Alaskan Malamute vs Chow Chow

An Alaskan Malamute
Photo: Randi Hausken
A Chow Chow
Photo: Gabrielle Costa lbrto

Side by side

Alaskan Malamute
Chow Chow
Adult weight
Males 35–42 kg (77–93 lb); females 31–37 kg (67–82 lb) (estimated: ±10% around the AKC/AMCA standard's desirable freighting size, 85 lb dogs and 75 lb bitches)
20–32 kg (45–70 lb) (breed club figure)1
Lifespan
Median 11.3 years2
Median 12.1 years2
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes3
11 months, both sexes3
Group
Spitz & primitive4
Spitz & primitive5
Coat
Double coat4
Double coat or short coat5
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
A moderate amount
Health
Mouth melanoma (much more likely); Underactive thyroid (much more likely)6,7
Inward-rolling eyelid (far more likely); Skin melanoma (far more likely)6,8
Class
Working
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Alaskan Malamute is larger on average: about 36 kg (80 lb) as an adult, against 26 kg (58 lb) for the Chow Chow.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Alaskan Malamute, and a moderate amount with the Chow Chow.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Alaskan Malamute: friendly with everyone; Chow Chow: sticks close to its people) and on voice (Alaskan Malamute: very vocal; Chow Chow: quiet).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Alaskan Malamute
Spitz & primitive · Large

Malamutes are affectionate and playful with people, strangers included, and make poor guard dogs.

Chow Chow
Spitz & primitive · Medium

In temperament it is reserved and independent: devoted to its own household, aloof with strangers and seldom demonstrative. It is often compared to a cat for its cleanliness and self-possession.

The Alaskan Malamute page →The Chow Chow page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Alaskan Malamute
Chow Chow
Activity
Differs
Needs lots of exercise
Happy with modest walks
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Easy-going, simple routines
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Alaskan Malamute
Chow Chow
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
Likes its own space
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Alaskan Malamute
Chow Chow
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Very vocal
Quiet
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Alaskan Malamute grows to the heavier adult, about 37 kg against the Chow Chow's 26 kg. The Alaskan Malamute's weight is not a published figure.
Alaskan Malamute
Chow Chow
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More comparisons

Compare the Alaskan Malamute with
Alaskan Malamute vs Siberian HuskyAlaskan Malamute vs SamoyedChow Chow vs SamoyedChow Chow vs Tibetan MastiffChinese Shar-Pei vs Chow ChowChow Chow vs Shiba InuAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·