General Appearance
The
Alaskan Malamute, is one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, it is a powerful
and substantially built dog with a deep chest and strong, well-muscled
body. The Malamute stands well over the pads, and this stance gives the
appearance of much activity and a proud carriage, with an erect head and
alert eyes, showing their unbounded interest, and curiosity.
The head is broad.
Ears are triangular, and erect when alerted. The muzzle is bulky, only
slight diminishing in width from root to nose. The muzzle is not pointed
or long, yet not stubby. The coat is thick, with a coarse guard coat of
sufficient length to protect a woolly undercoat. Malamutes are of various
colours. Face markings are a distinguishing feature. These consist of a
cap over the head, the face either all white or marked with a bar and/or
mask. The tail is well furred, carried over the back, and has the appearance
of a waving plume.
The Malamute must be a heavy boned dog with sound legs, good feet, deep
chest and powerful shoulders, and have all of the other physical attributes
necessary for the efficient performance of his job. The gait must be steady,
balanced, tireless and totally efficient. He is not intended as
a racing sled dog designed to compete in speed trials. The Malamute is
structured for strength and endurance, and any characteristic of the individual
specimen.
Size, Proportion, Substance
There is a natural
range in size in the breed. The desirable freighting sizes are: males,
25 inches at the shoulders, 85 pounds; females, 23 inches at the shoulders,
75 pounds. However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type,
proportion, movement and other functional attributes. When dogs are judged
equal in type, proportion, movement, the dog nearest the desirable freighting
size is to be preferred.
The depth of chest
is approximately one half the height of the dog at the shoulders, the deepest
point being just behind the forelegs. The length of the body from point
of shoulder, to the rear point of pelvis, is longer than the height of
the body from ground to top of the withers. The body carries no excess
weight, and bone is in proportion to its size.
Head
The head is broad
and deep, not coarse or clumsy, but in proportion to the size of the dog.
The expression is soft and indicates an affectionate disposition. The eyes
are obliquely placed in the skull. Eyes are brown, almond shaped and of
medium size. Dark eyes are preferred. Blue Eyes are a Disqualifying
Fault.
The ears are of
medium size, but small in proportion to the head. The ears are triangular
in shape and slightly rounded at the tips. They are set wide apart on the
outside back edges of the skull in line with the upper corner of the eye,
giving ears the appearance, when erect, of standing off from the skull.
Erect ears point slightly forward, but when the dog is at work, the ears
are sometimes folded against the skull. High set ears are a fault.
The skull is broad and moderately rounded between the ears, gradually
narrowing and flattening on top, as it approaches the eyes, rounding off
to cheeks that are moderately flat. There is a slight furrow between the
eyes. The top line of the skull, and the top line of the muzzle show a
slight break downward from a straight line as they join.
The muzzle is large
and bulky in proportion to the size of the skull, diminishing slightly
in width and depth from junction with the skull to the nose. In all coat
colours, except reds, the nose, lips, and eye rims' pigmentation is black.
Brown is permitted in red dogs. The lighter streaked "snow nose" is acceptable.
The lips are close fitting. The upper and lower jaws are broad with large
teeth. The incisors meet with a scissors grip. Overshot or undershot
is a fault.
Neck, Top line, Body
The neck is strong
and moderately arched. The chest is well developed. The body is compactly
built, but not short coupled. The back is straight and gently sloping to
the hips. The loins are hard and well muscled. A long loin that may
weaken the back is a fault. The tail is moderately set, and follows
the line of the spine at the base. The tail is carried over the back when
not working. It is not a snap tail or curled tight against the back, nor
is it short furred like a fox brush. The Malamute tail is well furred,
and has the appearance of a waving plume.
Forequarters
The shoulders are
moderately sloping; forelegs heavily boned and muscled, straight to the
pasterns when viewed from the front. Pasterns are short and strong, and
slightly sloping when viewed from the side. The feet are of the snowshoe
type, tight and deep, with well-cushioned pads, giving a firm, compact
appearance. The feet are large, toes tight fitting and well arched. There
is a protective growth of hair between the toes. The pads are thick and
tough; toenails short and strong.
Hindquarters
The rear legs are
broad and heavily muscled through the thighs; stifles moderately bent;
hock joints are moderately bent and well let down. When viewed from the
rear, the legs stand and move true in line with the movement of the front
legs, not too close or too wide.
Dewclaws on the rear legs are undesirable
and should be removed shortly after puppies are whelped.
Coat
The Malamute has
a thick, coarse guard coat, never long and soft. The undercoat is dense,
from one to two inches in depth, it is oily and woolly. The coarse guard
coat varies in length as does the undercoat. The coat is relatively short
to medium along the sides of the body, with the length of the coat increasing
around the shoulders and neck, down the back, over the rump, and in the
breeching and plume. Malamutes usually have a shorter, and less dense coat
during the summer months. The Malamute is shown naturally. Trimming is
not acceptable except to provide a clean cut appearance of the feet.
Colour
The usual colours
range from light gray, through intermediate shadings, to black, sable,
and shadings of sable to red. Colour combinations are acceptable in undercoats,
points, and trimmings. The only solid colour allowable is all white. White
is always the predominant colour on under body, parts of legs, feet, and
part of face markings. A white blaze on the forehead and/or collar or a
spot on the nape is attractive and acceptable. If the Malamute is mantled, and broken colours extend over the body
or in uneven splashing , this is undesirable.
Gait
The gait of the
Malamute is steady, balanced, and powerful. He is agile for his size and
build. When viewed from the side, the hindquarters exhibit strong rear
drive that is transmitted through a well-muscled loin to the forequarters.
The forequarters receive the drive from the rear with a smooth reaching
stride. When viewed from the front or from the rear, the legs move true
in line, not too close or too wide. At a fast trot, the feet will converge
toward the centreline of the body.
A stilted gait,
or any gait that is not completely efficient and tireless, is to be penalized.
Temperament
The Alaskan Malamute
is an affectionate, friendly dog, not a "one man" dog. He is a loyal, devoted
companion, playful in invitation, but generally impressive by his dignity
after maturity.
Summary
IMPORTANT: In judging Malamutes, their function as a sledge dog for heavy freighting in the Arctic must be given consideration above all else. The degree to which a dog is penalized should depend upon the extent to which the dog deviates from the description of the ideal Malamute, and the extent to which the particular fault would actually affect the working ability of the dog.
The legs of the Malamute must indicate unusual strength and tremendous propelling power. Any indication of unsoundness in legs and feet, front or rear, standing or moving, is to be considered a serious fault.
Faults under this provision would be splay-footedness, cow hocks, bad pasterns, straight shoulders, lack of angulations, stilted gait (or any gait that isn't balanced, strong and steady), ranginess, shallowness, ponderousness, lightness of bone, and poor overall proportion.
Disqualification's
Blue Eyes
Copywrite© 2007 Sharon Bartlett