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Northern breeds
Alaskan Malamute care on Cape Ann
The AKC describes the malamute as a freighter, bred by the Mahlemiut people of northwest Alaska to haul heavy loads at low speed over long distances, unlike the faster, lighter Siberian husky. Males stand about 25 inches and weigh about 85 pounds. That build explains every section below.
The coat blow
The coat blow: twice a year the undercoat lets go, and the rake comes out
The AKC calls the malamute's thick, waterproof double coat beautifully adapted to harsh Arctic life and says it requires constant upkeep: brushing every day with a pin brush and a metal comb, checking for mats and hot spots, and an undercoat rake added during the twice-yearly shedding season. A pet malamute, the AKC adds, can go six to eight weeks between baths. On Cape Ann that means two stretches a year when the floor is covered in undercoat.
That is when a bath with Shed Release earns its keep: the bath loosens the undercoat, the dryer and brush-out lift it, and less of it ends up in your car. At Dogtown a malamute from 51 to 90 pounds is a $75 bath and one over 90 pounds an $85 bath, or $95 for an extra-large long coat, plus $10 for Shed Release. There is no haircut in a malamute's routine; the job is removing loose undercoat. Our de-shedding page explains the treatment.
- Daily brushing with a pin brush and metal comb, per the AKC
- An undercoat rake during each heavy shed
- A bath every six to eight weeks for a pet malamute
- Shed Release at $10 at the start of each blow
Heat in July
Heat in July: an Arctic coat on a humid Gloucester afternoon
A coat the AKC describes as adapted to harsh Arctic life is a lot of coat on a humid July afternoon in Gloucester. VCA calls heat stroke an immediate medical emergency and counts excited or heavily exercised dogs among those at risk; the signs it lists include fast breathing, dry or sticky gums, abnormal gum color, lethargy and disorientation. A malamute that lies down and will not rejoin the game on a hot afternoon has had enough.
The beaches are no help in summer: at the time of writing Gloucester closes Good Harbor to dogs from April 1 and Wingaersheek, Plum Cove and Cressy's from May 1, through September 30. Plan the day around the cool hours. Drop off at daycare between 6:30 and 9:30 AM so outdoor play comes early; the yard has pools and platforms with shade beneath them, and the indoor play floors take the afternoon. If a malamute overheats, VCA's first aid is cool, not cold, water over the head, belly, armpits and feet, then the vet.
- 01
Walk before 8 AM and after sunset in July and August, on grass
- 02
Book the morning daycare drop-off so outdoor play happens in the cool
- 03
Carry water on every walk and offer it often
- 04
Watch for fast breathing, sticky gums and a dog that lies down and stays down
- 05
Cool with cool, not cold, water and call your vet; Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital in Woburn is open 24 hours
Strength and recall
Strength and recall: a freight dog pulls, digs and decides for itself
The AKC describes a strong, athletic dog with tremendous endurance, intelligent but independent and willful, often to the point of stubbornness. That combination makes recall a long project. A malamute that catches a scent on an off-leash beach day may simply keep going, and an 85-pound dog leaning into a collar is hard to stop. A well-fitted harness spreads the pull, and a long line gives freedom on the sand without the gamble.
The AKC also says digging may be impossible to train out of a malamute, so fencing has to continue into the ground, and it lists sports that put the pulling to use: weight pulling, recreational sledding, backpacking and skijoring. The fenced Gloucester Dog Park at Stage Fort Park has a separate large-dog area for an off-leash run. At Dogtown, every dog arrives on a leash with a secure collar or harness, as we ask of everyone.
- A harness for walks; an 85-pound puller is hard to hold by the neck
- A long line on beaches and trails until recall is proven
- Fencing that goes into the ground, since the AKC says the digging stays
- Pulling sports such as skijoring put the strength to work
At daycare
At daycare: a friendly, talkative dog that plays with its size class
The AKC notes that malamutes tend to be friendly with everyone they meet, which is why they make poor guard dogs, and that they rarely bark but talk and howl, especially when lonely or bored. In a playgroup of 7 to 10 large dogs matched by size and temperament, the talking is normal. The AKC also stresses socialization and obedience training so a malamute does not become pushy with other pets, and the free evaluation is where our handlers see how your dog shares space.
Full days at $42 suit most adults, and a 10-pack is $380. On a snowy day a malamute is in its element, and on the hottest days the indoor floors carry more of the play. A supervised treadmill session, a $10 add-on, gives steady exercise when the weather wins. For a malamute that is pushy or selective with other dogs, Dogtown Academy at $89 or our trainer's Adventure Academy introductions are the place to start.
Health notes
Health notes: hips, eyes, nerves and the screening list
The AKC lists hip and elbow dysplasia, thrombopathia, chondrodysplasia, hypothyroidism, inherited polyneuropathy, von Willebrand's disease and day blindness among the conditions responsible breeders screen for, and recommends hip and eye evaluations and a DNA test for Alaskan malamute polyneuropathy. Ask the breeder for those results. It also advises checking the ears regularly for foreign matter and wax buildup, and brushing the teeth regularly.
The AKC's grooming advice carries a health note too: daily brushing is the moment to find mats, which can harbor fungus, and hot spots, which can become infected. A wet patch or a sore spot under that coat is a reason to call your vet, not to wait for the next bath. Watch the dog's weight as well, as the AKC advises for the breed, and adjust the food if the waistline disappears under the coat.
At Dogtown
What a malamute uses at Dogtown
A de-shed bath when the coat blows, a matched large-dog group, and the treadmill when the weather wins.
Asked and answered
Questions people ask about this
Short, complete answers you can act on today. More in the full FAQ.
When does an Alaskan malamute blow its coat?
Can a malamute go to daycare in July?
Can a malamute be trusted off leash on the beach?
Do malamutes get along with other dogs at daycare?
More questions? Read the full FAQ
Sources
- AKC: Alaskan Malamute
- VCA Animal Hospitals: heat stroke in dogs
- Gloucester beaches
- Gloucester Dog Park
- Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
Rules and dates change. We re-check every beach, licensing and ordinance page each spring and fall; the source above is the current word.
Keep reading
Next step
Book the bath before the blow.
Book a bath with Shed Release online with no evaluation needed, or book the free weekday evaluation to add daycare days.
- 01Free evaluationWeekdays 6:30 – 9:30 AM
- 02Book a dayOnline, in the app or by phone
- 03Play, rest, repeatReport card at pick-up
