How much does a Malamute puppy cost: features and prices

History of the Alaskan Malamute breed

The Alaskan Malamute is the oldest breed in North America. At the same time, it is considered one of the oldest on the planet. It is possible that the Alaskan Malamute, in comparison with other dogs, lives the longest next to humans. This theory is supported by archaeological finds, which confirm that Malamutes have remained virtually unchanged genetically since ancient times. In 2004, experts analyzed their DNA and concluded that it has a strong genetic similarity to the wolf. It is highly likely that the ancestors of modern Malamutes are domesticated wolves. The latter were immigrants from Central and East Asia, arriving in North America through the Bering Strait along with their nomadic hosts. This happened about 14 thousand years ago.

Alaskan Malamute

Interesting results were also obtained as a result of analysis and comparison of the DNA of the Alaskan Malamute, Alaskan Klee Kai and Siberian Huskies. It turned out that they are related not only to the wolf, but also to each other. The only differences were found in size and weight. Alaskan Malamutes are larger than their counterparts and have heavy bones and a powerful build. Weight ranges from 34-39 kg, while, for example, Siberian Huskies weigh 20-27 kg.

Alaskan Malamutes did not immediately become sled dogs. In those ancient times, Eskimo tribes led a nomadic lifestyle, moving through areas with harsh weather conditions in search of food. Dogs were full members of the tribe, performing guard functions and helping men on the hunt. It was the cold climate of Alaska, coupled with limited food resources, that played a fundamental role in the development of this breed. Weak individuals who found it difficult to survive simply fell out of the genetic chain as unnecessary links. The strongest and fittest survived. The breed developed over the centuries in the Anvik River basin, where representatives of the Malemute Eskimo tribe settled from Siberia to Alaska.

Origin history and interesting facts

The history of the breed began thanks to the Malemute tribe, which lived in Alaska. People were peace-loving workers, and their dogs were the same. It is noteworthy that the breed has hardly changed since its appearance - neither externally nor internally.

Captured by Jack London. The famous novel “White Fang,” which is included in the school curriculum on foreign literature, tells the story of the times of the “gold rush,” which had a positive impact on the popularization of the Malamute breed. Gold miners from different parts came to Alaska, and, as a rule, the victory was won by those who took “Alaskans” into the team as four-legged companions.
But on the other hand. In the barrel of honey (namely, in the popularization of the breed during the “gold rush”) there was also a fly in the ointment. Unfortunately, the need for a large number of four-legged helpers led to the fact that the Alaskan Malamute was crossed with just anyone. As a result, the number of purebred dogs has decreased significantly.
Faster, higher, stronger. The “gold rush” was replaced by winter sports. In particular, sled racing. It was sport that prompted Americans to seriously begin restoring the population of representatives of the oldest breed of dogs. By the second half of the 20s of the last century, this was still possible, because otherwise it was simply impossible to win in luge sports.
Standardization and recognition. The breed was officially recognized as an independent breed in 1935. In the same year, a breed standard was formed and approved.
Years of the Second World War. This “black” period in world history affected every third family living on planet Earth. The war also left its negative imprint on the Malamute population, reducing their number to 30 purebred individuals.
Restoration and popularization. The restoration of the breed began only towards the end of the 40s of the twentieth century. Success was achieved only in the 60s. Success in this case means restoration of the number of representatives of the breed, which makes it possible to remove the issue of extinction of the species from the agenda. In the early 70s of the last century, the Alaskan Malamute spread throughout Europe, and today these hardy and good-natured dogs occupy 18th place in the Top 30 most popular dog breeds.

4 characteristics of a native Alaskan

Since 2010, the Alaskan Malamute has been the official symbol of its small homeland - the American state of Alaska. Four more interesting facts in the biography of the breed.

Wolf habits. The wolf, being the ancestor of the breed, passed on to the “Alaskans” the manner of howling at the moon. Therefore, if you leave your pet to spend the night in an enclosure on a moonlit night, do not be surprised by the prolonged howl.
Cat's claws. Another interesting feature of the breed is the structure of its paws. When you press on the pad, the Malamute's claws pop forward, like those of cats. Which, by the way, they can’t stand.
Bear tread. The dog's limbs resemble snowshoes. The structure of the paws is somewhat similar to that of a bear: wide and massive - they do not allow the dog to fall into the snow and evenly distribute the weight of the animal over the crust.
The makings of a movie star. Alaskan Malamute dogs have become real Hollywood stars. This happened after the release of the film “White Captivity” with Paul Walker in the title role. The film tells the story of the survival of four-legged pets in Antarctica after they, by the will of fate, found themselves abandoned by people at a snowy research base.

“Alaskans” are moles in wolf's clothing: they love to dig and do what they love in any environment. Even in a city apartment.

Features of the Alaskan Malamute

Psst, do I look like a wolf?
The Alaskan Malamute is a large, beautiful and strong dog that looks like a wolf. The spectacular appearance, which invariably attracts attention, is complemented by irrepressible energy, which only experienced lovers of this breed, who have a keen sense of the psychology of their pets, can cope with. These northern giants treat people kindly, but strive to dominate them. In everyday life, this character trait is not considered positive, but in extreme situations it is a big plus. There are cases when, thanks to the ability to make independent decisions, a dog saved the life of its owners.

For Russia, this breed has long been exotic and represented in small numbers. However, recently in our country she has been gaining more and more fans. Many, however, are subsequently disappointed in their dog. But this is not the fault of the malamute: such a dog does not need to be acquired spontaneously, but first you should collect all the information about the characteristics of character, behavior and living conditions. The choice in favor of this breed should not only be conscious, but also carefully weighed.

Appearance and special features of the breed

The main “mission” of the northern handsome man is the same as that of the husky – to drag loaded sleds through the snow. The Malamute has a lot in common with the Husky: both dogs have a wayward character, many even confuse these breeds. But the differences between them are not so difficult to find. The Malamute is taller, weighs more, and has a wider bone than a husky. All these qualities make the handsome Alaskan much tougher than his closest brother: with a heavy harness he can run for a whole day. Representatives of these breeds also have different coats; in Malamutes it is longer and thicker. But the color is almost identical.

Heterochromia in the Alaskan Malamute

general description

The Alaskan Malamute, one of the top 30 most popular breeds in North America, belongs to the Spitz group. This is a strongly built dog with a muscular body, densely covered with thick hair. Representatives of the breed are also distinguished by a large head and deep chest. The height at the withers and weight of males and females are different: 63.5 and 58.5 centimeters and 38 and 34 kg, respectively. Looking at the puppies, it’s even hard to believe that they grow into huge and energetic dogs. Malamutes in childhood are plush hulks that evoke affection.

High five!

The depth of the northern heavyweight's chest is equal to half its height at the withers, but its lowest point is located behind the forelimbs. If you measure the body from the shoulder-scapular joints to the ischial tuberosities, it turns out that its length is greater than the height at the withers. The power and temperament of adult male dogs can amaze even the most experienced dog lovers. This will surprise you, but Malamutes can be kept in a city apartment. But to prevent him from acting like a bull in a china shop in your home, teach him various commands and don’t let him dominate. The enormous stubbornness and self-will of these dogs must and can be fought. With a positive result of your efforts, you will receive a faithful friend for many years.

Despite their impressive appearance and some character flaws, Alaskan Malamutes sincerely become attached to their owners, love them, and show devotion. They are friendly, playful and kind. The movements of a dog of this breed are smooth, fast and balanced. The push that the hind limbs give is transmitted, like electricity through wires, to the forelimbs through the developed lower back. If you look from the side, the moment of the push is very clearly visible. The forelimbs, in turn, take a wide and smooth step. The legs moving along the line - this is clearly visible when viewed from both the front and the back - do not step too wide, but not too narrow. As the pace accelerates, the paws become close to the center line. Experts recommend that if your pet steps or generally moves in a way that interferes with productivity and efficiency, punish him to avoid repeating similar mistakes in the future.

Head

It is not too heavy, but deep and wide. It looks proportional relative to the body. The skull is also wide, moderately rounded between the ears, with gradual flattening and narrowing towards the eyes, and also rounded into the cheekbones. The Malamute's muzzle is large relative to the skull. Its upper line is slightly lowered and thereby diverges slightly from the upper line of the skull. The groove between the eyes is weakly expressed. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle (the so-called stop) is not sharp, but noticeable. From the stop to the nose, the muzzle decreases slightly - both in width and depth.

Alaskan Malamute muzzle

Teeth

Large, with a regular scissor bite. The jaws are wide and powerful, the cheekbones are flat. An overshot or undershot qualifies as a defect.

Eyes

The Malamute's eyes are almond-shaped and medium in size. Placed obliquely, color – brown. The presence of blue eyes in a representative of the breed is not just a defect - it is a disqualifying defect.

Ears

Fluffy puppy

Triangular in shape, medium size, rounded at the ends. The heads look small in comparison. Located on the back of the skull, along its outer edges. Are in line with the upper corners of the eyes. You can judge the dog’s mood by the direction of the ears: if they “look” to the sides, it means that something has alerted your pet. When a Malamute is at work, that is, carrying a load, its ears are often laid back. In a vertical position (erect), the ears point slightly forward. High set ears are considered a defect.

Nose and lips

The Malamute has a large nose and wide nostrils. The nose is black, as are the lips and eye rims. This standard is required for Malamutes of all colors. The exception is red dogs: they are allowed a brown nose. Weak pigmentation of the nose is possible during the cold season; it is called “winter nose.” The lips are thin and fit tightly.

Neck

Strong, powerful, moderate curvature.

Frame

It is not particularly massive, but the bones are strong. Not short, looks compact.

Tail

The tail of the Alaskan Malamute is densely covered with thick hair, raised above the back, but does not touch the back and does not curl onto it. At the base it continues the line of the middle position (that is, the top).

Limbs

The forelimbs of the Malamute are distinguished by well-developed muscles and massive bones. They are straight up to the pasterns, spaced parallel. The shoulder blades have a slight slope. The pasterns are strong but short and, when viewed from the side, appear somewhat slanted. The paws are of the “snowshoe” type; they are large, deep and collected, with well-developed pads. The toes are closed tightly, well curved, with protective fur between them. The claws are strong.

The hind limbs are also massive and strong. If you look from behind, you can see that they are in line with the front ones. The setting is “medium”, that is, not too wide and not too narrow. The thighs are very muscular, the knees are moderately angular. The hock joints are located low to the ground and slightly pronounced. The toes have short claws, are well curved and tightly closed, with fur growing between them. The pillows are durable and thick. The presence of dewclaws is undesirable; they are usually removed from puppies immediately after birth.

Wool

Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute has a double coat, consisting of two types of hair that differ in texture. The first is a protective cover: its hair is hard, guard hair. The second is the undercoat, it is soft and dense. The length of the outer coat and undercoat varies on different parts of the body.

The body hair, when viewed along the sides, varies in length - from short to medium. The hair is longer on the neck, shoulders, rump, hips, tail and down the back. During the warm season, the Malamute's coat is shorter and not as thick. Representatives of this breed do not have their hair cut or trimmed.

Color

The most common color in Malamutes is the so-called wolf color. Black, grey, white and sable colors are also acceptable. The combination of several colors is not prohibited, but only on the undercoat or in the “pants” area. Mixing colors in other areas is unacceptable; it is considered a vice.

White color invariably dominates the lower part of the body, partly on the limbs, paws, and also in the form of a mask on the face. A white mark on the forehead and a spot or collar of the same shade in the back of the neck are acceptable - it looks very attractive!

It is important to know: the color of Alaskan Malamutes is coated, which eliminates the presence of unevenly located spots or even breaking the color.

Possible defects

Limbs and paws are the “tools” of Alaskan Malamutes. Any pathology - regardless of whether it occurs on the front or hind limbs, whether it manifests itself in movement or in a standing position - is classified as a serious defect. Accordingly, the cow's rear legs, straight shoulders, markings, weakened pasterns, and poor angles will also be considered defects. Serious deficiencies include, among other things, stilted movements or any other types of movements that are assessed as insufficiently productive or downright unstable.

Experts consider the dog’s generally poor proportions, heaviness, slenderness, and not very strong bones to be the possible defects of the breed. Any deficiencies and defects and their severity are assessed in proportion to their severity and impact on the welfare of the animal and its daily health.

Disqualifying faults

Blue eyes and other obvious physical abnormalities are considered disqualifying. Among mental disorders, cowardly or, conversely, aggressive behavior leads to disqualification.

The testes of male dogs, there are two of them, should be normally developed and completely descended into the scrotum.

Alaskan Malamute - description of the breed

These dogs are distinguished by a strong, compact build, coarse, long and dense hair. Wide head, ears erect, wedge-shaped. Starting from the base of the nose, the muzzle becomes smaller. This breed is characterized by one feature - on the muzzle there is a pattern in the form of a mask, and on the head - in the form of a cap.

The tail is fluffy, slightly curled, and lowered. The legs are strong, muscular, and the pads are pubescent, so the four-legged animals do not fall through when running through the snow. The straight forelimbs have large bones. There are no dewclaws on the wide hind legs. The flexible and elongated lower back facilitates movement over long distances.

This body type provides dogs with incredible endurance. Clever facial expression. The placement of the eyes is similar to that of a wolf, with a slight furrow running between them, but the gaze is softer, good-natured, indicating a friendly character.

Approximate height and weight ratios for males:

Height at the withers - 64 centimeters;
Weight - 38 kilograms.

For bitches these parameters look like this:

Height at withers - 58 centimeters;
Weight - 34 kilograms.

Size cannot be assessed as the main and only indicator. It is necessary to consider the type as a whole: proportions, functional features. If the individuals are equal on these points, preference is given to those whose sizes most closely correspond to those given.

The breed standard is primarily judged on its ability to be a working dog and carry heavy loads. The paws must have incredible traction capacity. Any note about unhealthy limbs is considered a gross fault. Also, imperfections will include straight shoulders, clubfoot, unproductive type of movements, heaviness, and overly long paws.

Photo of an adult Alaskan Malamute

Malamute character

Dogs of this breed cannot be considered lazy and lazy.
They are highly motivated to work, have irrepressible energy, requiring almost constant attention. Some owners initially expect that after a walk in the fresh air the dog will get tired and want to sleep. But no. Returning home, he begins to rush around the apartment, “fight” with the furniture and spoil things. Living in a private house does not solve the problem of overly active behavior of a Malamute. When you let him out into the yard, be prepared for him to dig a huge pit.

Alaskan Malamutes in harness

Some owners call Malamutes a great way to lose weight without dieting. As a joke, of course. But there is some truth in this statement. From an early age until the age of three, these Alaska natives display particularly remarkable energy. And in order to somehow curb it, direct it in a controlled direction, the owner is forced, whether he wants it or not, to constantly play with his pet, exercise intensively with him and be ready for long runs. The dog will settle down and become calmer only after 3 years.

The Alaskan Malamute is similar in appearance to a wolf, which prompted many to raise it as a hunter or guard dog. Almost nothing came of this venture; the defender's traits in his character are poorly developed. In addition, Malamutes cannot bark, but they sing excellently. There’s just one problem: if a thief has broken into the apartment, you can’t tell by the dog’s singing. If there had been barking, that would be a different matter.

Innate good nature and sociability will not prevail in the dog’s character if there is improper upbringing and lack of training. In this situation, she becomes dangerous and uncontrollable, strives to dominate the household, so you should not neglect the proper upbringing of an Alaskan native. He needs to constantly prove that he is not the boss in the house, but you! Otherwise you won't have any problems.

Nature has endowed the Alaskan Malamute with excellent memory. In the conditions of the North, it turned out to be very useful, since the dog needed to somehow return home through the snow cover. In our climate, such ability to navigate is not needed, but memory has not gone away and should be taken into account. When training your dog, be gentle with it, without being rude. Malamutes remember bad treatment very well and, on occasion, will remember it to you, and may even take revenge.

Malamutes have fun in a rather unique way. When they get bored with the everyday routine, they begin to rush around the apartment, house or yard, demolishing everything that gets in their way. Broken pots and torn pillows are nothing. It can happen even worse: a dog can chew furniture and tear off wallpaper, after which you have to spend money on new repairs. Representatives of this breed, like huskies, do not like confined spaces. Their element is will, so it is better and cheaper to keep your North American pet in a large and spacious enclosure, with regular walks in the open air.

Small children or small animals should not be left alone in the house with the dog. He is large and loves to dominate, and one careless move will be enough to injure those who are weaker than him. It is very funny to watch how Malamutes and their close cousins, Huskies, show their acting abilities by “imagining” themselves as cats. They lie down with their paws tucked like a cat and hunt in the same way - first they hide, and then they jump up sharply.

Description of the breed, features

Despite its outward friendliness, the Malamute is a serious breed . Not every breeder can handle raising a puppy, even if this is not their first experience in training. By nature, representatives of the breed are stubborn, active and friendly, and are absolutely not suitable for protecting the owner’s property. Any stranger is a friend for them; they easily establish contact, but do not tolerate a familiar attitude towards themselves.

They get along well with children, but leaving a child alone with a dog of this breed is dangerous, because a Malamute can fight back if he is hurt, regardless of his love for the child.

They are also intolerant of other dogs if they show aggression towards themselves, but they easily get along in a pack if there is no struggle for leadership within the team. Because of their stubbornness and desire to be a leader, they are difficult to train. They quickly get bored with monosyllabic activities.

Breed standard - for females - height 58-59 cm , weight - 34-36 kg . For males - height at withers 63-64 cm , weight 38-40 kg . The largest representatives can reach a weight of 50-60 kg .

Training and education

Malamutes are very smart and agile, and these qualities appear almost from birth. A puppy of this breed begins to strive for leadership early. In his upbringing, one must show firmness and consistency, constantly give feasible physical activity, which should be increased as he grows older. You can start training immediately after purchasing a puppy, teaching him how to call, simple commands and, what is also important, how to be neat.

Steel endurance

It is important to know: innate good nature does not prevent dogs of this breed from being aggressive towards other dogs or chasing cats or birds.

Socialization of a Malamute is an important stage in his life. You can start visiting the training site from the age of 4 months, when the vaccination quarantine ends. In addition to teaching discipline, a Malamute puppy, communicating with other dogs, will certainly find friends for noisy games. At the same time, you should accustom your pet to extraneous sounds, passing cars and other irritants. Thus, you will strengthen his nervous system and make the dog’s living in the city comfortable. Many owners who plan to place a dog in a country house sometimes neglect these simple rules. As a result, the dog's socialization suffers; it feels uncomfortable on noisy city streets.

Care and maintenance

This is Love!

One of the distinguishing features of the Alaskan Malamute is its thick coat. This “fur coat” allows you to keep dogs outdoors all year round; they are not afraid of frost. The coat thins significantly only in summer. Regardless of the season, the Malamute's coat needs to be looked after, especially during the molting period.

The Malamute, despite its size, is an athletic dog and therefore needs many hours of jogging. Constant physical activity allows them to train not only their muscles, but also their minds. Keeping a representative of this breed in the courtyard of a private house does not relieve the owner of the need to walk with his pet. These dogs abhor idleness; they begin to get bored and howl with anguish, destroy everything they come across, or begin to “entertain” themselves by digging huge holes.

Alaskan Malamutes are unpretentious in nutrition; they can be fed natural food. Usually, owners cook a mixture of cereals in broth for them, adding pieces of beef tripe or trimmings to the porridge. You can give your dog ready-made dry food, but its quality must be high enough. Ready-made food with a high protein content is especially necessary during preparation for exhibitions and races. There is no need to worry about your dog getting better. Due to his natural mobility, he is not at risk of obesity.

Advantages and disadvantages

Speaking about the advantages of representatives of this breed, it should be noted that they not only have an attractive appearance , but also :

good-natured;
friendly;
hardy;
smart;
love children;
not aggressive at all;
sociable.

In addition, their coat does not have the unpleasant specific smell of a dog.

But Alaskan Malamutes also have disadvantages.

Yes, these dogs:

prone to dominant behavior;
stubborn;
do not have protective instincts;
independent;
love to dig holes;
howl often.

It should also be remembered that Malamutes should not be kept in city apartments and their communication with people or other dogs should be limited..

Health and Diseases of the Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes are quite hardy dogs, adapted to life in extreme climatic conditions, but diseases do not bypass them. They are prone to neurological disorders affecting the peripheral nervous system - polyneuropathy.

Representatives of this breed also suffer from diseases such as hip dysplasia, anal adenocarcinoma, diabetes, and hemophilia. They also suffer from skin diseases: atopic dermatitis and demodicosis (the latter is caused by the Demodex mite).

Eye pathologies are also common in Malamutes, such as progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, day blindness (hemeralogy), and glaucoma. They also suffer from bloating and a thyroid disorder called hypothyroidism. Oddly enough, these northern giants sometimes exhibit dwarfism.

Alaskan Malamutes, unlike some other breeds, are distinguished by their enviable longevity. They live on average 13-16 years.

Video

* We invite you to watch a video about the Alaskan Malamute . In fact, in front of you is a playlist in which you can select and watch any of 20 videos about a given dog breed by simply clicking on the button in the upper right corner of the window. In addition, the material contains quite a lot of photos. By looking at them you can find out what an Alaskan Malamute looks like.

In this article:

History of the origin of Alaskan Malamutes
Alaskan Malamute - description of the breed
Popular colors of Alaskan Malamutes
Character and habits of Alaskan Malamutes
Interesting facts about Alaskan Malamutes
Pros and cons of Alaskan Malamutes
Breeding Alaskan Malamutes
Caring for Alaskan Malamutes
Alaskan Malamute diet
Diseases and health problems
Alaskan Malamute - price and how to buy correctly

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The Alaskan Malamute is an intelligent, strong, large dog of the aboriginal type. She is able to survive at very low temperatures and with a minimum supply of provisions. The dogs are accustomed to the harsh weather conditions of Alaska. Despite the animal’s high intelligence, learning requires a lot of strength and perseverance.

How to choose a puppy

To avoid all sorts of risks, do not buy a puppy from your own hands, but contact registered nurseries or private breeders. The Alaskan Malamute must have documents from such official organizations as the Russian Cynological Federation (RKF) and the Union of Cynological Organizations of Russia (SCOR). You should not trust the so-called club documents, since there is a high probability that you will find yourself the owner of a dog that is not purebred or has physical and psychological defects.

Malamute puppy with mom

It is recommended to buy a puppy between the ages of 1 and 4 months. Month-old puppies are purchased by those who believe that a long stay in a pack can develop various bad habits. Accordingly, being with the owner almost from infancy, he will quickly become attached to the person. In older puppies, exterior inclinations are more accurately determined, so future owners, for whom this indicator is important, are patient and wait for the kids to grow up.

Regardless of age, Alaskan Malamute puppies should be active, curious, and have a good appetite. Characteristic features of healthy babies: dark eyes, lively eyes, straight and thick paws, small belly, thick tail. The color of the puppy must match the color of the adult dog. His fur is thick and fluffy from infancy. Puppies with great show potential, as a rule, have not only a magnificent appearance, but also self-confident, sometimes daring behavior.

A simple test can help the future owner in choosing a puppy. They put a light collar and leash on him and slowly walk away. If, after a little persuasion, the baby follows the person without crawling, whining or falling, then he will certainly grow into an excellent, balanced dog with leadership abilities.

Photos of Malamute puppies

How much does an Alaskan Malamute cost?

The cost of a Malamute puppy with great exhibition prospects can reach 100 thousand rubles.
Children without documents are valued much cheaper, their price does not exceed 10-15 thousand rubles. Such a significant difference in price is explained by the fact that puppies - potential winners of exhibitions and competitions - are usually used for breeding, producing excellent offspring. But no one has such views on kids without a “passport”; they remain just pets. The cost of Alaskan Malamute puppies is also influenced by the regalia of the parents. The offspring of the titled winner of world exhibitions will cost the most. Puppies from a dog that won the Russian Championship are somewhat cheaper. Well, the lowest price will be for puppies whose parents only have an “excellent” rating.

Health and illness

The average lifespan of an Alaskan Malamute is approximately 12-15 years.

The most common diseases of these dogs include: autoimmune hemolytic anemia, bloating, cancer, chondrodysplasia (dwarfism), diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, eye diseases (corneal degeneration and dystrophy, glaucoma, cataracts, generalized progressive retinal atrophy), hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism , skin diseases (generalized demodicosis, follicular dysplasia).

Malamutes often have genetic pathologies that lead to impaired zinc absorption, which, in turn, provokes various skin lesions (even if the level of zinc in food is normal).