The Alaskan malamute and the Siberian husky are both loveable, friendly, intelligent dog breeds—read on to learn how to tell the malamute from the husky.
Alaskan Malamute vs Siberian Husky—What’s The Difference?
Are Malamutes Friendlier Than Huskies
Both the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Malamute are powerful dogs built to withstand the bitter weather. Although their wolf-like features can seem menacing, their personalities are anything but. Read on to find out how to distinguish the husky from the malamute, two lovable, sociable, and intelligent dog breeds that are popular all over the world.
Malamute vs husky history
One of the earliest breeds of Arctic sled dogs is the Alaskan malamute, which is also an ancient breed. Native Americans crossed the land bridge from Siberia to Alaska thousands of years ago, bringing the breed with them. The Alaskan malamute was created by a tribe known as the Mahlemuts in the Seward Peninsula’s northern region. The dogs were employed for hauling food and camp supplies, driving away polar bears, and hunting. Like huskies, malamutes were regarded as family and treasured members of their tribe. Today’s Malamutes can be identified as descended from the ‘Kotzebue’ strain that originated in the Norton Sound region of Alaska.
Malamute vs husky with families
Huskies are excellent family pets and get along well with kids. They work well in houses with multiple dogs as well. Huskies can coexist with other pets if they were raised around them as puppies. To assist you in determining whether a Husky puppy is the right dog for you, we’ve put together a husky puppy info sheet. Huskies used to have a strong prey drive toward smaller creatures like cats, rabbits, and squirrels, but if they were reared with small animals, they can get along with pets of all sizes.
Malamutes are excellent family pets and get along well with kids. However, because of their size and intensity, they can overwhelm young children, thus families with children above the age of 5 are most suited for them. As long as they were raised with other small animals as puppies, they will also survive in families with many dogs and other pets.
Malamute vs husky size and appearance
Huskies and malamutes both resemble wolves in appearance, but malamutes are larger and heavier. Husky males stand between 53 and 60 cm tall, while females stand between 50 and 56 cm. Malamutes are roughly 58 cm tall for females and 64 cm for males. Husky females weigh 16 to 22 kg, while males weigh 20 to 27 kg. Malamutes, however, have a wide range of weights. Most people weigh between 34 and 38 kg, however some can weigh more than 45 kg.
Numerous colors are available for huskies. With the various shades of fur surrounding their face, it may also look as though they are wearing a white mask.
While the underside, feet, and other parts of the leg are primarily white on malamutes, their coat color can range from light grey to black or sable to red. Additionally, their face will have white marks, typically on the neck and forehead.
Both dogs have prominent ears, bushy tails, and extremely thick coats. Huskies are faster than malamutes, yet due to their larger frames, malamutes are stronger.
Malamutes and huskies can both have brown eyes, blue eyes, one blue eye, or particolored eyes. The ears of a husky are medium in size, triangular in shape, and perched high on the head. The ears of a Malamute are similar in appearance but are spaced wider apart on the skull.
The muzzle of a husky is medium in length and width, and it tapers slightly toward the nose. Their pink or black snow noses can be either color. The width of a malamute’s muzzle, which extends from the face to the tip of the nose, is more substantial. A malamute can have a pink snow nose in addition to their typical black nose.
Malamutes and huskies both have bushy tails. Additionally, malamutes have a corkscrew tail that they utilize to cover their faces in heat.
Malamute vs husky grooming and shedding
Both dogs have thick coats and are built to withstand the bitter cold. A husky has medium-length hair and a double coat. Their undercoat is soft and dense, and their top coat is straight. In the spring and autumn, their thick coat, which keeps them warm in the winter, will also shed (a lot). But in colder climates, they typically lose less. Huskies are a relatively clean breed, though, and they often groom themselves. They only require a lot of brushing, especially during the shedding seasons, and don’t emit much smell or require much in the way of maintenance. When they are not shedding, brush them regularly and at least once per week otherwise.
Malamutes have a thick double coat as well. The guard coat, which is their top coat, is thick and coarse. One to two inches thick, greasy and fuzzy, and designed to keep them warm and ward off moisture. A Malamute’s coat is longer in the back, neck, and shoulder areas. In addition, their long hair might occasionally make them look like they are wearing pants. Two times a year, malamutes shed, and the hair might come out in clumps. They rarely require baths, much like huskies, unless they roll in anything smelly. They groom themselves like huskies as well. When they are not shedding, brush them regularly and at least once per week otherwise.
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