Friendly, affectionate and with endless energy, an Alaskan Malamute wants to be running and playing games with the family all day long.

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Despite their striking resemblance to the wild and beautiful wolf, Alaskan Malamutes are one of the most affectionate and loyal dog breeds. Friendly to a fault, even to strangers, they are not great watchdogs. They are very quiet – don’t expect your Alaskan Malamute to bark at all unless they’re bored – and they are inherently gentle. If socialised early they are great with older children, but aren’t well suited to small animals.

They have a high scavenging instincts, so make sure they can’t access the bin. They will devour whatever you give them, potentially leading to obesity and bloating. They are a large breed and need a diet to support their nutritional needs. Their diet should be specialised to prevent future health problems.

Fun fact: An Alaskan Malamute’s coat will

protect them in temperatures as low as -70°C.

Alaskan Malamute’s are prone to separation anxiety and tend to display associated howling and chewing behaviour. They need constant mental and physical stimulation. Being strongly independent and highly intelligent also means that they are difficult to house-train. They are not for novice dog-owners. Train your Alaskan Malamute with a firm, yet gentle hand.

These large domestic dogs absolutely love the outdoors and being a sled-dog breed, they need at least an hour of hard exercise. No one will be happier to carry your food and equipment, and drink in the moonlight at a snow camp than your Alaskan Malamute. Keep in mind that they have a tendency to wander off, so train them well to recall.

They don’t do well in the heat. The Alaskan Malamute has a dense coat (usually in black, sable, wolf grey or wolf sable) that requires reasonably high-maintenance. Brush it daily. Bathing however can be kept to a minimum, as their coat sheds dirt efficiently and is clean and odourless. An occasional dry shampooing and your big buddy will be as good as new. Their undercoat sheds twice a year so you’ll want a good vacuum – the Alaskan Malamute sheds heavily.

Scheduled six monthly health check visits with your vet are important to ensure that your dog is healthy and happy throughout all life stages. They are a strong and hardy breed and suffer few problems except for hip dysplasia. Together with your vet, you can determine and maintain a preventative health care program based on the individual needs of your canine companion.

Size

An Alaskan Malamute is a giant-sized breed weighing between 38-56kgs, with a height between 58-71cms.

Space

Alaskan Malamutes suit big spaces with yards to play in. 

Energy Levels

The equivalent of a marathon runner, they go and go and go. Daily runs and lots of games make for a happy Malamute.

Difficulty of Training

They are highly intelligent, making them easy to train. However, they have a mind of their own and perseverance and consistency are important.

Family Suitability

They are great family pets and loyal companions, but are too friendly to be watchdogs.

Compatibility with other Pets

They love being the only pet, but if socialised early will get along with other pets.  

Need for Company

As much as they love playing with their family, they can handle being alone.

Hypoallergenic Dog Breed?

No 

Coat and Grooming Needs

They have a short-medium coat in a variety of colours like grey, black, sable and red, with white markings. It needs to be brushed daily.

Shedding

They shed heavily during moulting season and lightly all year round.

Tendency to Bark

They are generally quiet dogs, so don’t expect long conversations.

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