Alaska Dog, also known internationally as the Alaskan Malamute, is the most famous sled dog breed in the world. They have a large, powerful shape that overwhelms and a little intimidates the person on the opposite side. But if you look closely, the Alaskan is an extremely gentle, friendly, and lovable dog.
Today, in addition to being considered a sled dog, Alaska is a popular family pet. Would you like to adopt an Alaskan dog but don't know much about them? Check out the article below as we wrap up for you "everything" you should know about this adorable Alaskan dog breed.
History and Origins
The ancestor of the Alaskan Malamute was the wild dire wolf, which was later domesticated as a pet by the sled dog tribe. However, it was the nomadic Eskimos who first discovered the incredible stamina and resilience of Alaskan wolves. Since then, they have been crossed with many other dog breeds like St. Bernard and have produced a generation of big, strong Alaskans that can move and sled very well on snow.
The Alaskan dog breed is primarily bred and trained by the people of Alaska, making it a sled dog for harsh weather conditions such as the Arctic. Later, the land of Alaska became a state in the United States, and in 1935, the Alaskan Dog was recognized as a world dog breed by the American Kennel Association AKC.
When World War II happened, 1940-1945 was considered a dark age for the Alaskan dog. All healthy dogs at the time were taken to fight the U.S. military. At the end of World War II, the number of Alaskan dogs was greatly reduced. Americans at the time realized this and quickly bred many living Alaskan dogs to protect this precious dog.
see more: Dalmatians – All interesting information from A to Z
Appearance Characteristics of Alaskan Dogs
At first glance, you will see that Alaskan dogs are very similar to wolves. The reason is that they are a branch of the Arctic dire wolf breed. Alaskans also come out on top among canines. Divided into 3 types: Alaska Standard (standard), AlaskaLarge Standard (large standard), and Alaska Giant (giant) Kennel Club AKC.
Body
The average height and weight of an Alaskan Malamute is approximately 65-70 cm and 45-50 kg. Giant Alaskans can reach a height of 1m and weigh up to 80kg. They have fairly well-proportioned bodies and large, strong bones, and have been suitable for pulling carts since ancient times.
Alaskan Malamutes are very healthy. Originally a sled dog, the leg joints are extremely thick, making it easy to move in the thick snow. The Alaskan body gives a sense of stamina and toughness that not all dog breeds have.
Feather
colors are very varied, such as black and white, off-white, tan, golden bronze... or some rarer colors such as snow white and pink. However, all Alaskan Malamutes have a white muzzle and 4 legs. This is also an important point for you to know a purebred Alaskan dog.
And huskies, Alaskans also have 2 thick coats for the icy weather in the Arctic. The inner coat is short, thick, smooth, evenly distributed throughout the body, and has the effect of keeping warm. And the outer coat is longer, fluffy, and especially waterproof.
First part
When looking directly at an Alaskan Malamute, perhaps the face is the biggest attraction their faces are not so pretty, even their cheeks are swollen and their noses are broken. But it feels very cute and fun.
Eyes: The Alaskan's eyes are almond-shaped, slightly slanted, and set obliquely on the skull. Purebred Alaskans always have hazel or dark brown eyes. Alaskans with blue eyes will be considered non-pure breed dogs.
Ears: Alaskan ears are medium in size with fluffy lobes. Generally, their ears are proportional to their faces.
Muzzle: The Alaskan muzzle is neither too long nor too short, with a bit of fat. The feathers on the snout are white. The nostrils are quite large and slightly pink in the middle, which looks lovely.
Tail
Alaskan tails look like reeds because they are covered in thick, long, fluffy fur. In particular, their tails are always bent backward. You can tell Alaskans aren't purebred by seeing their tails hang down.
Character Traits
Alaskans are descendants of the wild and sly dire wolves breed. But after years of domestication and crossbreeding, today's Alaskan dog has lost its aggressiveness, replaced by gentle, friendly, and obedient dogs.
Loyalty
Alaskans are very loyal. To this day, the grouping behavior of direwolf ancestors is ingrained in Alaskan blood. Alaska will treat its owner as a "leader" and obey all orders.
You should raise Alaskans from a young age to get used to family members. Because Alaska's nature is extremely loyal to those who nurture them. Alaskans are not aggressive, but if their owners are threatened, they are ready to rush in to defend them, even at the expense of their own lives.
Intellectual
Alaskan is an intelligent dog, so it can learn quickly and listen to its owner. They can think and sense dangerous things happening around them. If your Alaskan Malamute shows the following signs: pulling on his shirt, barking, growling... then you should look around carefully to see if something is happening to prevent it from happening.
With a smart brain and a habit of pulling carts, it's been around for a long time. Alaska remembers the road vividly. Despite long journeys, it is rare to see this breed get lost. You don't have to worry about leaving Alaska running and jumping alone. Because they will surely remember the way and come back. Just for fear of stealing the dog and taking it away.
The hyperactive, agile
The alaskan breed is very hyperactive. They like to run, jump, and play in large spaces such as fields and parks. You should avoid keeping Alaskans in captivity like other dog breeds. This prevents them from releasing excess energy, which can lead to destruction and even become more aggressive.
The Alaskan is a working dog. They like to be trained for strenuous exercises, such as tire pulling, weight training, long-distance running... You should immediately give up throwing objects, catching balls, etc... Because Alaskans cannot pick up objects like other dog breeds, because in the past only Train to pull a cart.
Friendly, Sociable
Alaskan Dog is a friendly, sociable dog. People rarely see the fighting in Alaska. Instead, they were found to live in harmony with other pets in the household. Alaska in particular loves children very much. They are the best friends of the children in the family. Therefore, this breed is ideal for families with young children.
Alaskan Dog Care for You
The Alaskan native is a cold arctic dog. So how to take care of Alaskan dogs in a place where the weather is quite hot is not a small challenge. But if Alaska is given a suitable habitat and a reasonable diet, they can still live and develop normally.
Alaskan Habitat
If you keep Alaskans, give them a spacious, airy habitat. Alaskans love to run and play a lot. Restrictions keep Alaska indoors for too long. We recommend that if you live in an apartment, stay out of Alaska for now. Because they are not suitable for such a narrow living environment.
Another thing to keep in mind is in hot climates. You should give it to Alaskans in a cool place or an air-conditioned room in case they vomit from heat shock.
Food Alaskans
are not picky eaters. But you should also note that the main ingredient in Alaskan food must be protein. You can provide them with beef, chicken, duck eggs, etc... and don't forget to feed them with high amounts of fiber, calcium, and minerals that are good for their digestive system and bone growth.
recommended feeding Alaska 3-4 meals a day, depending on age. Eat more as a child, eat less as an adult. You should remember to increase your diet to accommodate growth in Alaska.
Alaskans hate vegetables and love beef. You can replace beef with other meats like pork or chicken. Even if you hate eating vegetables, you should force them to eat well and avoid eating only meat, it's not good.
Do not feed Alaskans with stale or expired food. Leftover food must be discarded and replaced with new food. Don't feed them one meal throughout the day, as leftover food can ferment and be harmful to the Alaskan digestive tract. Another thing to note is to change the water regularly, about 3 times a day, so as not to dirty the water.
Cleaning of Alaskans Take
care to keep Alaskans clean as they are active or come in contact with sandy soil. You should bathe Alaskans every time you take them out. At the same time, Alaska must be cleaned up. Especially in humid weather, avoid bacteria growing into the body and causing the disease to your dog.
Alaskan fur is thick and long, making it difficult to care for. If you can, you can take them to Spa for Dogs about once a month. Otherwise, you can trim your hair at home. Note that regular pruning is required, especially during the hot summer months. Brush them daily to remove dead hair, as the Alaskan Malamute is a breed that sheds year-round.
If you're an attentive person, you can clean the nooks and crannies of the Alaskan body. For example, between the toes, ears, nostrils, and tongue. Because these areas are less visible and are where many pathogenic bacteria enter the Alaskan body.
Training Alaskan Dogs to Exercise
As mentioned above, Alaskans are very active and you remember to keep them active every day. When Alaska was a child, she could run or run by bike. Adult Alaskans need heavier activities because they are a working breed. You can get them to practice pulling tires, pulling heavy objects, running long distances,
etc. Practice should last about 1 hour a day so they can release excess energy and avoid running around. At the same time, it also helps the body in Alaska to be healthier and firmer.
Alaskan dog classification
According to physical characteristics,
Alaska is divided into 3 types: Alaskan standard dog (standard), Alaskan large standard dog (large standard), and Alaskan giant dog (giant):
The Alaskan standard is large and quite compact. An adult Alaskan dog weighs only about 35-45 kg. This is the most popular Alaskan breed because it is affordable and easier to keep than the Giant.
The Alaskan Large Standard is a slightly larger dog. Standard Alaskans with good parental genetics, provided the correct habitat and diet, resulted in larger body sizes than the Standard breed and were classified as Large Standard.
The Alaskan Giant is a huge, oversized Alaskan dog. They are much taller in height and weight than the above two types. The largest Alaskan species recorded to date can be up to 1m tall and weigh up to 80kg.
Along with the huge body, the health and the ability to pull goods are several times that of the other two types. They appear a lot in the United States and European countries.
purebred
are 2 types of purebred Alaskan dogs: Alaskan dogs and Alaskan-Alaskan hybrid
dogs. Purebred Alaskan dogs are dog breeds in which both parents have Alaskan ancestry. And super thoroughbred Alaskans are those with "horrible blood" and all generations are Alaskans. Usually, purebred Alaskans have full documentation to prove the origin. After purchase, you will get the complete package.
Alaskan crossbreeds are dogs whose parents are of Alaskan descent. The other dog could be a Beige, Husky, Newfoundland, Samoyed... In the market, an Alaskan mongrel would be much cheaper than a purebred dog because the dog is less popular with the owner.
Common Alaskan
Disease Parasites
Dogs often suffer from parasite-related diseases because their coats have as many as 2 layers and are too thick. Examples are parasitic lice on fur and fleas on blood-feeding skin.
To prevent this disease, you should remember to clean your Alaskan coat regularly and keep it trimmed. Avoid keeping their fur thick as that is an extremely favorable environment for lice and fleas to hide.
Inflammatory bowel disease
is a disease that occurs in a considerable number of Alaskan puppies. They got the disease because a virus from outside got into Alaska and damaged the gut. Or maybe it's because small Alaskans eat junk, poisonous food that they can't digest. Over time, it can lead to inflammatory bowel disease.
When Alaskan dogs suffer from this disease, they often have symptoms such as vomiting, bloating, and boiling. All you need to do now is take the Alaskan dog to the veterinary hospital for prompt treatment.
Parasitic eye
the disease is caused by two worms called Thelazia californiensis and T. Callipaeda in Alaskan dogs. These worms usually live in the eyes and retina of Alaskan dogs. Your dog may even go blind if left untreated.
The basic symptoms of the disease are Alaskan dogs with watery eyes and extreme sensitivity to light. You should take them to the vet right away so they can get the parasite out of Alaska's eyes.
Heat stroke
is a relatively common disease among Alaskan dogs imported from abroad, which have not yet adapted to the hot climate. When an Alaskan dog suffers from heat stroke, the first symptoms are vomiting, lying flat, and even passing out temporarily.
The disease is extremely dangerous, causing nosebleeds in mild cases and paralysis of dogs in severe cases. To prevent this disease, you must keep your Alaskan dog cool at all times. The ambient temperature in Alaska must not exceed 30 degrees Celsius. If it is too hot, be sure to put Alaska in an air-conditioned room, and do not let them run and jump out, which is easy to cause heat shock.
These are some of the common diseases of Alaskan dogs, and there are other, but rarer diseases. To prevent some dangerous diseases, we recommend that you regularly fully vaccinate and deworm your Alaskans to keep them healthy.
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