Rear

Rear - The Official Standard

• Hindquarters

The rear legs are broad and heavily muscled through the thighs; stifles moderately bent; hock joints are moderately bent and well let down. When viewed from the rear, the legs stand and move true in line with the movement of the front legs, not too close or too wide. Dewclaws on the rear legs are undesirable and should be removed shortly after puppies are whelped.

• 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.

Rear - Hands On Comments

• Tail

The tail of the Malamute is one of the distinguishing type characteristics of the breed. It should be carried over the back following the line of the spine at the start, curving loosely over the back “a waving plume”. There will be daylight between the back and the fur at the base. A snapped or tightly curled tail is not a “waving plume”. The hair on the tail is well-furred giving the characteristic “waving plume” appearance, not like a fox brush nor as long as a Samoyed.

• Rear Angualtion and Rear Feet

The rear legs are broad and heavily muscled through the thighs. The hock joint should be moderately angled.  Hocks should appear short, well let down. The rear foot should be large and of snowshoe type. The rear feet may appear smaller than the front feet to the eye. Feet should never appear flat, or splayed, but should be well arched (thick pads), nor should you see the pads of the toes when the dog is standing (toes appear too short). Small and/or round feet are undesirable. The condition of the feet is of great importance. The pads are thick and tough, toenails thick and strong.

• Rear Movement

Rear movement should appear clean and should not be cow-hocked or wobbly or too close, when moving hocks should turn neither in nor out. Extension should appear moderate but not overdone (such as excessive kick, a definite waste of energy). Also we should not see a rear that appears stilted. A powerful drive should not be confused with over extension. Some Malamutes may move wide for the first few steps, then converge into a normal gait. If the dog stays wide for more than a few steps, it is undesirable. The gait should look powerful, tireless, with great strength and endurance, yet agile and effortless appearing for his size. The Malamute comes close to single tracking at a fast gait.

Rear - Key Points

• Pelvis – slope of pelvis (croup).

• Tail - set and carriage.

• Rear Angulation - Stifles moderately bent, (balanced angulation of front and rear is extremely important.)

• Bone, size of bone, Length of rear pastern (Hock) – well let down hock.

• Feet – shape of foot, depth, length of toes. LARGE FOOT, snowshoe type, not to be flat or splay, well padded/arched toes.

• Rear – movement of rear as well as position (carriage) of tail. Trailing tail when moving is acceptable and is a good time to judge that the tail is an extension of the spine.

• Emphasize - efficient movement of rear, hard, well muscled and again emphasize the importance of good feet. HOC 2003 – Revised by AMCA Board 2003

HOC 2003 – Revised by AMCA Board 2003