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Breed History
The Alaskan Malamute evolved from the ancient dogs that accompanied prehistoric man in his migrations from Asia, across the Arctic to Greenland and back. The migrations, covering thousands of years also produced a natural evolution of species that varied from the long coated varieties found in Greenland to the lesser coated, longed legged varieties found in the forest and lake areas of northern Canada. Early Russian and English explorers often reported a superior and better kept type of work dog kept by the “Mahlemut” (Malemiut, Mahlmuit, Malemuit) tribes around the Norton Sound area of Alaska. They were less “wild”, more tractable and capable of an enormous amount of work. It must be kept in mind that these were work animals. They were used in hunting seals, were set loose in packs to course the polar bear, and to haul heavy sledges or pack in supplies. Although treated with fondness and exceptional care, there was no room for “pets” on the cruel ice packs and tundra. With the Gold Rush, the demand for pack and sled dogs brought into Alaska all types of breeds that could survive the weather. Soon, especially near the populated areas, the dogs were quite a mixture of breeds and quality. One had to travel many days inland, out of the gold country to find any semblance of the original Alaskan sled dogs. Due to their relative isolation, the dogs of the “Mahlemuts” remained fairly “pure”, but they too suffered from the inroads of civilization. “Chinook Kennels” established by Arthur T. Walden and later by Milton and Eva Seeley, in New Hampshire, was one of the main sources for sled dogs used in the Byrd Antarctic expeditions in the early thirties. The Seeley's began a program to reproduce those dogs that were typical of the dogs found in the Norton Sound area. “Kotzebue” applies to the strain of Alaskan Malamutes at Chinook Kennels established by the Seeley's. A slightly different strain was developed by Paul Voelker, Sr., and Paul Voelker, Jr., with dogs they brought from Alaska in the early 1900's and later in the 1920's. These were generally known as the “M'Loot” strain, named after the kennel established by the Voelker's. Some of these dogs saw service in both World War I and World War II, and with Admiral Byrd's second expedition. Ralph and Marcheta Schmitt, of Silver Sled Kennels, purchased some of the Voelker dogs and further established the “M'Loot” strain. These two terms, “Kotzuebue” and “M'Loot” are often used to describe the genetic background of the present day Malamute, whether the current dogs resemble their ancestors or not.
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