Alaskan Malamute

Temperament

A Malamute is usually friendly and sociable with people and may greet even a stranger like an old friend, so it makes a poor guard dog, though its looks put many people off. With its family it is loyal and playful, but it isn't a dog that hangs on its owner's every word. It is intelligent and learns quickly, yet it follows cues only when it sees the point; boring repetition soon puts it off. It can be domineering with other dogs, especially of the same sex. Its prey drive is strong, so small animals, including cats from outside the household, are at risk. It rarely barks but "talks" instead: it howls, grumbles and woos. A bored, under-exercised Malamute can dig up the yard and break through a fence.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Alaskan Malamute for?

The Malamute suits an experienced, active person or family with a house and a securely fenced yard who do sled sports or hike a lot, winter included. A second dog to play with is a plus, and the owner needs time for daily brushing. It isn't a dog for beginners, for an apartment, for a home with cats or rabbits, or for someone who expects absolute obedience.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

A Malamute needs a big dose of exercise every day, realistically one and a half to two and a half hours, ideally with a job involved: sledding, canicross, bikejoring, hiking with a dog backpack or weight pulling. The yard needs a tall, solid fence that resists digging. Off leash it goes only in enclosed areas, because recall loses out to instinct. According to the AKC, the dense, water-resistant coat needs daily brushing and checks for mats, and twice a year, during shedding, an undercoat rake as well. A bath every 6–8 weeks is enough. Malamutes handle heat very badly; in summer, move activity to early morning and make sure the dog has shade and a cool place to rest. Training takes patience, short sessions and good rewards.

Health and breed-related conditions

Malamutes usually live 10–14 years; a 2024 UK study found a median of 11.3 years. The AKC recommends that breeders screen the parents for hip and elbow dysplasia, thrombopathy, chondrodysplasia, hypothyroidism, inherited polyneuropathy, von Willebrand disease and day blindness. The British Kennel Club lists a DNA test for Alaskan Malamute polyneuropathy (AMPN) and attention to genetic diversity as good practice, and as best practice also a test for cone degeneration, hip and elbow X-rays and an eye exam. A big, heavy dog with a thick coat copes poorly with overheating, something to keep in mind as summers in Poland grow ever warmer.

• hip and elbow dysplasiaThe most common skeletal condition; the parents should have X-rays.
• Alaskan Malamute polyneuropathy (AMPN)An inherited disease of the peripheral nerves; the Kennel Club recommends a DNA test.
• day blindness (cone degeneration)The dog sees poorly in bright light; a DNA test is available.
• chondrodysplasia (dwarfism)An inherited disorder of limb bone growth.
• hypothyroidismThe AKC lists it among the conditions parents are screened for.
• thrombopathy and von Willebrand diseaseBlood clotting disorders found in the breed.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The British Kennel Club traces the breed's name to the Mahlemut, a nomadic Inuit people of Alaska who used these dogs to haul heavy loads over long distances. Malamutes slept outdoors in all weather, and their dense double coat protected them from the cold; even the insides of their ears are furred. The FCI standard calls the Malamute one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs and stresses that its function, heavy freighting in the Arctic, matters most when judging it. For this reason the standard gives a "desirable freighting size" instead of height and weight ranges.

Fun facts

• The breed's name comes from the Mahlemut people of Alaska.
• The FCI standard gives a "desirable freighting size" of 63.5 cm and 38 kg for males and 58.5 cm and 34 kg for females.
• The only solid color allowed for a Malamute is all white.
• Malamutes have fur even on the insides of their ears, which protects them from frostbite.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI – wzorzec nr 243 Alaskan Malamutefci.be
2. 2AKC – Alaskan Malamuteakc.org
3. 3The Kennel Club – Alaskan Malamutethekennelclub.org.uk
4. 4McMillan i in. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reportsnature.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.