Breed
History
The Malamute is a descendant of dogs of the Mahlemiut tribe of upper
western Alaska; native dogs were probably crossed with larger "white
man's breeds" during the Gold Rush to increase their size for
use as heavy freighting dogs. Recent DNA analysis confirms that
this is one of the oldest breeds of dog.
At least four thousand years ago, but very likely even earlier,
the Eskimos crossed the Bering Straits when the tribes migrated
East from Siberia. Arctic anthropology indicates the presence of
Eskimo civilization at Cape Krusenstern as early as 1850 B.C.
The history of the Alaskan Malamute is one where the bond between
man and canine is most clear. The beginning of the Malamute breed
has been traced to the Mahlemuts, an Inuit tribe of northwestern
Alaska. The Mahlemuts cultivated and bred this dog for use in sledging
supplies from seacoast to village, for hunting seals, and for protection
against the polar bear. The Malamute has a double coat that protects
it against wind, snow, ice, and 70-degree-below-zero temperatures.
It is one of the oldest breeds of dog that is still true to its
original size and use. Without these dogs, the Mahlemuts may not
have survived the rigors of the Arctic. The Malamute dog has had
a distinguished history; aiding Admiral Richard Byrd to the South
Pole, and the miners who came to Alaska during the Gold Rush of
1896. This dog was never destined to be a racing sled dog; instead,
it was used for heavy freighting, pulling thousands of pounds of
supplies to villages and camps. It is a heavy-boned dog, with powerfully
built, strong shoulders. When working, the Malamute shows a steady,
balanced, tireless gait. It is not built for speed, but for heavy
draft work.
Responsible breeders will want to preserve this heritage of the
Malamute's working abilities. This dog is not necessarily a beauty
queen; he is an intelligent, resourceful, hardworking animal with
a major attitude. Originally bred to survive the rigors of the Arctic,
he views the world in a singular manner. He has certain expectations
of humans, and not everyone can measure up. He is friendly to his
family members, and demands a lot of attention. Socialization of
the Malamute is imperative. With the size of this dog, the strength
and intelligence, he is very formidable. Malamutes do not normally
bark. They tend to "talk" or how !
Eskimo means "raw flesh eater" in the language of the
Canadian Indians, the Eskimos referred to themselves as "Innuit"
which means "the people." Culturally they are quite different
from the other races in the New World; their history is mysterious
and much of this surrounds the dog. Thus its history and early development
are largely conjectural.
Early life for the Eskimo consisted of nomadic travel in extremely
rigorous conditions. Dogs and sleds were essential to their way
of life and were their most prized possessions. Without them travel
and hauling would have been impossible, The dogs also hunted polar
bear and other Arctic mammals for food. They are extremely hardy
dogs and have adapted to the extremely low temperatures commonplace
in Alaska .
During World War II, many sled dogs, including many of the few registered
Malamutes, were loaned for war duty. After the war many of these
same dogs were used on an expedition to Antarctica. They served
and then, due to some bureaucratic decision, were chained to an
ice floe and destroyed by an explosive charge (this action nearly
incited a mutiny among the Navy men involved).
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