rates. Large dogs mature sooner than smaller breeds of dogs. At roughly six years of age,a large or giant breed of dog is at or approaching his senior years. That is true for a small breed of dog around the age of eight or nine years.

As your dog approaches his senior years,you will most likely be concerned about dietary changes.You will be noticing quite a few changes in him. One change is the tendency to become overweight. His metabolism is not the same as it used to be. Now is a good time to check out and try a quality SENIOR DOG FOOD. This may be all that is necessary. However there are other signs to watch for. One is that there can be changes in his urination and thirst levels. If SENIOR DOG FOOD does not correct the problem please see the veterinarian of your choice. (See our links page for TLC Dog Food)

Changes in thirst and urination will most likely alter his housebreaking habits, and probably not in a pleasant way. This will require more patience on your part, as the dog by himself has no solution. Almost always, there will be changes in their eating habits. The most common "and dangerous" is weight gain. This occurs because of the slower metabolism rate or a food too high in calories. Most often it is a combination of both. Using a SENIOR DOG FOOD formulated especially for him can do wonders.

On the lighter side,a sign of aging is when your dog starts to go gray. That's right,just like us, however this usually occurs around the muzzle and the ears. One last thing to remember is to exercise your dog even though he is not as young anymore. Just be sure not to over exert them.

 

Proper Dental Care For The Dogs

Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, the quality of pet food and better educated owners, dogs are living longer these days. This also means that they are likely to suffer some of the same age-related diseases that affect people, including periodontal disease, abscesses, pulpitis (an infection of the inside of the tooth), and osteomyelitis (a bone infection that can affect the jaw). Breeds with short noses, such as Pugs and Bulldogs, can have trouble with teeth. Dachshunds, tend to have small mouths and large teeth.

Here are some preventative way's to eliminate or delay future dental problems. There are now dog TOOTH PASTE and DOG TOOTH BRUSHES available. If this sounds unusual there are also dog toys produced from DENTAL FLOSS MATERIAL. RAWHIDE and most DOG BISCUITS would also be of some assistants. There are many manufactuerers of HARD CHEW TOYS or DOG TREATS that will assist in removing plaque and believe it or not now new to the market SPECIAL FORMULATED DOG FOOD designed to remove plaque as the dog chews on the food. So as you can see it keeps getting easier to avoid dental problems your dog may develop as he/she reaches in there senior life stage.

 

Training Your Adult Dog

One way to make your dog a good neighbor is through obedience training. A poorly behaved dog is a problem for everyone. Nothing is more frustrating than attempting to corral a dog that will not "come" when you call. A well trained dog is not only a pleasure to own, he is a goodwill ambassador for the entire canine community. A well-behaved dog is the result of the dog's owner being willing to work with the dog regularly in a systematic manner. Obedience classes are available in most communities. Time spent training your dog is time well spent.

 

Special Nutritional Requirements For Skin

There are many SUPPLEMENTS available for skin and coats. Lamb and Rice foods are suggested for food allergies. Sometimes a SPECIAL DIET FOOD may be required.

 

Special Nutrition During Pregnancy & Nursing

The gestation period lasts 63 days. Be careful not to overfeed your bitch during this time. The quantify shouldn't change but the quality of what she eats should change. She should be eating food of a greater nutritional value, with high vitamin and mineral content.

 

Selecting A Stud

It is not our purpose to dive in deeply about genetics of dogs, however it is strongly recommended that you find a stud whose bloodlines will strengthen your dog's weaknesses and emphasize his or her good qualities. There are three main catagories to consider when looking for the appropriate mate for your bitch. First, keep in mind the simple principle, breed the animals that co mpliment one another. Meaning, for example, if your dog's teeth are not as good as they might be, then locate a partner with better teeth from a line of good teeth. The second and third points can be summed up with two words: temperment and health. In dogs temperment is a hereditary trait. Pick a stud where its past generations, as well as itself, have an obedient and pleasant disposition. In addition to temperment, defects are also hereditary. Some of these can be crippling or even fatal. Researching to ensure that one of your puppies doesn't develop common-to-breed health problems is your responsibility. You should consider seeking professional advise when planning this endeavour.

 

Breeding A Bitch

If you decide to breed your bitch you need to become very familiar with the breed standard. You would want to steadily continue improving the breed. There are many, many things to consider before breeding your bitch. You need to consider her health. Do you have the knowledge to whelp and raise puppies? How much time and money is involved? Are you and your bitch prepared for the possibility of a c-section and after the births, can you find good homes for the puppies.

 

Whelping The Litter

A few days before the birth the bitch may stop eating and start to build her nest where she will have her puppies. Unless you show her to a whelping box she may just decide to have her pups in the closet, under your bed or anywhere that may not be appropriate. A whelping box should be large to accommodate the mother to stretch. It should have low sides and be in a warm, dry, draft-free place away from prying eyes and hands.

 

Traveling With Your Pet

Make sure that your dog is used to car travel. If you know that he is likely to be sick or excitable in the car, then ask your veterinarian to prescribe some travel sickness medication, this usually also has a tranquilizing effect. Make regular stops to allow him or her to relieve themselves if necessary and offer water to drink. Keep your dog on a lead when you exercise him, never let him run loose near a busy road or at a service station. Make sure your dog is welcome at your destination and that you have told the proprietors before you book.

Don't leave your dog in a stationary car in hot weather and never leave him in direct sunlight. If you must leave him, be sure that it is for no longer than five to ten minutes and that you have left the windows open wide enough to allow fresh air in, but not him out. Don't let your dog put his head out while you are moving - this can lead to eye injuries and may cause an accident. Window attachments are available which allow the window to be left open, without your dog escaping.