Alaskan Malamute Breed Origin
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At least four thousand years ago, but very likely even earlier, the Eskimos crossed the Bering Straits when the tribes migrated East from the cold barren lands of 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 beginnings 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 watching it work the Malamute shows a steady, balanced tireless gait. Not built for speed, but for heavy draft work.
Responsible breeders will want to preserve this heritage of the Malamutes 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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