Breed library

Alaskan Malamute

Also known as Malamute.

Alaskan Malamute photograph.
Alaskan Malamute.jpg - SCMW. CC BY 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alaskan_Malamute.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0. License: CC BY 3.0.

Breed overview

The Alaskan Malamute is a large spitz-type breed of dog that was originally bred for its strength and endurance to haul heavy freight as a sled dog. It is similar to other arctic breeds such as the husky, the Greenland Dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog, the Siberian Husky, and the Samoyed.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: AlaskaBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • The Alaskan Malamute had a prominent role with their human companions as a utilitarian dog, working, hunting, and living alongside humans.
  • The dogs were renowned for their excellent hunting abilities and were used to hunt large predators such as bears.
  • The interdependent relationship between the Malamute and their dogs fostered prosperity among both and enabled them to flourish in the inhospitable land above the Arctic Circle.
  • For a brief period during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, the Malamute and other sled dogs became extremely valuable to recently landed prospectors and settlers and were frequently crossbred with imported breeds.
  • The Malamute dog has had a distinguished history; aiding Rear Admiral Richard Byrd to the South Pole, and the miners who came to Alaska during the Gold Rush of 1896, as well as serving in World War II primarily as search and rescue dogs in Greenland, although also used as freighting and packing dogs in Europe.

Size and appearance

Heavier individuals (90 lb) and dogs smaller than 75 lb are commonly seen. There is often a marked size difference between males and females. Weights upwards of 100 lb are also seen. The Alaskan Malamute is double coated. The undercoat has an oily and woolly texture and can be as thick as two inches. The outer guard coat is coarse and stands off the body longer at the withers but not more than one inch off the sides of the body. Ears are small in proportion to the head and stand firmly erect when at attention. The Alaskan Malamute is a heavy dog, with a more formidable nature and structure than the Siberian Husky, which is bred for speed. The Alaskan Malamute is bred for power and endurance, which is its original function and what the standard of the breed requires of Alaskan Malamute breeders.

  • Body mass reference: 34 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 34 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 34 kgBreed reference body mass. female.
  • Body mass reference: 38 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 38 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 38 kgBreed reference body mass. male.
  • Height reference: 58.42 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 23 in. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 58.5 cmBreed reference height. female.
  • Height reference: 63.5 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 25 in. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 63.5 cmBreed reference height. male.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Height category: tall
  • Weight category: large

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 1.81 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.23 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 1.22 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.45 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 2.06 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 1.83 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.68 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.66 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.25 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.73 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.20 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.30 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.65 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.44 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Alaskan Malamute.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat layers: double

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study found an average life expectancy of 11.3 years, compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

  • Lifespan reference: Up to 12 yearsBreed reference lifespan years.
  • Lifespan reference: 10 years or moreBreed reference lifespan years.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

The Alaskan Malamute had a prominent role with their human companions as a utilitarian dog, working, hunting, and living alongside humans. The dogs were renowned for their excellent hunting abilities and were used to hunt large predators such as bears. They also aided their owners in finding seals by alerting them to seal blowholes. The interdependent relationship between the Malamute and their dogs fostered prosperity among both and enabled them to flourish in the inhospitable land above the Arctic Circle. For a brief period during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, the Malamute and other sled dogs became extremely valuable to recently landed prospectors and settlers and were frequently crossbred with imported breeds.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Alaskan Malamute - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Alaskan Malamute, revision 1369441444. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alaskan_Malamute&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Alaskan Malamute.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 3.0. Alaskan Malamute.jpg - SCMW. CC BY 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alaskan_Malamute.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.