Working Dogs
Alaskan Malamute













Home | Shiba Inu | Chow Chow | Doberman Pinscher | Akita | Alaskan Malamute | Bernese Mountain Dog | Boxer | Bull Mastiff | Canaan Dog | Canadian Eskimo Dog | Entlebucher Mountain Dog | Euraster | Great Dane | Great Pyrenees | Greenland Dog | Karlian Bear Dog | Komondor | Kuvasz | Leonberger | Mastiff | New Foundland Dog | Portugese Water Dog | Rottweiler | Saint Bernard | Samoyed | Giant Schnauzer | Standard Schnauzer | Siberian Huskey





alaskanmalamute.jpg

The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest arctic sled dogs, was named after the native Innuit tribe called Mahlemuts. These people settled along the shores of Kotzebue Sound in the upper-western part of Alaska. The origin of these people and dogs has never been ascertained, but they were there for generations prior to the Asiatic sailors visiting the shores and returning to their homeland with stories of "native people using dogs to haul sledges."

It is confirmed that these Alaskan Malamute sledge dogs were used as draft animals and they have never lost their identity. When Alaska became settled by white men, the Arctic breed may have become mixed with outside dogs. The lure of sled dog racing also became popular, further encouraging mixing of lineage for faster dogs. Fortunately, the sport of sled dog racing became popular in the United States and interest in developing the pure strain of Alaskan Malamute started in 1926.

The Alaskan Malamute was recognized for AKC registration in 1935.