Malamute vs Husky: 7 differences you need to know

Certain dog breeds are easy to confuse and this is certainly the case with the Malamute and the Husky.

While they are both recognized by the American Kennel Club and look like wolves, their personality and purpose are very different.

In this guide, we discuss the differences between the Malamute and the Siberian Husky. We've outlined the key temperament and character differences between the breeds below so you know which one is best suited for you.

Alaskan Malamute vs Siberian Husky Comparison

Alaskan MalamuteSiberian Husky

Size: 20-25 inches tall 20-22 inches tall

Weight: 85-100 pounds 35-60 pounds

Coat: Long length, Double coat Medium length, double layer

Colour: Varies from black, light gray to shades of red Red, Black, Gray, Sable, Agouti, and White

Life expectancy: 10-12 years 10-14 years

Temperament: Playful, friendly and safe Friendly and playful but independent

Intelligence: Smart Very smart

Socialization: It can be aggressive with dogs of the same sex. A pack dog that is friendly with other dogs.

Destructive behavior: Known for chewing and digging Will jump fences and try to escape

People skills: They need to spend time with their owner and they want to get involved with people.

It can live without its owners and does not need a lot of human interaction

Initial purpose: It is used to pull heavy sleds at a slow pace over long distances in the Arctic region.

Used to pull light sleds at faster steps over long distances

Energy levels: A little less than a Husky, but still needs daily exercise.

Incredibly high energy and needs mental and physical stimulation every day.

Differences between the Alaskan malamute and the Siberian Husky

Similarities:

Extremely friendly with people.
Both are double-layered.
Shed fur twice a year (fall/spring).
High energy levels and needs daily exercise.
They have many prey drives and cannot be kept with other types of pets.
They need a strong owner whom they respect as the leader of the pack.

Differences:

The Malamute dogs enjoy spending time with humans, while the Husky is much more independent and distant.

Malamutes have a short lifespan and tend to have more health problems.

A Husky will be loyal to his pack, while a Malamute will be loyal to his owner.

Malamutes are larger and heavier dogs, while Huskies are lighter but faster dogs.

The Husky prefers to live with other dogs, whereas a Malamute will be content to live with humans.

Huskies tend to live longer and have fewer health problems.

The Siberian Husky is known to be smarter and more cunning compared to a Malamute.

Alaskan Malamute breed information

When you first see an Alaskan Malamute, the first thing that will surprise you is its size and presence; It is easy to mistake them for a wolf.

They are incredibly loyal dogs that will happily spend all of their time with you. With lots of energy and stamina, they were initially bred to pull heavy sleds over long distances.

Due to this high energy level, you will want to make sure you get plenty of exercises

and mentally stimulating activities otherwise you may start to have disturbing behavior (howling and chewing) due to boredom.

Due to their energy levels, they are best suited to people who have an active outdoor lifestyle;

Think hiking, sledding, and backpacking. Also, it goes without saying, but they should be kept in colder climates.

He is an incredibly friendly dog (even to strangers) and will maintain his playful and inquisitive puppy nature well into adult life. However, this friendly nature does not always extend to other dogs.

They can become dominant and aggressive towards the same sex, so you should not keep more than one male.

Buying an Alaskan Malamute is a great decision, it is a high maintenance dog that requires an experienced owner who has a lot of time to offer it.

Appearance and size

Malamutes and huskies are often confused with each other, but if you see them side by side, there is no confusion; the Malamute dwarfs the Husky.

A male malamute stands 25 inches tall and weighs between 85-100 pounds. Females are slightly shorter at 23 inches and should weigh around 75 pounds.

You can occasionally find 'Giant' Malamutes weighing around 140 pounds, however, due to their size they often suffer from Hip Dysplasia.

Like the Husky, they have a dense double coat. The outer layer (protective layer) is short and rough. Whereas the undercoat is about 2 inches deep and is oily and woolly;

This helps remove moisture and keeps them warm.

In terms of color, it can range from black, light gray to shades of red. Regardless of the color on the top of its coat, its belly will be mostly white along with markings on its face, legs, and paws.

They will remove the undercoat twice a year (spring/fall), so during this time you will need to brush them daily; Outside of this time, brushing twice a week will suffice.

As for the color of their eyes, unlike the Husky, known for its dazzling blue eyes, Malamutes have brown eyes.

While dark brown eyes are preferred for the breed standard, the shade of brown can vary to lighter shades of brown and orange eyes.

Temperament

Alaskan Malamutes are playful, friendly, and confident. If you are looking for a guard dog, this is not the dog for you.

They are quick to warmly welcome everyone (including strangers).

Like any other dog, its temperament can be affected by three key factors:

Genetics (inheritance)
Training
Socialization

When choosing a puppy, look for the ones in the middle of the road; You don't want the bully and you don't want the shy one in the corner.

As they are working dogs, they have endless energy and love to run and play. However, this work instinct and boundless energy can make training at home difficult.

You must remember that they are pack animals so when kept alone they will have to spend a lot of time in their 'human herd'. This means that they will want to participate in all family activities.

As they get to know you, this friendship will grow into an extremely loyal bond and a strong connection. However, due to their need for contact, separation anxiety is common in Malamutes, so be sure to give them plenty of time.

You can reduce the chance of separation anxiety by socializing them at an early age; the more people, experiences, and smells you expose to them, the better.

Although they do not bark, they are often famous for their howls. They are more likely to howl when they are excited or when left alone.

In terms of aggression, the biggest problem you will see is food aggression; they should not be interrupted when eating.

Price

You should expect to pay around $ 1500- $ 2000 for an Alaskan Malamute puppy. However, mature and rescued Malamutes are significantly cheaper.

Life expectancy

On average, you should expect them to live to be around 11 years old, and most between 10 and 12 years.

Since this is a large dog, common health problems include hip dysplasia, von Willebrand disease, and chondrodysplasia.

Siberian husky breed information

The Siberian husky was bred by the Chukchi people, to be used as a hunting weapon.

They were bred to carry light loads at a reasonable rate over long distances.

They did not arrive in the United States until 1909 and it took until 1930 for them to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.

Although they are incredibly friendly to all humans, they are intelligent, stubborn, and independent. As a pack dog, you will have to earn their respect and trust.

They have seemingly endless reserves of energy, making them the ideal companion for someone leading an active outdoor lifestyle.

Without much physical and mental exercise, they can become destructive.

If you are looking for a loyal and obedient dog, the Husky is not for you.

They are independent thinkers and are quite happy to go through periods without you.

Appearance and size

If a Siberian Husky and a Malamute are placed side by side, it is easy to notice the differences; Malamutes are by far the largest dog.

You should expect a male Husky to be 22 inches tall and weigh around 50 pounds.

Females should be slightly shorter at 20 inches tall and slightly lighter at around 40 pounds.

Like the Malamute, they have a dense double coat.

They will remove this coat twice a year (spring and fall), so they are not ideal if someone in the house is allergic or if you like to keep your house spotless and don't want dog hair on the floor.

During heavy shedding, you should brush them every day, and outside of shedding, two brushes a week will help keep their coat healthy.

According to the standards of the breed, its coat can be:

Black
Net
Gray
Saber
White
Agouti

Once again, standing next to a Malamute, you will notice that the Husky's head is smaller and its ears are tighter and closer together.

They are known for their famous blue eyes, but they can also have brown, green, or mixed color eyes.

Temperament

If there's one thing you need to know about Huskies, it's that they are high-energy.

Like Malamutes, they are friendly and playful, and warm to everyone they meet;

If you are looking for a guard dog, the Siberian Husky is not for you.

While they are known for this, your dog's temperament can vary based on:

Genetics
Training
Socialization as a puppy

They are affectionately known as 'independent thinkers, which means that they will not become an ultra-obedient dog.

Remember that they are working dogs, which means they have a lot of energy and are used to living in packs. This instinct means that it can be challenging to train them at home.

Due to their enormous energy levels, they require a lot of physical and mental stimulation; without this, they can become destructive.

The forms of destruction most often occur by digging, jumping, and chewing.

As pack dogs, they are fine with other Huskies; however, they can be 'prickly' with other dog breeds.

Price

A Siberian Husky puppy can be purchased for around $ 400- $ 1000 + depending on his paternal lineage.

If you get a mature or rescued Husky, the price will be significantly lower.

Life expectancy

On average, your Siberian husky should live around 12, and the vast majority of them live between 10 and 14 years.

Common health problems include hip dysplasia, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy.