The Alaskan Malamute, a True Arctic Breed

By Ruthie Bently

The Alaskan Malamute’s origins go back 2,000 to 3,000 years, and their creation is credited to the Mahlemut Inuit tribe of northern Alaska. Most experts agree that the Malamute is one of the earliest dog breeds of North America. It is debated that they owe their existence to the breeding between domesticated Arctic wolves and early dogs owned by the tribe. It has not yet been scientifically confirmed, but the Alaskan Malamute might be the nearest living relative to the “First Dog” according to Mietje Germonpré, a paleontologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. He feels that 30,000 year old dog remains recently found closely resemble the Alaskan Malamute due to their size.

I find it easy to believe that this breed is descended from wolves, as they do tend to howl more than they bark. I have had the chance to hear wolves howling, and the similarity is interesting. An extended family member owns a Malamute with ice blue eyes (this is a disqualification in the confirmation ring). When she looks at you, you get the impression that she is looking into your soul.

The Malamute was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1935. An adult male may range in height from 24 to 26 inches at the withers and weigh between 80 to 95 pounds. An adult female may range in height from 22 to 24 inches and weigh between 70 to 85 pounds. They have a life expectancy of twelve to fifteen years. A Malamute is a large, deep-chested breed and is prone to hip dysplasia, cataracts and bloat. It is a member of the AKC’s working group and is a good example of the group.

Malamutes have a long, dense double coat of hair, well suited to the northern climes and cold weather. If you live in a state like Arizona, you might want to think twice before getting a Malamute. They blow coat profusely in the spring and the fall, and brushing several times a week outside is suggested. The undercoat comes out in clumps. Coat colors can be solid white, black and white, sable and white, red and white, blue and white, or gray and white.

The early Mahlemuts used Malamutes (their only mode of transportation) for pulling travel sleds, hauling sleds loaded with supplies and food, and for hunting polar bears. Malamutes were highly prized for their willingness to work and their endurance and strength. They are still used for hauling freight over long distances and moving heavy objects.

Highly athletic dogs, Malamutes are frequently used for skijoring, bikejoring, canicross (the sport of cross-country running while hitched to a dog), agility, backpacking, carting, dog sledding, jogging, mushing, packing, search and rescue, and weight pulling. In long distance races, they are slower and heavier than their smaller cousin, the Siberian Husky.

As sled dogs, Malamutes are suited more for hauling and transport due to their accomplished sense of smell, courageous tenacity and sense of direction. These traits make them an invaluable addition to any expedition. Malamutes were used in 1896 during the gold rush in the Klondike. They were used frequently in Admiral Byrd’s expeditions to the South Pole and were used during World War II for search and rescue in Greenland, as well as being immortalized in books written by Rudyard Kipling and Jack London. The Alaskan Malamute was voted as the state dog of Alaska in 2010.

Malamutes need daily exercise. They like to wander, and a stout fenced yard or a dog run is suggested. If you build a dog run, the fence should be buried several inches below ground, as they will dig their way out. They make a good family pet, but if there are smaller household pets, care should be taken due to the Malamute’s strong prey drive. Due to their size, care should be taken when they are around small children, as they may knock them over. Obedience training is strongly suggested, and Malamutes need to be properly socialized with other dogs and humans. This breed needs an owner who is a strong alpha; otherwise they may be unruly and try to rule the roost. 

If you live in a northern climate, love exercise and winter sports, and don’t mind cleaning up dog hair, this affectionate, versatile arctic dog may be the right one for you.

Read more articles by Ruthie Bently

Winter Activities to Keep Dogs Busy

By Linda Cole

December 21 is the official start of winter, but as far as I'm concerned, when the first snowfall covers the ground – it's winter! Even with snow on the ground, dogs can still get plenty of healthy stimulation and exercise during the winter months. If your dog is like a couple of mine, the minute the first snowflake hits the ground they head for the couch and a warm blanket to cuddle under, but once they get outside, they have as much fun as the other dogs. Winter activities for dogs can be anything you enjoy doing together.

The first thing to remember when venturing outside in the winter is safety for you and your dog. Winter activities are only fun when no one pulls a muscle, gets too cold or becomes lost. Protecting your pet with a microchip can save his life if he should become separated from you during any outdoor activity. Brush up on survival skills and always remember to pack survival gear for you and your dog when heading outside for some winter fun.


Hiking on a snowy trail is a great way to get exercise, but make sure to let someone know where you plan to go and how long you intend to be gone. Carry a backpack with survival gear that includes food and water for you and your dog, and make sure your short haired dog has a weatherproof jacket to help keep the chill away from his skin. Dogs lose heat from their ears and feet, so a pair of quality dog booties can help keep his feet warm and snow free. However, you will need to make sure he doesn't lose them in the snow.

Tracking is a great winter activity that can be educational for you and your dog. A fresh layer of snow and a warm pair of dog booties are all you need. Just make sure you know who the tracks belong to and be prepared if you should run across the owner. You don't want to deal with a confrontation from an angry critter. The idea is to give your dog some mental stimulation with an interesting scent and exercise by following the trail, not actually finding the animal.

Snowball catch. Several of my dogs love playing in the snow, and one of their favorite winter activities is catching snowballs. Keep the snowball loose so it won't hurt them when they catch it. One thing that always amazes me is how they can find a snowball tossed into a pile of snow. Playing catch is always a great way to give your dogs exercise any time of the year.

Sledding tops the list for winter activities you can do as a family. Dogs like to ride on a sled down a hill with you or the kids – just be sure to follow proper safety procedures. Never allow a dog to ride unsupervised on a sled down a hill. He can't control it and you risk the dog being injured if the sled hits a tree, goes out of control or if he jumps off on the way down. You can teach your dog how to pull the sled back up the hill too! He gets to spend quality time with you while you teach him a command that gives him an important job to do, and running back up the hill with the sled in tow helps him to stay fit.

Skijoring is a sport dogs and humans can do as a team. Ski enthusiasts combine their love of skiing with their dog's love of running and pulling. Skijoring is a winter activity for the more serious snow lover, human and dog, who enjoys being in the fresh winter air and the beautiful scenery.

A walk in the snow is an easy way to work off excess energy for a dog. It may be winter, but dogs still need to be walked to help keep them from becoming bored while you're away from home. A tired dog will be better behaved when left alone, and walking in the snow provides a workout that helps keep him fit through the winter months.

Winter activities provide a dog and us with much needed exercise to keep from getting cabin fever and from putting on pounds over the colder months of the year. Hibernation isn't an option for those who love the snow. With proper protection from the cold and snow for you and your dog, an afternoon outing is just the ticket to help keep the mind and body healthy and stimulated.

Photo by Shannon Pifko

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Skijoring: A Fun Sport for You and Your Dog

By Suzanne Alicie

They say curiosity killed the cat. In my case, curiosity only bruised my hind parts. Thanks to the recent snowfall on the East Coast I had a chance to try out skijoring with my dog. A Samoyed breed, she loves the snow and cold. I on the other hand, would rather be in the warm house. Having read up a little bit on skijoring, I decided I had to give it a try.

For those who haven’t heard of skijoring, it is a sport for a person and a dog. The person straps on skis and has their ski poles while the dog is placed in a harness which is attached to the person’s waist. I didn’t go out and get any special equipment just to test this. I used our walking harness and attached the leash to my belt with a clip.

So I wrapped up and got us both all hitched together, then let her pull me along the driveway. Everything went well, as long as we were moving. Once she stopped I kept right on going, ending up in a pile of snow with my big white dog looking at me like I had lost my mind. I am blaming that on the icy surface of the snow, not myself or the dog.

Skijoring is not an experience I will be repeating; however, many people spend hours every day honing their skill and forming a bond with their skijoring partner. Skijoring requires a great deal of skill, training and trust between the person and the dog.

Skijoring is a very popular sport for dog owners in the colder climates, where it is a competitive sport including slalom, obstacles and both sprint and long runs. Of course, skijoring is aimed at cross country skiing, and not downhill! There are several companies that specialize in skijoring equipment, dog training and tournaments. Skijoring is also done with horses, and motor vehicles such as snowmobiles. The name skijoring is from a Norwegian word that means ski driving. Some variations of skijoring include snowboarding with a dog to pull you, and even skijoring on grassy fields instead of snow.

The most common dogs for skijoring are athletic and herding breeds such as pointers and setters. All the northern breeds such as Samoyeds, Huskies and Malamutes are naturally inclined and enjoy this sport. But if you are interested in skijoring, pretty much any mid to large sized energetic breed will be capable of pulling you. The dogs that compete in skijoring competitions are trained with the person on foot initially. To be a successful skijoring dog, the animals must learn to pass another dog without stopping to greet them.

If you are in a cold climate and enjoy cross country skiing, you may appreciate the sport of skijoring as a way to spend more time with your dog and to form a closer bond with him as well. Skijoring is excellent exercise for your dog as well as a way to expend excess energy and advance your dog's trained behavior. The training learned for skijoring will carry over in your dog’s everyday living, much the same as the military bearing of a soldier is noticeable even when he isn’t in uniform.

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie