Grooming Routine for Alaskan Malamutes
Alaskan Malamutes are a beautiful breed of dog with a very beautiful double coat. Their top coat is long and harsh and their undercoat is dense and woolly.
Anyone that’s had this breed will know the amount of shedding they go through, so they will know that they’re a lot of maintenance.
Here is a routine you can follow to help maintain your Malamutes beautiful coat along with a few other bits and bobs you can do as part of their grooming routine.
Alaskan Malamutes can be a challenging breed in many ways. This also includes grooming them. Alaskan Malamutes are one of the double-coated breeds, which means that their coat is comprised of two different textures. They have an outer or “guard” coat as well as an undercoat that is downy soft and covers their entire body at skin level.
Brushing
Brush your Malamute about once a week, and every few days for longer coats, to prevent any matting. You’ll want to use a Rake to help pull out the excess dense, loose undercoat. This will help keep your Malamutes coat healthy whilst getting rid of excess fur. Regular dog brushes don’t usually work as well as rakes, but combs can be good for longer coated Malamutes. Another good option, though, is using a Slicker brush .
Bathing
A healthy malamute doesn’t usually smell, so will not need regular bathing, unless they’ve gotten themselves extra dirty on their walks.
Malamutes can easily go months without a bath, but a good time frame to go for is between 6-8 weeks. Bathing helps remove dead skin and excess fur. Whilst your malamute is wet, it’s a good idea to check their weight proportion, as a healthy dog will have a tummy tuck from the side view and an hourglass shape from above, sometimes it’s harder to see if your dog is over or underweight when they’re dry, because their fur is to thick and fluffy, but if that’s the case then as long as your can easily feel their ribs with a thin layer of fat in between, then they should be a healthy weight. Make sure when bathing you’re using a good quality Hypoallergenic dog shampoo . There are also a range of leave in conditioners to help keep your dogs coat nice and glossy, but this is optional.
Blasting/ Blowing
Blasters are a life saver when if come to double coated dogs. They blow out all the extra fur and are especially useful after they’ve had a bath. These tools are often used by groomers to get them feeling fully smooth with minimal shedding afterwards, as they’re more likely to shed more after a bath than they were before. it’s really important to note that you should never, ever shave your malamute or any other double coated breed. The reasoning for this is because whilst the dense undercoat keeps them warm in the winter, their coarse top coat keeps them protected from the heat in the summer.
Other areas to check and clean
Nails
Check nails often, especially in the summer months as they’ll grow at a faster pace. Trim off very small amounts of the nail to prevent potential injury to your dog. Go to a professional if you don’t feel comfortable enough to do this yourself, but if you do, make sure you’re using some high quality dog Nail clippers.
Ears/ eyes
Malamutes sleep for many hours everyday so they’ll likely have a lot of sleep around their eyes. You can either use water and a cloth, or get specialised Eye cleaner made for dogs. Seek veterinary care if you notice too much gunk around their eyes as this could likely be a health issue that needs treatment and professional advice.
Malamutes don’t tend to get very dirty ears, but if they do there are some ear cleaners made for dogs you can purchase. If their ears are congested, or have signs of other abnormalities, including excessive itching, then seek veterinary advice.
Back end
As gross as it is, your dog can sometimes have stuck on poop on their behind area, if this is something you notice sometimes then make sure you’re using the correct Wipes that do the job well and are safe for animals. Some dogs are more lazy at trying to clean themselves, so they’ll need your assistance in doing so.
Teeth
Dogs, from an early age should be getting regular brushing of the teeth, as it can be difficult to get them to comply as they get older. There are many Dog toothpastes and Toothbrushes on the market now, so it’s best to get them used to it as early as possible and do it daily if you can! If brushing is almost impossible then there are other options that can help such as dental chews, Plaque powder, chew toys etc. After the age of 3 dogs teeth tend to get more plaque so checking regularly is very important. It’s so much easier to prevent plaque, than to remove it, not to mention very expensive if they need a scale and polish, or in worst cases, extraction.
Paw pads
Dogs don’t wear shoes like we do so it’s important to check the condition of their pads. If they have cracked paw pads then it could likely be signs of a poor diet, poor health or climate. If the weather is cold then ice can cause their pads to crack, or if they are walking along areas that have been gritted, then this can cause this. On the hand, in the summer if the ground is too hot then this can cause burns and very sore feet, so test with your hand before you head out, if the palm of your hand gets too hot after 10-15 seconds, then don’t head out with your dog, it’s best to not walk your dog In the heat, then to risk their life. Heat stroke is very common in the summer, especially for dogs with a thick coat. Walk them very late at night or early morning, if it’s safe enough, but even then you’d still need to be careful at the risks involved. Treat their feet with extra care and moisturise when needed. You can also get Dog boots to protect their paw pads. A great paw moisturiser is Pet head oatmeal paw moisturiser and it smell Devine. But if you notice any extreme cracking, take your dog to the vets as there could be an underlining health condition.
Other things to check for
Once all the excess fur has been brushed or blown out, whilst they’re at their smoothest, is the easiest time to check for any bumps and lumps, scabs and sores that may be needing veterinary attention.
“Grooming is not just about keeping your Alaskan Malamute looking good, it’s about maintaining their overall health and well-being”.
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