Overview
| Other names | Mal, Mally |
|---|---|
| Coat | Thick, a double coat, with plush undercoat |
| Colors | Gray, sable, black, or red, always with white, as well as all white |
Alaskan Malamutes are beautiful, extremely loyal, smart, playful, and very affectionate towards their master. They are great with kids who are old enough to play with them in a manner that won’t scare or frighten them. They are indeed overly friendly dogs, so it’s suggested you do not get them with the intention of using them as a guard dog. If their instincts are met they will mature into a very calm and mellow adult dog.
They love spending time outdoors and playing with their owners. They are happy to live outdoors as long as you spend time with them, but they also enjoy living inside with their owners. They are quiet compared to most dogs, but they do enjoy to howl and dig.
Without leadership and daily exercise these dogs might become very destructive, acting like giant, hyper puppies. It is not usually hard to train them to be calm and well mannered, but Alaskan Malamutes can sometimes be difficult to house train, and most owners prefer to keep them outside.
Despite their big size, they need less food than you might think; they are a very thrifty eater. However, they will wolf down whatever is offered to them, which can lead to obesity. Overall they are great dogs, and good a pick for a companion.
Stats & Characteristics
| Country of origin | United States (Alaska) |
|---|---|
| Height male | 25″ |
| Height female | 23″ |
| Weight male | 85 lbs |
| Weight female | 75 lbs |
| Popularity rank | 57 |
| Intelligence | |
| Intelligence rank | 50 |
| Shedding | |
| Grooming | Moderate maintenance |
| Energy level | Medium energy |
| Exercise Needs | High |
| Playfulness | Moderately playful |
| Affection level | Very affectionate |
| Watchdog | Medium |
| Protection ability | Moderately protective |
| Good with dogs | Shy |
| Cold tolerance | Medium tolerance |
| Heat tolerance | Low tolerance |
| Life span | 10 - 12 years |