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A BRIEF
HISTORY OF THE
Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute evolved from the ancient
dogs that accompanied prehistoric man on his migrations from
Asia across the Arctic to Greenland and back. These migrations
covered thousands of years. They produced a natural evolution of
species that varied from the long coated varieties found in
Greenland to the lesser coated, longer legged varieties found in
the forest and lake areas of Canada.
Early Russian and English explorers often
reported a superior and better-kept type of work dog used 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,
to haul heavy sledges, or pack supplies. Although treated with
fondness and exceptional care, here were no room for “pets” on
the cruel ice packs and tundra.
With the Gold Rush, the demands for pack and
sled dogs brought to Alaska all types of breeds that could
survive the weather. Soon, especially near the populated areas,
these dogs were quite a mixture of breeds and quality. One had
to travel many days inland, out into the gold country to find
any semblance of the original Alaskan sled dog. Due to their
relative isolation, the dogs of the “Mahlemut” remained fairly
“pure”, but they too suffered from the inroads of civilisation.
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 Seeleys began a programme
to reproduce those dogs that were typical of the dogs found in
the Norton Sounds area. “Kotzebue” applies to the main strain
of Alaskan Malamutes at Chinook Kennels established by the
Seeleys.
A slightly different strain was
developed by Paul Voelker Snr., and Paul Voelker Jnr., with dogs
they brought from Alaska in the early 1900’s, and later in the
1920’s. These were generally known at the “M’Loot” strain, named
after the kennel established by the Voelkers. Some of these dogs
saw service in World War 1 and World War 2, and with Admiral
Byrd’s second expedition. Ralph and Marchetta Schmitt of Silver
Star Kennels purchased some of the Voelkers dogs to further
establish the “M’Loot” strain. These two terms “Kotzebue” 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.
Reprinted
by kind permission of Wendy Willhauck, AMCA Judges Education
Co-ordinator
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