How to Groom an Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes are well-built, muscular Arctic dogs in the Working Group. They range in height from 22 to 26 inches and depending on the sex, can weigh up to 95 lb. They have a lush, dense double coat. Alaskan Malamutes require a full grooming every 6 to 8 weeks and a general grooming once a week.

Things You'll Need

• Pin brushes
• Slicker brushes
• Steel combs
• Detangling solution
• Protein coat conditioner
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Brush out with slicker and pin brushes and steel combs. Alaskan Malamutes have a dense double coat which can mat and tangle easily, so brushing often is a must. Make sure you brush them out before bathing them. To make things easier on the dog, try using a protein coat conditioner or a detangling solution while brushing out their coats. This breed sheds immense amounts of hair. Their undercoat comes out twice a year in clumps of hair. Their intense shedding renders bathing almost completely unnecessary, as dirt comes out with the hair.

2. Make things easier on your dog; try using a protein coat conditioner or a detangling solution while brushing out her coat. This breed sheds immense amounts of hair and the undercoat comes out twice a year in large clumps.

3. Trim stray hairs around the feet and between the pads using scissors.

4. Dry shampoo when necessary. Malamutes are odorless. If you do choose to bathe them, use a high velocity dryer to remove excess water while towel drying. Their intense shedding makes bathing almost completely unnecessary, as dirt comes out with the hair.

Tips & Warnings

• Alaskan Malamute have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years.

• This breed is a Nordic dog whose ancestor was the Arctic wolf. The name of the dog is derived from that of the Mahlemuts, a tribe which raised and cared for them and has used them as work dogs for thousands of years.

• Their coats come in a variety of colors including white, white and black, wolf gray, wolf sable and red.

• Make sure your dog comes from a reliable breeder and not a puppy mill. Dogs bred in puppy mills often have major health and/or behavioral problems.

• Alaskan Malamutes are susceptible to hip dysplasia, chondrodysplasia (dwarfism) and bloating. To avoid bloating, feed them several small meals per day rather than just one large one.