We've rounded up 32 facts about Alaskan Malamutes. This breed is the heavyweights of the sledding world, but they also make adorable and striking pets. Fluffy, beautifully marked, and physically impressive, they are known for their fabulous strength, endurance, and stunning appearance.
Their majestic double coats are their hallmark, enabling them not only to survive in the tough, freezing environments of their native Alaska but also to thrive. They even sleep on the ice!
They are primarily working dogs, bred and trained to haul freight across frozen landscapes, but also to live alongside the nomadic Inuits with whom they worked in partnership. Today, Alaskan Malamutes are not just symbols of strength and resilience but also beloved family companions, known for their affection and loyalty.
While you might look at a Mal and think they’re all about muscle and might (plus a lot of fluff), this is an intelligent dog breed, with a gentle, playful side. But, of course, as a working dog, they come with a few challenges in a fully domestic environment. They are capable of extreme stamina and so require plenty of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Plus, they cannot deal well with high temperatures.
Let’s take a look at some fascinating facts about Alaskan Malamutes, from their history and behavior to their unique characteristics.
32 facts about Alaskan Malamutes
1. They are vocal but not big barkers
Alaskan Malamutes aren’t big barkers but don’t expect a quiet life with one in the home. They make themselves heard in other ways and are known as one of the most vocal dog breeds.
They howl, sing, yodel, and generally communicate in a variety of ways. You’ll know about it if they’re lonely or bored.
2. They are natural nomads
Malamutes were originally developed by a nomadic Inuit tribe, traveling around their harsh environment to find food and resources. As such, it is ingrained in the breed to live alongside humans – and other dogs.
You may find that they consider a fenced yard something of an assault on their freedom, and may look for ways to escape the confines.
3. They love the cold
Winter temperatures in Alaska can plummet to as low as -58ºF, but the native Mal is built to withstand the freezing cold. Their dense double coats are both oily and wooly, enabling them to thrive in sub-zero temperatures (it’s heat that causes more trouble).
They also have thick clumps of fur in between their toes, which helps to protect the extremities, while their ears are relatively small to prevent them from losing heat, making them among the best breeds for cold climates.
While some other breeds don’t even like sitting down on grass because the cold is uncomfortable, Mals typically rest in their packs on the snow or ice.
4. They are big diggers
Mals typically love to dig. Some people believe it’s an innate skill so they could dig a shelter during a snowstorm, or find some cooler earth to lie on during hot weather.
It can be hard to stop them as it’s part of their make-up, so often the best plan is to give them a designated digging area – or your yard will look like a construction site. Given a Malamute’s impressive strength, this habit can be more akin to excavation than digging, and they can burrow under boundary fences.
5. They are marathon runners
While the Malamute isn’t the fastest dog across the snow, they can run all day long, covering huge distances up to 40–60 miles in a sled team! As you’d expect from such reserves of stamina, they need a lot of daily exercise.
6. They hate heat
As you would expect from a dog designed to live in Arctic environments, Mals don’t thrive in the heat. Mercifully their luxuriously thick coats do shed seasonally, but when temperatures rise more than 20ºF they start to feel uncomfortable. Wouldn’t you want to shed your own winter layers?
Mals should be kept inside during hot weather, and routinely groomed to get rid of any excess insulating coat.
7. They are the heaviest of the sledders
Malamutes are the heaviest of the sledding breeds, built more for strength, power, and endurance than speed. Consider them more of a freighter than a sprinter.
They are heavy-boned, typically weighing around 75–85lb, and some males can weigh almost 100lb.
8. They are outdoor sleepers
In their natural environment of Alaska, Malamutes would often sleep outside in all weathers, as their double coat provides superb insulation. Most of them appreciate cold temperatures and are perfectly content down to around -23ºF.
They will rest on the ice while in their sledding teams. Some domestic Mals will choose to sleep outside when it’s too warm.
9. They have a tribal name
The name Alaskan Malamute gives away their provenance. They are named after the Inuit Mahlemut tribe, who settled along the shores of the Kotzebue Sound, which is an arm of the Chukchi Sea in Western Alaska (inside the Arctic Circle).
They lived alongside the Mahlemuts, hauling their supplies and possessions as they moved from place to place, and “looking after” the children when the parents were off hunting.
10. They have an abundance of fur
If you take on a Malamute, be prepared for fur everywhere. It will go into every nook and cranny in your home, and you may find strands in your cup of coffee. The coat is easy to keep clean but it needs routine grooming.
It is dense, waterproof, and wooly, perfectly suited to life in the Arctic – less so for a centrally heated home! They shed in the summer and experts advise never shaving Mals even if you think they need it; the coat protects them against heat and UV light as well as cold.
11. They are good-doers
Although Mals are large and fairly high-energy, they are good-doers, meaning they get by on relatively little, compared to other breeds of a similar weight. They are survival dogs par excellence and manage to eke out more from less.
Malamutes are built to lay down fat to cope with their harsh environment and so in a comfortable domestic environment with relatively little exercise compared to their native situation, lower rations are required.
12. They require a lot of exercise
They may be steady compared to Huskies, but Malamutes still require a lot of vigorous exercise on a daily basis – at least two hours a day for this high-energy dog breed.
They have an inbuilt urge to explore and run for miles and miles, expending vast amounts of energy by hauling heavy loads. If you leave that desire unrequited, you will have a very frustrated big dog on your hands. This is not the breed for someone who enjoys a quick walk around the block.
13. There are nine official breed colors
Alaskan Malamutes come in a variety of colors and spectacular markings. The official breed colors are gray, black, red, seal, silver, sable, blue, and agouti, all with white, as well as pure white – the only permitted solid color.
They typically have markings that follow patterns such as caps, goggles, eye shadows, nose bars, masks, and pen and closed faces.
Blue eyes are not permitted.
14. They can live more than 10 years
Alaskan Malamutes have a life expectancy of over 10 years, typically up to 14, but they do have some health concerns. These include hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, polyneuropathy, and bloat.
15. They are people lovers
The Malamute’s wolflike and robust appearance can give the impression that they are not as friendly as they are in reality. Because they have been bred over centuries to live in tandem with people, sharing travels and living space, they are naturally very loyal, affectionate, and playful.
16. They are steady sledders not sprinters
Consider the Malamute more of a marathon runner than a sprinter – the faster speeds belong to their cousins the Huskies. Mals were used for hauling their tribe’s possessions from camp to camp, not bred for racing at speed.
17. They have a trademark tail for warmth
A trademark feature of the Malamute is their plumed tail. It is very furry and tends to curl over the back. Their functional purpose is to help them keep warm as they wrap their tail around their face when they curl up in the snow.
18. Not natural guard dogs
While Malamutes are loyal and protective of their own, they are not one of the best guard dogs. While they are physically impressive, they don’t tend to bark, and are typically genial towards people, even strangers. But most intruders would think twice before crossing the threshold with a dog of this stature in their path even if he has a friendly demeanor.
20. They require an experienced and spacious home
Although they are a magnificent breed, an Alaskan Malamute probably isn’t the best choice for first-time dog owners. They need an experienced handler as well as knowledgeable and consistent training.
This is a large, strong working dog, and not one you want throwing its considerable weight around! As a nomadic breed developed to cover long distances every day, they don’t thrive in apartment life, instead requiring plenty of space and exercise.
21. They are slow to mature
In common with most other large dog breeds, the Malamute is a late-maturing dog. Expect them to keep growing until they are around two years old, and aren’t considered fully mature physically until they are four or five.
22. They tend to be good with kids
The story goes that the founders of the Alaskan Malamute breed, the Mahlemut tribe used these large, friendly dogs as babysitters for their kids when they went off to hunt for food. It makes sense that they are among the best family dog breeds. T
his might be why they have a natural inclination to be kind and gentle towards children, accepting them easily as part of the pack. However, do not ignore the fact that this is a large dog with a voluminous tail and can quite easily and unintentionally knock a child over.
23. They need quality time
Mals are highly intelligent and therefore are trainable, however – like most dogs – you need to take time to be consistent and regular in your training sessions or they will run rings around you!
They need plenty of stimulation and exercise and have an innate urge to run (and pull) so you need to work to keep them focused while having fun.
24. They are bred to pull
As a dog bred to haul heavy cargo, this is part of their psyche. They can pull more than 1,000lb fairly easily, and up to 3,000 in competition, with world records even higher.
This depends on the surface because dirt, snow, or carpet all have different friction. Bear in mind this innate ability means that leash training requires huge experience from the handler.
25. They are a pack dog
Malamutes are pack dogs by nature and are very pack-orientated. They like to be within a dog or human pack to thrive and understand where they fit in the hierarchy.
This does have the benefit of them understanding pack politics and the expectation of manners, so long as they have been properly socialized and consistently trained.
26. They are prime targets for medical research
Mals are valued in the field of medical research because of their impressive survival instinct. An unfortunate consequence is that they are a target for thieves who can sell them on to research facilities. Microchipping is essential to ensure their true owner can be easily traced.
27. They have strong survival instincts
The Malamute has strong survival instincts, as you’d expect from a breed that has been developed in the harsh environment of Alaska.
They are food-motivated, yet can thrive on comparatively little sustenance, while their coat provides additional insulation to conserve energy.
28. They require well-fenced yard
An Alaskan Malamute’s nomadic roots mean they don’t respect physical boundaries unless they are extremely clear. If fencing is loose or inadequate, they’ll quickly find out and go for a wander.
They aren’t one of the highest jumping breeds, but they’ll certainly tackle a low fence, or even try to dig their way out. The recommendation is to bury the fence and ensure it is 6ft or higher.
29. They delivered post
Not so long ago – up to the 1960s – one of the Malamute’s many working roles was to deliver mail and other supplies to remote areas for the early settlers in Alaska. They played a major part in opening up the state to development. Mals were so important that there was a federal law giving mail sled dogs right of way on any byway.
30. They were Gold Rush icons
During the Klondike Gold Rush at the end of the 19th Century, the Malamute played a major role in pulling heavy freight – food and supplies for the prospectors.
They were highly prized because of their efficiency. Not only could they haul considerable cargo, but they didn’t require as much sustenance as other sledding dogs.
31. They’re quite different to Huskies
The Alaskan Malamute is similar in looks to many other sledding dogs, and you could call the Samoyed and Siberian Husky its cousins.
At first glance, to the uninitiated, the Husky and Malamute might look almost the same, however, the Malamute is larger, heavier-boned, and moves more steadily than the pacy Husky. Another physical difference is that around 40% of Huskies have blue eyes, whereas brown eyes are the breed standard of the Malamute.
32. They are the Alaska State dog
It’s no surprise that the Malamute is the state dog of Alaska, given the many roles it has played in the history and culture of the area. Whether it was hauling possessions for nomadic Inuit tribes, delivering mail for early settlers, or pulling loads for the Gold Rush prospectors, the Mal has been there at every step.
The only surprise was that the title only came in 2010, thanks to a group of schoolchildren!
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