Alaskan Malamute vs Siberian Husky

An Alaskan Malamute
Photo: Randi Hausken
A Siberian Husky
Photo: Lorie Shaull / Lorie Shaull

Side by side

Alaskan Malamute
Siberian Husky
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)
Males 20–27 kg (45–60 lb); females 16–23 kg (35–50 lb) (breed club figure)1
Height
No sourced figure
Males 53.3–59.7 cm; females 50.8–55.9 cm (breed club figure)1
Lifespan
Median 11.3 years2
Median 11.9 years2
Fully grown
12 months, both sexes3
11 months, both sexes3
Group
Spitz & primitive4
Spitz & primitive5
Coat
Double coat4
Coat of medium length5
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
Health
Mouth melanoma (much more likely); Underactive thyroid (much more likely)6,7
Underactive thyroid (more likely)7
Class
Working
Sport

Which suits you

Size
The Alaskan Malamute is much larger: about 36 kg (80 lb) as an adult, against 22 kg (48 lb) for the Siberian Husky.
Grooming
The Siberian Husky needs more grooming, brushing a few times a week, where the Alaskan Malamute needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on sensitivity (Alaskan Malamute: average; Siberian Husky: needs a calm, predictable home).
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.

Siberian Husky
Spitz & primitive · Medium

The Siberian Husky is friendly, gentle and outgoing, with an independent streak and a name for mischief. It greets strangers rather than warning them off, and many are determined escape artists.

The Alaskan Malamute page →The Siberian Husky page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Alaskan Malamute
Siberian Husky
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs an experienced owner
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Alaskan Malamute
Siberian Husky
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Friendly with everyone
Friendly with everyone
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Alaskan Malamute
Siberian Husky
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Very vocal
Very vocal
Prey drive
Likely to chase small pets
Likely to chase small pets
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Alaskan Malamute grows to the heavier adult, about 37 kg against the Siberian Husky's 22 kg. The Alaskan Malamute's weight is not a published figure.
Alaskan Malamute
Siberian Husky
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More comparisons

Compare the Alaskan Malamute with
Alaskan Klee Kai vs Siberian HuskyGerman Shepherd vs Siberian HuskyAlaskan Malamute vs SamoyedNorwegian Elkhound vs Siberian HuskySamoyed vs Siberian HuskyIbizan Hound vs Siberian HuskyAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·