The Alaskan Malamute is a dog with a wolf-like appearance. Because of this characteristic, it is common for some people to confuse it with the Siberian Husky - and they, in fact, even have a certain "degree of kinship". But did you know that there are several other curious facts about the Malamute dog? To learn a little more about its history, personality and other curiosities, we have prepared aspecial report on the Giant Alaskan Malamute!

1) The Alaskan Malamute is a "distant cousin" of the Siberian Husky

No wonder the two breeds are often confused: the Malamute dog and the Siberian Husky look very similar. The explanation for this is that the two dogs share common ancestors, which are the Siberian wolves. The big difference is that while the Husky was developed in the Russian region, the Malamute was taken to Alaska, in the United States, and became an American origin.

2) The Alaskan dog was raised by indigenous tribes

After being taken to Alaska, the Malamute dog lived with North American Indian tribes and was domesticated. He served to help transport sleds in the Arctic and the breed's name even honors a nomadic tribe in northwestern Alaska called Mahlemuts. Oh, and here's another curiosity about the Malamute: Alaska is a North American state that has the breed asnational symbol.

3) The Alaskan Malamute puppy is full of energy

As a puppy, the Alaskan Malamute is very agitated. He will love to explore everything around him and the guardian must know how to direct this to toys and games, always trying to spend the puppy's energy to the maximum. Environmental enrichment is a good strategy to ensure that he receives the stimuli he needs. But don't worry: despite all the agitation of the puppy Malamute, thepuppy is calmer when it reaches adulthood.

4) Alaskan Malamute is a born digger

Although not a breed with a high activity level, there is one particular trait in the Malamute's behaviour: this is a little dog that loves to dig. He was trained to dig in the snow in the old days, and the instinct remains today. Therefore, he can be encouraged in open places - such as in backyards - to exercise this digging role.

5) The Malamute dog has a dominant temperament

The Alaskan Malamute is not suitable for first-time pet parents. They tend to have a strong personality and are a dominant dog, so they can be a bit stubborn. To deal with the breed, the guardian must have a firm hand and know how to educate the puppy in the right way. Otherwise, he may think he is the "boss" in the house and will have difficulty taking orders from the family.

It is worth noting that a firm hand does not mean punishments and punishments, ok?! In fact, the positive reinforcement technique is the most suitable methodology for training dogs of the breed. So, always offer treats and praise when the puppy does something right!

6) Unlike the Husky, the Alaskan Malamute does not have blue eyes

While the Siberian Husky dog usually charms people with its piercing blue eyes, Malamutes only have one eye color option, which is brown. Still on the color variation, it is good to keep in mind that there is no such thing as a completely white Alaskan Malamute: the dog is usually found with a light grey coat passing through shades of black, sand and red, with spotswhite on the lower part of the body.

7) The Alaskan dog hardly barks, but can howl

The Alaskan Malamute makes a good apartment dog because it hardly barks and is not very vocal. Still, the guardian must be prepared to deal with another common form of communication in the breed: howling. The Alaskan Malamute, puppy or adult, has a habit of howling to "talk." Howling, in fact, is a behavior inherited from wolves.

8) Giant Alaskan Malamute: breed reaches 63 cm in height

The size of the Malamute puppy is a characteristic that stands out. Ideally, a female of the breed should measure about 58 cm in height at the withers, while males should measure about 63 cm. However, it is possible to find animals that reach up to 66 cm on average. In terms of weight, the Alaskan Malamute can weigh between 32 and 43 kg, but the ideal weight is 34 kg for females and 38 kg for males.For this reason, the breed is part of the group of giant dogs.

9) The Malamute dog gets along well with children, strangers and other animals

The Malamute's large size can be a bit intimidating, but the truth is that this dog is very playful and sociable. He likes to interact and finds no difficulty in relating to strangers and other animals, for example. With children, the Malamute puppy is one of the best possible choices. The breed gets along very well with the little ones and they have a high chance of turning intobest friends.

10) Malamutes are not the only breed of dog that pulls sleds

The Alaskan Malamute is known for being strong and sturdy - no wonder one of its jobs is to pull sleds. But don't be fooled, there are other breeds that perform this same job. Besides the Alaskan Malamute, other breeds that are known for pulling sleds are the Siberian Husky, the Samoyed, the Gronlandshund and the Alaskan Husky (a mix of Malamute dogs with the Alaskan Husky).Huskies).

11) It is possible to have a Malamute in Brazil, although the breed is rare

It is not so common to find Malamutes here, but there are breeders who specialize in the breed. It is not exactly a cheap price, as we will see later, but it is something that makes it possible to breed the "Alaskan Malamute" in the country. It is also important to keep in mind that, as a dog originating from very cold regions, this is a dog that may have some difficulty adapting in very hot cities.

If this is the case, it is worth remembering that there are also some strategies that can be used to care for a dog with heat, alleviating the discomfort of high temperatures in the pet.

12) Alaskan Malamute: price of the dog reaches R $ 5 thousand

Despite not being as popular as a Siberian Husky around here, the Alaskan Malamute is not exactly an expensive dog. To have a specimen of the breed, interested parties must pay an amount between R $ 2.000 and R $ 5.000. The price of the dog may vary according to the kennel, physical characteristics of the animal and genetic lineage.

Remembering that to acquire a puppy safely, it is essential to look for a reliable dog kennel with good references. If you can, make a few visits to the site before closing the purchase. This is the best way to ensure that puppies and parents are well cared for.