Alaskan Malamute Breed Standard
General
Appearance
The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs,
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 head erect and eyes
alert showing 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 colors. 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, including
temperament, which interferes with the accomplishment of this purpose, is to be
considered the most serious of faults.
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 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 on 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 topline of the
skull and the topline 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 colors, 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, Topline,
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, 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 feet.
Color
The usual
colors range from light gray through intermediate shadings to black, sable, and
shadings of sable to red. Color combinations are acceptable in undercoats,
points, and trimmings. The only solid color allowable is all white. White is
always the predominant color on underbody, 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. The Malamute is mantled, and broken colors extending
over the body or uneven splashing are 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 centerline
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, cowhocks, bad pasterns, straight shoulders, lack of
angulation, stilted gait (or any gait that isn't balanced, strong and steady),
ranginess, shallowness, ponderousness, lightness of bone, and poor overall
proportion.
Disqualifications
Blue Eyes