Breed

# Alaskan Malamute

The Alaskan Malamute is a working breed from United States (Alaska), standing males 24–26 in · females 22–24 in at the withers, weighing males 79–95 lb · females 70.5–84 lb. Recorded lifespan is 10–12 yrs.

![A photograph of the Alaskan Malamute](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breeds/lg/alaskan-malamute.webp)

Breed group

Working

Origin

United States (Alaska)

Height

males 24–26 in · females 22–24 in

Weight

males 79–95 lb · females 70.5–84 lb

Lifespan

10–12 yrs

Among the 500 breeds here with recorded measurements, the Alaskan Malamute is taller than 74% of the measured breeds, heavier than 85%, one of 31 in the Working group.

Compare the

Alaskan Malamute

with another breed

## Living with the Alaskan Malamute

Two breed references score every breed they cover from 1 to 5 on the things an owner lives with day to day. These are the Alaskan Malamute’s, with what a 1 and a 5 mean on each row.

Around people and other dogs

Affection with family

4 of 5

1 independent · 5 devoted

Good with young children

3 of 5

1 not suited · 5 very good

Good with other dogs

2 of 5

1 not suited · 5 very good

Openness to strangers

4 of 5

1 reserved · 5 everyone is a friend

Watchdog / protective nature

4 of 5

1 unbothered · 5 vigilant

What they will ask of you

Energy

4 of 5

1 couch potato · 5 busy all day

Exercise needs

5 of 5

1 a short walk · 5 a job to do

Playfulness

4 of 5

1 only when invited · 5 non-stop

Barking

4 of 5

1 only to alert · 5 very vocal

Around the house

Shedding

5 of 5

1 barely · 5 constantly

Drooling

1 of 5

1 a dry mouth · 5 keep a towel

What they tolerate

Tolerates being alone

1 of 5

1 poorly · 5 well

Tolerates hot weather

2 of 5

1 poorly · 5 well

Tolerates cold weather

5 of 5

1 poorly · 5 well

Rated 1 to 5 by the American Kennel Club and DogTime, averaged where both rate the same thing, and read from their breed pages in 2022. Nobody at Woof & Beyond has met this breed — these are the publishers’ judgments, not ours.[Alaskan Malamute on AKC](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/alaskan-malamute/)[Alaskan Malamute on DogTime](https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/alaskan-malamute)

## Breeds that look like the Alaskan Malamute

A neural network trained to tell breeds apart by sight read all 510 photographs in this reference, and these are the 6 it placed closest to the Alaskan Malamute.

- [![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breeds/norwegian-elkhound.webp)Norwegian Elkhound](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breed/norwegian-elkhound/)
- [![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breeds/swedish-vallhund.webp)Swedish Vallhund](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breed/swedish-vallhund/)
- [![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breeds/alaskan-klee-kai-miniature.webp)Alaskan Klee Kai (Miniature)](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breed/alaskan-klee-kai-miniature/)
- [![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breeds/alaskan-klee-kai-toy.webp)Alaskan Klee Kai (Toy)](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breed/alaskan-klee-kai-toy/)
- [![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breeds/greenland-dog.webp)Greenland Dog](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breed/greenland-dog/)
- [![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breeds/shikoku.webp)Shikoku](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breed/shikoku/)

Side by side

Height 0–38 in

1. Alaskan Malamute24–26 in
2. Norwegian Elkhound19–21 in
3. Swedish Vallhund12–16 in
4. Alaskan Klee Kai (Miniature)13–15 in
5. Alaskan Klee Kai (Toy)13 in
6. Greenland Dog22–25 in
7. Shikoku7–21 in

Weight 0–220 lb

1. Alaskan Malamute79–95 lb
2. Norwegian Elkhound50–60 lb
3. Swedish Vallhund25–35 lb
4. Alaskan Klee Kai (Miniature)10–15 lb
5. Alaskan Klee Kai (Toy)9 lb
6. Greenland Dog66–70 lb
7. Shikoku35–50 lb

Lifespan 0–20 yrs

1. Alaskan Malamute10–12 yrs
2. Norwegian Elkhound12–15 yrs
3. Swedish Vallhund12–15 yrs
4. Alaskan Klee Kai (Miniature)12–16 yrs
5. Alaskan Klee Kai (Toy)12–16 yrs
6. Greenland Dog~13 yrs
7. Shikoku10–12 yrs

Nothing here was grouped by hand. The ranking is an opinion about appearance, not about ancestry, which is why it sometimes puts together breeds no kennel club would — and why it is worth looking at the photographs rather than taking the order on trust.

## Guides that mention the Alaskan Malamute

Every guide on this site whose text actually discusses this breed.

- [French Bulldog Shedding: How Bad Is It Really?](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/do-french-bulldogs-shed/)
- [Preventing Your Dog from Running Away: The Surprising Reasons and Solutions](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/how-to-train-dog-not-to-run-away/)
- [When Do Puppies' Ears Stand Up?](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/when-do-puppies-ears-stand-up/)

See the

Alaskan Malamute

on the breed map

Read about the

Alaskan Malamute

on Wikipedia
