Alaskan Malamutes did not become riders at once. Eskimo tribes in those distant times led a nomadic way of life, moving through the territory with severe weather conditions in search of food. The dogs were full-fledged members of the tribe, performing guard functions and helping the men on the hunt. It was the cold climate of Alaska, coupled with the limited food resources, that played a fundamental role in the development of this breed. Weak individuals who found it difficult to survive simply dropped out of the genetic chain as unnecessary links. The strongest and fittest survived.