Alaskan Malamute
Group: Working
Size: Large
Coat length: Medium
Grooming required: Every day
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Large
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: More than an hour per day
The substantial but wolf-like Malamute is the largest of the Arctic dogs. They come in a variety of colours and have a double coat: a thick, coarse outer coat and woolly undercoat. They also have large feet with tough pads to cope with harsh snowy conditions.
They were bred by the Malhemut tribe in Alaska to pull sleds. As a result, Malamutes are strong and have a keen sense of smell and direction. They need plenty of mental stimulation as they have a tendency to be quite destructive if bored. They much prefer to be outside but need a secure garden as they love to dig.
They get on very well with people and can be trained to get on with household pets but do have a strong prey instinct.
They need plenty of exercise but have to be careful in hot conditions because of their thick coat which needs regular brushing and they moult heavily at certain times. They are prone to bloat, hip dysplasia and dwarfism.