Yup. I kept a longcoat.

I kept a dog whose greatest flaw can be fixed in a single generation. He brings me so much joy, he's structurally sound, he has the brain I absolutely LOVE in a Malamute, and he is an absolute joy to live with. He's SO pretty, too. I am proud to have produced this dog and not sorry I kept him.

Breeders have, for years, talked about how awful the coat is in the arctic. They go so far as to say that these dogs would freeze to the ground while ignoring the coats of OTHER arctic breeds like the Samoyed and Finnish Laphund who are from similar climates but have coats not unlike that of a longcoated Malamute. I think the true reality is that this is a breed type thing rather than an actual survival issue. This is the second one I have had through winter. The second one with good texture. Mine have not had any problems in the snow, even when sledded.  Tough to manage long coats absolutely exist but it's been my observation that those tend to be the soft coats and often have spay/neuter coat. 

Texture matters. Nanner has endured the same conditions of our other dogs and takes only about 10 minutes longer to dry than my others.  It's hard to get him soaked down when we bathe him because the water just sheets off.  THAT is correct texture.  The length is what's not correct.

Nan in the rain and snow.

Note the guard coat is still standing.

Nanner wormed his way into my heart from early on.  The entire litter was full of personality but there was something calm and cool about this particular one.  Most of the time. As he has grown up, I figured out that the familiar vibe was his great-greatgrandfather Bumper coming through.  It's really nice to feel him still with us.  

He isn't just a delightful pet to live with.  He:

Has been competing in Agility (AKC and UKC)

Has  been competing in AKC Rally Obedience and won has taken 1st and 2nd place with really nice scores.

Has fulfilled the requirements for his AMCA Working Weight Pull Dog (WWPD) title.

Has progress toward his AMCA Working Pack dog (WPD) title.

And has BOTH of his AKC Majors toward his Championship from the Bred By Exhibitor class.  One was a Specialty win.  

He's not even two yet and we're super excited to see what the future holds for him!