Alaskan Malamute
A powerful Arctic freight dog: friendly with people, strong-willed, heavy-shedding and built for long hauls in the cold.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 61–66 cm · Females 56–61 cm
- Weight
- Males 36–43 kg · Females 32–38 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Double coat, medium
- Colours
- Grey, Black, Sable, Red, White
- Bred for
- Sledding, Draught work, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United States
- FCI
- Group 5, no. 243 · Spitz & primitive types
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 2/5 – Low |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 5/5 – Very high |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 2/5 – Low |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 1/5 – Very low |
| Barking | 2/5 – Low |
| Shedding | 5/5 – Very high |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with being alone | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with heat | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- enjoy pulling sports or long winter hikes
- have a secure garden and a cool climate
- have experience with strong, independent dogs
Think twice if you …
- want an off-lead dog or a watchdog
- keep cats or small pets
- can't live with lots of shedding
Care
Temperament
Affectionate and outgoing with people, including strangers, so it is not a guard dog. It is independent, can be dominant with other dogs and has a strong prey drive.
Exercise
Daily long walks plus pulling work such as sledding, canicross, bikejoring or carting suit it best. Exercise in the cool parts of the day; it overheats easily.
Grooming
The dense double coat needs brushing several times a week and daily raking during its heavy moult. Expect a lot of hair indoors.
Training
Malamutes are clever but not eager to please, so short, varied, reward-based sessions work better than repetition. Off-lead recall is rarely reliable.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, inherited eye disease and polyneuropathy occur in the breed, and the heavy coat makes heat a real risk. Ask the breeder for hip, elbow, eye and DNA results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
- Thyroid
DNA tests
- Polyneuropathy (AMPN)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Malamute is named after the Mahlemiut, an Inupiaq people of north-western Alaska who used these dogs to haul heavy loads, help with hunting and live alongside families. It was bred for strength and endurance rather than speed, and later served on polar expeditions.
Living with one means living with a large, strong, independent dog that loves people but does not care much for rules. Malamutes often get along poorly with dogs of the same sex and may chase cats and small animals. They dig, they howl and they shed a great deal. With enough work, firm structure and a cool climate, they are warm and impressive companions.
Did you know?
Malamutes were bred to pull heavy freight over long distances rather than race, so their build favours strength over speed.