THE FOLLOWING IS THE AKC BREED STANDARD FOR THE ALASKAN MALAMUTE, WRITTEN, APPROVED, AND PUBLISHED BY THE ALASKAN MALAMUTE CLUB OF AMERICA.
General Appearance:
The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, is a powerful and robust breed, characterized by its deep chest and strong, well-muscled body. This breed stands well over the pads, creating an impression of activity and a proud carriage, with its head erect and eyes alert, showing interest and curiosity. The head is broad, while the triangular ears stand erect when alert. The muzzle is bulky, with only a slight decrease in width from root to nose—it strikes a balance, not being pointed, long, or stubby. The coat is thick, featuring a coarse guard coat that effectively protects a dense, woolly undercoat. Malamutes can come in various colors, and their face markings are particularly distinctive, often displaying a cap over the head with white faces or those marked with a bar and/or mask. The tail, well-furred and carried over the back, resembles a waving plume. The Malamute must always possess heavy bone structure, sound legs, good feet, a deep chest, and powerful shoulders, all essential for optimal performance as a sled dog. The gait should be steady, balanced, and efficient, emphasizing strength and endurance rather than speed, as this breed is not designed for racing. Any traits, including temperament, that detract from fulfilling this purpose are considered serious faults.
Size, Proportion, Substance:
Within the breed standard for the Alaskan Malamute, there exists a natural range in size. The ideal weights for freighting are males at 25 inches at the shoulders, weighing approximately 85 pounds, and females at 23 inches, weighing around 75 pounds. However, when assessing a Malamute, type, proportion, movement, and functional attributes should take precedence over size alone. When dogs show equal traits, preference goes to the one closest to the desirable freighting specifications. The depth of chest should measure about half the height at the shoulders, with the deepest point located just behind the forelegs. A longer body from the shoulder point to the pelvis relative to the height from ground to withers illustrates proper proportion, and the overall body should possess no excess weight with bone structure in proportion to size.
Head:
The Alaskan Malamute breed standard emphasizes a broad and deep head, proportionate to the dog's size. Its expression is soft, suggesting an affectionate disposition. The eyes, placed obliquely in the skull, are brown, almond-shaped, and of medium size, with dark eyes preferred; blue eyes are a disqualifying fault. The ears are of moderate size— triangular in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, and set wide apart, giving them an alert appearance. A broad skull that narrows towards the eyes and flattens on top concludes with moderately flat cheeks. A slight furrow is visible between the eyes, and the toplines of both the skull and muzzle exhibit a subtle downward break as they connect. The muzzle is sizeable and bulky relative to the skull's dimension, tapering slightly towards the nose. The pigmentation of the nose, lips, and eye rims is usually black, except for permissible brown in red specimens, while a lighter