The Alaskan Malamute

“Is that a wolf?”  ”No, it’s a Malamute.” “But that’s like a wolf though, right?” “About as much as that Dalmatian is.”

This might seem like a silly conversation, but it’s one I have all the time. It’s either this or I’m told that I have a nice Husky. I spend a lot of time correcting people because I have two Alaskan Malamutes. This is a breed that isn’t very well publicized, and quite often the dogs seem to be mistaken for wolves, wolf  hybrids, or Huskies. But they are their own special breed. I love these dogs. Because they’re mine and I am biased, I wanted to shine some light on the characteristics of this breed, a dog that not everyone knows much about.

Alaskan Malamutes are working dogs. They are believed to have come from the Mahlemuts, an Innuit tribe in Alaska. They are most often referred to as “sled dogs,” which is exactly what they are bred for. They are a breed that can take extreme cold and have claws that are retractable so that they can gain traction on ice. They are not the fastest sledding dogs, but they are extreme weight pullers. Often you’ll see two Malamutes in the back of the sled team to drag weight, while the Huskies sit up front speeding the sled along. Malamutes are still used for sledding, but they also make excellent companion dogs if placed in the right home.

Both of my dogs are rescues from the Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League (WAMAL). At the rescue, we have many dogs that have come in simply because the owner didn’t understand the breed. They wanted a pretty “snow dog” and didn’t understand what that involved. As with any dog, I want people to understand what they’re getting into. I don’t want us to have over 20 dogs in foster care or kenneled because the original owners misunderstood the breed. I want every dog to have a place to call their “forever home.” So, here are a few things I’ve learned over the years about Malamutes.

Contrary to the “Dogs 101” special I saw on Animal Planet, these dogs are not always “dog friendly.” It’s about half and half. Males are usually okay together, but two females will generally only get along if they are related or brought up together from pups. Otherwise, they will fight for dominant status. That’s not to say it doesn’t happen that two females meet and are instantly bonded, but it’s not often. It’s also not to say that any breed of dog won’t fight for dominance. I have gone through a few “pecking order” fights. Also, these dogs might not be “other animal” friendly. Some are cat friendly and some are not. My female wants nothing more than to lick a kitty. My friend’s Malamute sees a kitty as a chew toy. If you have cats, pay close attention when you introduce them to a Malamute, and don’t leave them alone together until you are completely confident that your kitty is safe.

Malamutes have a double coat that “blows out” twice a year, which means that if you’re a neat freak or have a lot of carpet, they are probably not the best breed for you. They can shed garbage bags full of fur, and you will have tumbleweeds of their undercoat floating all over the house for weeks. Fortunately, this is only twice a year, and during the rest of the year they are pretty easy to clean. In fact, they will usually act like a cat and try to lick themselves clean. Malamutes can also go a long time in between baths. But make sure that they are completely dry afterward or it will compromise their coats, which can lead to other problems.

Size wise, Malamutes do get to be quite large. They are adorable fur balls when they’re young, but they don’t stay young forever. My female is 70 pounds, my male is 95 pounds, and they’re still considered to be pretty average. Both dogs are over 6-feet tall when standing on their back legs and can easily overpower a dog or human smaller than them. Therefore, this breed is not suggested for families with small children. I have yet to meet a Mal that doesn’t love kids, but they tend to knock them over without trying.  We have had a few “giant” Malamutes at the rescue shelter. This type of the breed can be well over 100 pounds. We had a male that was over 150 pounds. So keep in mind that the size can be prohibitive in a smaller house.

Malamutes are extremely intelligent and need constant stimulation. Being a working dog, they can go a little crazy if they don’t get their daily exercise and mental stimulation. If you don’t give them something to do, they will find their own version of fun. This usually translates into destruction. If you’ve never seen “Snow Dogs” with Cuba Gooding Jr., I would suggest seeing it before getting a Malamute. There is a scene where the dogs are pulling apart all the blankets and destroying the house. This can happen if these dogs don’t get their exercise. They are also known for “Mal-scaping,” which is their version of helping with gardening. They will dig holes in your yard, lie on your plants, and generally create their own landscape. This is especially bad in Seattle where it rains for much of the year. I call it “mud season” because my fur kids take it upon themselves to create mud holes all over the yard. Not because they’re bored (they get two several-mile runs a day) but because they think that it’s fun. I have a friend at the shelter who has gone through several hot tub covers because her fur kids kept ripping it apart. Malamutes look at it as a challenge and have fun doing it.

The major reason I love these dogs is for their personalities. They can be very stubborn, but are also loyal, intelligent, and expressive. They do require some patience in training, not because they aren’t smart enough to understand, but because they are too smart for their own good and will tire of the same training method all the time. They tend to require a firm hand and a good amount of treats to do what you ask. However, they are not Retrievers or Labs. These dogs are not known for their tricks. Most will refuse to bring back a ball, and I have yet to meet one that can roll over on command. However, they can be taught the training basics as well as a few other things. Like all dogs, Malamutes have unique personalities. They are usually very human friendly, expressive of their feelings, and somewhat mischievous.

Another characteristic of this breed is their “singing” and “talking” voices. Malamutes are not necessarily constant barkers, but they do tend to make a lot of sounds that seem to be talking. They communicate in a very human-like way. In fact, it’s not unheard of for an owner and their Mal to have a “conversation” where the owner seems to know exactly what their dog is saying. For me, it’s usually my girl Bailey acting sassy, as she is a very vocal Mal. Baily is a constant talker and singer. However, my boy only talks when he wants to go outside or sees a leash. The sounds each dog makes will vary.

All in all, this is a great breed. I grew up around many dogs, and Malamutes are hands down my favorite. You might see my laundry list of information as reasons not to get a Malamute. If that’s the case, I’m glad I was able to help you better understand the breed and save them from being given up at a later date. For me and many Mal owners, the reasons to have one are why we love this breed. I get to laugh at the fact that my female got upset and created a crater in my back yard. I get to argue with her about going outside. I get to see my male howling over the leash he sees in my hand. And, I get to be somewhat dragged around the neighborhood twice a day by my “sled” team. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Tags: Alaskan Malamute, dog breed, wolf, working dogs