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| 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 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
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, including temperament, which interferes with the
accomplishment of this purpose, is to be considered the most serious of
faults.
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| Characteristics: |
Important: In judging Malamutes, their
function as a sledge dog for heavy freighting in the Arctic must be given
consideration above all else. The legs of the Malamute must indicate unusual
strength and tremendous propelling power. Face markings are a distinguishing
feature.
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| Temperament: |
The Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate,
friendly dog, not a "one man" dog. He is a loyal, devoted companion, playful
on invitation, but generally impressive by his dignity after maturity.
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| Head And Skull: |
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. 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. 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. The lips are close fitting. Nose, lips and eye rims'
pigmentation: Is black in all coat colours except reds. Brown is permitted
in red dogs. The lighter streaked "snow nose" is acceptable.
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| Eyes: |
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.
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| Ears: |
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.
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| Mouth: |
The upper and lower jaws are broad with
large teeth. The incisors meet with a scissors grip. Overshot or undershot
is a fault.
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| Neck: |
The neck is strong and moderately arched.
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| 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.
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| Body: |
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.
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| Hindquarters: |
he 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 nor
too wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are undesirable and should be removed
shortly after puppies are whelped.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Gait/Movement: |
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 nor 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 penalised.
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| Coat: |
The Malamute has a thick, coarse guard
coat, never long and soft. The undercoat is dense, from 2.5 - 5 cm (1 - 2
ins) 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.
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| Colour: |
The usual colours range from light grey
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 underbody, parts of legs and 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 colours
extending over the body or uneven splashing are undesirable.
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| Sizes: |
Size, Proportion and Substance: There is
a natural range of size in the breed. The desirable freighting sizes are:
Dogs 63.5 cm (25 ins) at the shoulders - 38.5 kg (85 lbs) Bitches 58.5 cm
(23 ins) at the shoulder - 34 kg (75 lbs) However, size consideration should
not outweigh that of type, proportion, movement and other functional
attributes. When dogs are judged equal in type, proportion, and 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.
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Faults:
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The degree to which a dog is penalised 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. Serious Faults: Any characteristic of the individual specimen, including temperament, which interferes with his strength and endurance is to be considered the most serious of faults. Any indication of unsoundness in legs and feet, front or rear, standing or moving. Faults under this provision would be: Ranginess, shallowness, ponderousness Lightness of bone Poor overall proportions Straight shoulders Lack of angulation Bad pasterns Cow hocks Splay-footedness Stilted gait, or any gait that is not balanced, strong & steady. Faults: High set ears Over- or undershot Broken colours extending over the body or uneven splashing. |
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Disqualification:
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Blue eyes
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| Notes: |
Male animals should have two apparently
normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum
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Reprinted ANKC website.
Please click on the AMCA logo below to go to the Alaskan Malamute Club of America's judging notes:
bravenet.com
