Hands On - Neck and Fronts

Neck and Fronts - The Official Standard

• Neck, Topline, Body

The neck is strong and moderately arched. The chest is well developed. The body is compactly built but not short coupled. The back is straight and gently sloping to the hips. The loins are hard and well muscled. A long loin that may weaken the back is a fault. The tail is moderately set and follows the line of the spine at the base. The tail is carried over the back when not working. It is not a snap tail or curled tight against the back, nor is it short furred like a fox brush. The Malamute tail is well furred and has the appearance of a waving plume.

• Forequarters

The shoulders are moderately sloping; forelegs heavily boned and muscled, straight to the pasterns when viewed from the front. Pasterns are short and strong and slightly sloping when viewed from the side. The feet are of the snowshoe type, tight and deep, with well-cushioned pads, giving a firm, compact appearance. The feet are large, toes tight fitting and well arched. There is a protective growth of hair between the toes. The pads are thick and tough; toenails short and strong.

Neck and Fronts - Hands On Comments

The neck is strong and moderately arched. The proper length of neck usually indicates a proper placement and angle of the shoulder. The neck must be well muscled, strong and blend smoothly into the back. The neck must never be so short as to give the impression the head is sitting on the shoulders.

The forequarters, when viewed directly in front of the dog, should be well filled in the chest area, without being overly broad, or too narrow nor a “hollow” chest. A judge should be able to feel a prosternum in hands on examination. A correct front must move true and straight coming or going, converging to almost a single track, depending on speed moved.
A correct front will not toe in when standing or moving, but may have toes facing SLIGHTLY east-west when standing naturally, which is acceptable.

The leg bones should be straight to the pasterns, which are short and slightly sloping. The shoulders must be tight to the body, strong and well muscled. The upper arm is at least equal in length to the shoulder blade and should angle back so the elbow will be directly under the withers when standing naturally. Moderation is the ideal. The legs are heavily boned, strong, straight and very well muscled. The pasterns are relatively short, and must have a SLIGHT SLOPE. The feet are LARGE, somewhat oval in shape, a “snowshoe foot”; well arched, tight, deep and well padded. The Malamute is an athletic dog, light on his feet, displaying a POWERFUL, effortless gait without being ponderous. In observing movement there should not be exaggerated lift of the front leg nor over extension of the rear as this would seriously effect endurance.

Faults are long or straight pasterns, straight shoulders, or any weakness in legs, pasterns or feet.

Neck and Fronts - Key Points

• Neck – length, arch and set into shoulders Shoulder angulation - Not too straight, moderately sloping, watch movement (balanced angulation FRONT & REAR is extremely important).

• Width of chest – proportionate.

• Size of bone – Heavily boned ? Musculature – very well muscled.

• Slope of pastern – slight (short and strong).

• Feet – size Large, shape, depth, and pad toughness, snowshoe, length of toes. (large, snow shoe shape, tight, deep, well arched and well padded).

• Emphasize length of neck, shoulder angles, width of chest/musculature. Slope of pastern and especially the feet (must be large) and how important they are to a sled dog.

HOC 2003