According to the American Kennel Club a dog breed is a relatively homogeneous group of animals within a species, developed and maintained by man. Each dog breed was created by man, using selective breeding to get desired qualities. The result is a large diversity of pure-bred dogs which will, when bred to others of their breed, produce their own kind. The Alaskan malamute is an American breed that was developed from the dogs of the Inuits inhabiting the Kotzebue Sound area of Alaska. The dogs were imported into New England by a few dedicated sleddog people who had fallen in love with the breed in the early 1900’s.

In 1935, two important things happened in the history of the malamute outside of Alaska. First, the initial meeting of the Alaskan Malamute Club of America was held in New Hampshire, and second the registration of malamutes with at least a two generation pedigree began. In December of 1953 the Alaskan malamute became a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. This makes the malamute a relatively "new" breed with an "old" history. The traits that the Inuits needed in their dogs still survive in our malamutes of today. These traits are what makes the malamute a malamute and not a golden retriever. If you are considering owning a malamute, these traits are what you need to become familiar with so that you can make an informed decision on whether this is the breed for you and your family.

To give you an idea about malamute traits, here is a list of phrases you routinely hear malamute owners utter:

• Affectionate
• When he sheds...he REALLY SHEDS
• Not a watchdog
• Not a "one man dog"
• Is happy when he gets regular exercise
• Devoted and loyal
• Clownish
• Laid back
• Doesn’t always like other dogs
• When he sheds....he REALLY SHEDS
• Wild man
• Adaptable
• Will steal food off the counter, out of the trash...wherever he finds it!
• Talkative (but not barkers)
• Able to express their feeling
• Can dig holes to china
• Great dog to run with
• Tough, independent
• Great dog to do outdoor things with - sled, backpack, ski
• Willing to try anything
• Playful
• Wants to eat cats or other furry or fast moving objects
• Will take off whenever he gets loose
• Couch potato
• Needs something to do...gets in trouble when he gets bored
• Smart, can figure things out quickly
• Needs a fenced yard or pen
• When he sheds....he REALLY SHEDS
• Friendly
• Needs training and socialization

We recommend that you also visit the following sites:

• About the Malamute
• FAQ, History of the Malamute, description of the Malamute
• Comparison of the Malamute and the Siberian husky
• Alaskan Malamute Warning label
• Buying a Malamute