Breed History
The first Alaskan Malamutes were bred by the Malemute people (Mahlamuits or Mahlemuts), an Inuit tribe who lived around the Kotzebue Sound area of western Alaska. As well as pulling sleds, the dogs were used to locate blow-holes on seal hunts and as watchers and hunters.
They became distinct from the other northern breeds as the early Inuit peoples migrated across the Arctic from Siberia to Alaska and Greenland. Variations in the different breeds came about as a result of differences in conditions incluing type of work, geography and amount and type of snow. The Siberian Husky developed as a much lighter boned dog known for it's speed and agility. The slightly larger Greenland Dog had to survive in much harsher conditions and was used to pull heavier loads.
In the late 1890's and early 1900's the Alaskan Malamute became more widely known as a breed as a result of the Alaskan Gold Rush. Sled Dog racing became a popular pastime of the many gold prospectors who flooded into the area and in 1908 the newly founded Nome Kennel Club organised the first All-Alaska Sweepstake race.
In 1935 the Alaskan Malamute Club Of America was formed and soon afterwards followed the recognition of the breed and registration of the first Alaskan Malamutes with the American Kennel Club. At this time two different strains or "types" of Malamute were being bred.
Milton and Eva ("Short") Seeley had been breeding from dogs acquired from, amongst others, Arthur Walden who bred and trained the dogs used in Admiral Byrd's Antarctic Expedition in 1928. Under their kennel name "Kotzebue" they were able to develop a line which produced dogs uniform in type. Their foundation dogs can be found behind most of today's Malamutes pedigrees in the UK.
For the first 30 years that Malamutes were registered with the AKC, all those registered were Kotzebue dogs. However at the same time that The Seeleys were developing their line, Paul Voelker was busy developing his own line - The M'Loots. While The Seeley's had been much more precise about the selection of dogs that they would use in their breeding programme, Voelker used a much wider range of Arctic dogs resulting in a very different, larger type to that of the Kotzebue dogs. Again, many of the M'Loot foundations dogs can be found behind today's dogs pedigrees.
In 1960 the AKC Breed Standard was changed to reflect the characteristics of the M'Loot dogs.
In reality, many of today's dogs are actually a combination of Kotzebue and M'Loots lines, although some pure Kotzebue kennels do still exist.
They became distinct from the other northern breeds as the early Inuit peoples migrated across the Arctic from Siberia to Alaska and Greenland. Variations in the different breeds came about as a result of differences in conditions incluing type of work, geography and amount and type of snow. The Siberian Husky developed as a much lighter boned dog known for it's speed and agility. The slightly larger Greenland Dog had to survive in much harsher conditions and was used to pull heavier loads.
In the late 1890's and early 1900's the Alaskan Malamute became more widely known as a breed as a result of the Alaskan Gold Rush. Sled Dog racing became a popular pastime of the many gold prospectors who flooded into the area and in 1908 the newly founded Nome Kennel Club organised the first All-Alaska Sweepstake race.
In 1935 the Alaskan Malamute Club Of America was formed and soon afterwards followed the recognition of the breed and registration of the first Alaskan Malamutes with the American Kennel Club. At this time two different strains or "types" of Malamute were being bred.
Milton and Eva ("Short") Seeley had been breeding from dogs acquired from, amongst others, Arthur Walden who bred and trained the dogs used in Admiral Byrd's Antarctic Expedition in 1928. Under their kennel name "Kotzebue" they were able to develop a line which produced dogs uniform in type. Their foundation dogs can be found behind most of today's Malamutes pedigrees in the UK.
For the first 30 years that Malamutes were registered with the AKC, all those registered were Kotzebue dogs. However at the same time that The Seeleys were developing their line, Paul Voelker was busy developing his own line - The M'Loots. While The Seeley's had been much more precise about the selection of dogs that they would use in their breeding programme, Voelker used a much wider range of Arctic dogs resulting in a very different, larger type to that of the Kotzebue dogs. Again, many of the M'Loot foundations dogs can be found behind today's dogs pedigrees.
In 1960 the AKC Breed Standard was changed to reflect the characteristics of the M'Loot dogs.
In reality, many of today's dogs are actually a combination of Kotzebue and M'Loots lines, although some pure Kotzebue kennels do still exist.
Breed in the UK
The first Alaskan malamutes to come to the UK were brought by The Preston's in 1959. They brought with them three of their dogs and bred three litters before returning to the US. More Malamutes began to arrive in the uk during the 1960's with some more notable imports including Kimiska's Arctic Sea Hawk of Highnoon, Malnorska's Gypsy Lady of Jacbar, Can Ch Malnorska's Danikka of Highnoon and Am Ch Fire 'N' Ice In Conclusion arriving in the 1980's.
The Alaskan Malamute Club was founded in 1964 and, now known as the Alaskan Malamute Club Of The UK, celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2004.
The Alaskan Malamute has been gaining popularity in recent years and registrations topped 700 last year (2005). In 2006 the Kennel Club granted full Championship status to our breed which will enable dogs to compete for Challenge Certificates and ultimately become UK Champions.
The Alaskan Malamute Club was founded in 1964 and, now known as the Alaskan Malamute Club Of The UK, celebrated it's 40th anniversary in 2004.
The Alaskan Malamute has been gaining popularity in recent years and registrations topped 700 last year (2005). In 2006 the Kennel Club granted full Championship status to our breed which will enable dogs to compete for Challenge Certificates and ultimately become UK Champions.
