However, size consideration should not outweigh that of type, proportion and functional attributes, such as shoulders, chest, legs, feet, and movement. When dogs are judged equal in type, proportion, and functional attributes, the dog nearest the desirable freighting size is to be preferred. Coat and Colour - The Malamute should have thick, coarse, guard coat, not long and soft. The coarse guard coat stands out, and there is a thick fur around the neck. The guard coat varies in length as does the undercoat, however, in general, the coat is moderately short to medium along the sides of the body with the length of coat increasing somewhat around the shoulders and neck, down the back and over the rump, as well as in the breaching and plume.
Malamutes usually have shorter and less dense coats when shed out during the summer months.
The usual colours range from light grey through the intermediate shadings to black, always with white on underbodies, parts of legs, feet and part of mask markings. One should distinguish between mantled dogs and splash-coated dogs. The only solid colour allowable is the all-white. The skull should be broad between the ears, gradually narrowing to eyes, moderately rounded between ears, flattening on top as it approaches the eyes, rounding off to cheeks, which should be moderately flat. Brown, almond shaped, moderately large for this shape of eye, set obliquely in skull.