Alaskan Malamute Colors: The Full Color Spectrum

The Alaskan Malamute is a stunning breed, and one of the most striking aspects of this majestic dog is its rich color palette. From classic to rare, the Alaskan Malamute comes in a wide range of colors.

The most common colors are Sealyham White, Black, Sable, Gray, and Red, which are all recognized by kennel clubs and breed associations. These colors are often seen in combination with white markings, adding to the breed's unique charm.

Alaskan Malamutes can also display a rare and beautiful color called Blue, which is a result of a unique genetic combination. This color is highly prized among breeders and enthusiasts, but it's worth noting that it's not as common as other colors.

In addition to these colors, Alaskan Malamutes can also come in a variety of patterns, including solid, particolored, and piebald. Each pattern adds its own unique twist to the breed's already impressive color spectrum.

Broaden your view: Rare Bull Terrier

Alaskan Malamute Colors are quite diverse, and it's essential to understand the different coat colors and patterns this breed can have.

The breed standard describes all the different traits a typical Alaskan Malamute should have, including his conformation, temperament, coat texture, and color.

Red and White Malamutes have liver or brown pigmented noses, which is the only color that are allowed to have noses which aren’t black. Their eyes are often amber, lighter than the generic brown. The red of their coats can range from light orange to a dark mahogany, and they will not have any blacks in their coats.

They can also be further categorized as Red Agouti or Red Sable. The defining factor for Sables is that they have black in their coat.

The AKC breed standard for the Alaskan Malamute coat colors states that the undercoat is the primary color of the dog, which can be red, grey, brown, white, or even black. The outer coat is made up of guard hairs, which can exhibit patterns giving the Malamute their distinctive markings.

Here are the accepted Alaskan Malamute coat color patterns according to major kennel clubs:

Black and White Alaskan Malamutes are common, with black markings on their body, including legs and face. The markings on the upper body can be their face, nape of the neck, on the collar or half collar.

Alaskan Malamutes come in a variety of non-standard colors, which can occur by accident due to recessive alleles or be intentionally bred.

Red and white Alaskan Malamutes are more rare than black or gray and white, with coats that can range from different shades of red to orange, peach, or apricot.

Sable & white Alaskan Malamutes have a unique coat pattern with black or banded hairs and a rich phaeomelanin intensity, giving them a distinct reddish coloration.

In sable & white Malamutes, the phaeomelanin pigment is more intense, leading to a gradual transition from light yellow tan to light cream pigment, making this color one of the most diverse in the breed.

A dog can express both red and sable traits simultaneously, resulting in a red sable coat, but most sable & white dogs have a black-based pattern and a black nose pigment.

Related reading: Red Wheaten Rhodesian Ridgeback

Non-standard colors can happen in any dog breed, and some breeders intentionally breed them for various reasons.

Recessive alleles can cause non-standard colors to occur by accident, and these traits can be carried and passed on for generations.

Dogs with only one copy of a recessive allele can carry and pass on the trait, even if it's not expressed in them.

Non-standard colors can also be achieved by crossbreeding and introducing a non-standard trait on purpose.

In some cases, breeders may choose to breed non-standard colors to create unique or rare coat variations.

Curious to learn more? Check out: Non Shedding Shiba Inu

Lilac is a unique color variation that can appear in Alaskan Malamutes. It's caused by a combination of two genetic traits: diluted brown eumelanin and diluted black eumelanin.

This combination produces a dog with a duller and less vivid brown pigment, which can make them appear beige or taupe in color.

Their skin, lip, nose, and eye rim pigment will be affected, resulting in a lighter and greyish shade of brown.

Eye color in lilac Malamutes typically ranges from yellow to yellow-green, but puppy eyes can be very pale and appear greenish-blue before pigment starts to fill in.

Lilac can affect any eumelanin in a given coat color pattern, resulting in various possible patterns such as lilac agouti, lilac & white, light lilac, or lilac gray.

Red Alaskan Malamutes can't produce black pigment, so they never have black hair.

Their coats can range from light orange to dark mahogany, and they can be further categorized as Red Agouti or Red Sable, with the defining factor for Sables being the presence of black in their coat.

The red color can come in various shades, from orangey or light brown to chocolate brown or mahogany brown.

Red Alaskan Malamutes often have brown nose leather, brown eye rims, and lips, and their eyes are often yellow or amber.

In Alaskan Malamute colors, the red & white coat can apply to any pattern, and the underlying pattern determines the overall coat color, which can be Agouti Red, Light Red, Mahogany Red, or Dark Red.

Here's a breakdown of the different red shades:

Blue is a rare and unique color variation in Alaskan Malamutes.

It's caused by diluted black eumelanin, which affects the entire coat, turning it a slate-looking gray. This color variation is not recognized by the breed standard, which demands a black nose for most colors.

However, blue Malamutes can't produce black pigment, so their nose will be gray.

Their eye color is often a pale yellow-green or hazel, especially in puppy eyes.

Blue-based agouti is called "Blue Agouti", while blue-based agouti domino/gray is called "Light Blue".

Here are the different types of blue-based colors:

Sable is a term used to describe a specific color pattern in Alaskan Malamutes, characterized by a mix of black and reddish hues. This color pattern is not limited to a single shade, as sable can range from a light yellow tan to a darker seal color.

In sable and white Malamutes, the phaeomelanin pigment is more intense, resulting in a richer color. This is in contrast to other patterns, where modifiers can reduce the intensity of the pigment.

For another approach, see: Are Malamutes Good Guard Dogs

Sable can be confused with red and white dogs, which have a brown eumelanin pigment, but it's essential to note that red and sable are separate traits in this breed. A dog can express both traits simultaneously, resulting in a red sable color.

A sable and white Alaskan Malamute typically has black-tipped hairs, with the rest of the hairs being gray, tan, gold, silver, or brown. The reddish coloration in sable and white dogs is distinct and extends throughout the entire colored area of the coat, often including the face and legs.

Not all sable patterns are created equal; some are much darker than others, depending on the amount of black hairs present. For example, a seal and white dog with reddish markings is called "seal sable" or "dark sable."

Chocolate Alaskan Malamutes are a stunning variation of the breed. These dogs have a brown and white coat that gives them a chocolate appearance.

You'll spot different shades of brown in Chocolate Alaskan Malamutes. This variation is mentioned in the over 3.3 million Google results for Alaskan Malamute White and Chocolate.

Broaden your view: Chocolate and White Shih Tzu

Malamutes are a colorful breed with many interesting markings.

Symmetry is preferred in their coloring due to a superstition that symmetrically colored dogs run straighter.

White collars, stars, and blazes are considered attractive, like a beauty mark.

Piebald and uneven splashes of colors are undesirable and will be rejected from the show ring.

Alaskan Malamutes have a unique and varied pattern of markings that make each dog distinct. These markings can range from dark and bold to faded and barely visible.

A cap, which is a crown of color on the head, is a characteristic feature of Malamutes. It ends in a point in the middle of the face, resembling a Widow's Peak.

The cap can be divided into two distinct sections by a vertical horizontal stripe. Some Malamutes have a white spot on the forehead, known as a star, which is not connected to a blaze.

A blaze is a stripe of white coat that extends from the pointy end of the cap up the forehead. It can be short and narrow, or quite large and irregular.

Irregular white markings, such as large white collars or splashing, are often a result of piebald genetics. This is because breeders have selected against a splash coat with white on the body.

A fresh viewpoint: English Mastiff Large

A Malamute's markings can vary greatly, and understanding them can be quite fascinating. Here are some of the most common markings you'll find on an Alaskan Malamute.

A Necklace is a band of color across the chest, which can change in size when the dog sheds and regrows its coat. This marking can be narrow or wide.

An Eagle is a white marking resembling spread wings, formed by two partially pigmented bands of dark hair coming across the chest but not meeting in the middle.

The Withers spot is a small symmetrical white marking at the nape of the neck. This marking is often symmetrical and can be an interesting feature to look for.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the other markings you might see on a Malamute:

Alaskan Malamutes often have brown or light brown eyes, with some dogs having hazel or yellow eyes, especially those with eumelanin dilution.

The majority of Malamutes express a domino pattern, which often includes a light or flesh-colored vertical streak on the nose, known as "snow nose".

A dog's eye color can darken with age, and blue eyes are actually a fault in the breed.

Puppy eyes can look very blueish, but will usually darken in color as the dog matures.

Alaskan Malamutes have almond-shaped eyes, which are usually brown or light brown in color.

Alaskan Malamutes with black-based coats typically have brown eyes, a black nose, and black pigment on their lips and paw pads.

Those with brown-based or "red" coats often have hazel or light brown eyes and a brown nose.

Blue dogs, with eumelanin dilution, tend to have gray skin and nose pigment, and yellow eyes that can sometimes appear greenish.

A fading nose pigment, often called "snow nose", is a typical trait seen in white Alaskan Malamutes, which are actually recessive red with low phaeomelanin intensity.

On a similar theme: Bernese Mountain Dog in Snow

Alaskan Malamutes can only produce a limited range of colors due to their genetics. They can only produce a combination of eumelanin and phaeomelanin, which creates different patterns.

The two pigment types involved in Alaskan Malamute coat colors are eumelanin and phaeomelanin. Eumelanin is responsible for black and dark brown colors, while phaeomelanin produces red and yellow colors.

Here are the genes and alleles involved in typical Alaskan Malamute coat colors and patterns:

In Alaskan Malamutes, brown dogs are often referred to as "red", which is technically incorrect.

Genetics play a crucial role in determining the color of an Alaskan Malamute's coat. The colors are determined by two pigment types: eumelanin and phaeomelanin.

Eumelanin comes in different shades, including black, blue, and brown. Brown eumelanin is often referred to as "red" in this breed, although technically it's incorrect. This is because the breed standard actually calls brown dogs "red".

Phaeomelanin, on the other hand, can vary greatly in shade and intensity. In fact, many Northern Dog breeds, including the Alaskan Malamute, have been selected for lighter shades of phaeomelanin. This is why many Malamutes tend to have light cream-white undercoats and pale hair bands or markings.

The genetics of coat color in Alaskan Malamutes involve multiple genes and alleles. The E-LOCUS, for example, determines the normal pattern of the coat, while the e-allele can result in a northern domino pattern. The K-LOCUS affects the patterned coat, and the A-LOCUS influences the shaded sable, agouti, and tan point patterns.

Here is a summary of the genes and alleles involved in typical Alaskan Malamute coat colors and patterns:

These genes and alleles work together to produce the various colors and patterns seen in the Alaskan Malamute breed.

Alaskan Malamutes typically have almond-shaped eyes, usually brown or light brown in color.

Brown eyes are a common trait in Malamutes, and they're a sign of a purebred dog, as crossbreeding can result in blue eyes.

A brown nose and black pigment on their lips, eye rims, paw pads, or nails are also characteristic of Malamutes with a black-based coat color.

In Malamutes with a brown-based or "red" coat color, hazel or light brown eyes are often seen, along with a brown nose and brown skin pigment.

Blue eyes are a fault in the breed, and they don't have the "blue eye trait" that Huskies are known for.

Puppy eyes can look very blueish, but they'll darken in color with age.

The majority of Malamutes express a domino pattern, which is often accompanied by a light or flesh-colored vertical streak on the nose, known as "snow nose".