Alaskan Malamutes

One of the few truly American breeds is the Alaskan Malamute. His name derives both from the land of his origin and the Innuit tribe with which he was associated for centuries, the "Mahlemut." These large heavily-furred dogs are allied with the Eskimo, the Siberian Husky and the Samoyed. 

The Mahlemuts were an extremely high type of Eskimo who bred a dog that matched their own quality. The breed remained pure with them even though white men interested in winning races crossed the original Malamute with fast breeds from warmer climates. The gamblers' fever for prize money early in this century led to inferior mongrels and the rich foundation stock might have been lost had not more ethical minds entered the picture and brought pure-breds to the United States from the remote outposts.

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The Alaskan Malamute is, of course, one of the noblest of the great family of sled dogs. When sled-dog racing on an organized basis was introduced into the northern states, he was always among the leaders, both for speed and endurance. It was found, too, that he didn't have to live in snowy, bitter climate and became a part of the American bench-show and home picture. 

He is as fine an all-around work dog as exists and has a gentle nature that does not agree at all with an undeserved reputation in some circles for savagery. If there ever was any wolf in his background, it has long since been dissipated. 

The cold-climate heritage of the Malamute has, of course, given him a dense, coarse coat that usually is wolfish grey or black and white. The markings about the face are distinctive, appearing mask-like with eyes clearly defined.

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