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It’s not always easy to tell the difference between some dog breeds. The Alaskan Malamute, the Siberian Husky, and the Alaskan Husky are often confused, and I can understand why! They are all sled dogs built for living in a very cold climate, and so they share some physical characteristics. However, there are differences between each breed in terms of appearance as well as character.
Let me make it easy for you! Here is a comparison of all three, plus a summary of each breed. So if you’re thinking of getting one and want to compare Malamute vs Husky, read on to find out more.
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Alaskan Malamute vs Siberian Husky vs Alaskan Husky comparison chart
| Alaskan Malamute | Siberian Husky | Alaskan Husky |
| Large – up to 26″ (66 cm) | Medium – up to 23.5″ (60cm) | Medium/Large – up to 26″ (66cm) |
| Usually brown eyes, never blue | Light blue or brown eyes | Usually brown eyes |
| Double coat, long | Double coat, medium | Double coat, short/medium |
| Tail curls over back | Tail hangs down | Tail hangs down |
| Malamutes are strong | Siberian Husky is Fast | Alaskan Husky is the Fastest |
| Average lifespan: 10 – 12 years | Average life span: 12 – 15 years | Average lifespan: 10 – 15 years |
| Calm | Hyper | Calmest |
| Intelligent | Very intelligent | Very intelligent |
| High prey drive | High prey drive | Sometimes high prey drive |
| Malamutes are Good with older children | Siberian Huskies are Good with older children | Alaskan Huskies Good with children |
| Doesn’t get on with dogs of same sex | Sociable with other dogs | Sociable with other dogs |
| Low guard dog ability | Low guard dog ability | Low guard dog ability |
| Malamute Likes to pull | Likes to run | Likes to run |
| Rarely barks | Rarely barks | Rarely barks |
| Cannot live in a hot climate | Cannot live in a hot climate | Cannot live in a hot climate |
| Digs under a fence (if bored) | Jumps over a fence (if bored) | Jumps over a fence (if bored) |
Siberian Husky vs Malamute comparison
Alaskan Malamute
Siberian Husky
Similarities:
- A double coat
- Heavy seasonal shedders
- High prey drive
- Friendly with people
- Needs a firm leader
Differences:
- The Alaskan Malamutes are much larger and stronger vs the Siberian Huskies.
- The Malamutes never has blue eyes like the Siberian Huskies.
- The Siberian Husky has a longer lifespan on average.
- The Siberian Husky is a faster runner compared to malamute.
- The Siberian Husky needs lots more vigorous exercise (e.g. hiking, jogging).
- The Siberian Husky is more intelligent than the Malamute.
- The Alaskan Malamute is calmer indoors than the Siberian Husky.
- The Siberian Husky is more sociable compared to other dogs.
- The Siberian Husky prefers to live with other dogs.
Alaskan Husky vs Siberian Husky comparison
Alaskan Husky
Siberian Husky
Similarities:
- Double coat
- Heavy seasonal shedders
- Love to run
- Strong pack instinct
- Friendly
- Intelligent
- Need firm leaders
Differences:
- The Alaskan Husky is not a purebred like the Siberian (there is no standard look).
- The Alaskan Husky is larger and leaner.
- The Alaskan Husky can have a shorter coat.
- The Alaskan Husky is mellower.
Alaskan Malamute vs Alaskan Husky comparison
Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Husky
Similarities:
- Double coat
- Heavy seasonal shedders
- Strong pack instinct
- Friendly
- Need firm leaders
Differences:
- The Alaskan Husky is not a purebred like the Malamute.
- The Malamute is much stockier and stronger than the Alaskan Husky.
- The Alaskan Husky has a longer average lifespan.
- The Alaskan Husky is usually a little calmer.
- The Alaskan Husky is more suitable for a family with younger children.
- The Alaskan Husky runs faster than the Malamute.
- The Alaskan Husky is more sociable with other dogs.
- The Alaskan Husky is more intelligent.
The Alaskan Malamute info
Photos
Appearance
The Alaskan Malamute is the oldest of the three sled dogs, as well as the largest. She can measure up to 26 inches (66 cm) and usually weighs between 75 – 85 lb (34-38 kg), but some males can weigh up to 100 lb (45 kg) or over!
She has a double coat, a broad face, erect ears, and a fluffy tail that curls over her back.
Malamutes are usually a mix of colors. Commonly, her belly, feet, legs and most of her face is white, and the rest can be black, gray, sable or red.
Characteristics
Like the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Husky, the Alaskan Malamute was bred to pull sleds in freezing temperatures. While the Huskies are known for their speed, she is much stronger and can pull incredibly heavy loads of up to 3,000 lbs.
Her working dog background makes her a high energy dog who needs lots of exercise. She does especially well if you give her a task that involves pulling, such as pulling you on skates or a bicycle. If exercised well, she will be calm at home and happy to snooze while you go about your chores.
The Siberian Husky info
Photos
Appearance
The Siberian Husky is medium in size, weighing up to 59.5lb (27kg) and measuring up to 23.6 inches (60cm).
She has an thick double coat, consisting of dense fur, and distinctive face markings. She has erect ears, a fluffy tail, and she often has piercing blue eyes (though they can be brown, green or amber).
She can come in a variety of colors, including:
- Black
- Black and white
- Black and tan
- Brown
- Cream
- Gray
- Red
- Sable
- Silver
- White
Characteristics
The Siberian Husky is a highly energetic dog who needs lots of exercises. While the Alaskan Malamute and Alaskan Husky are more chilled at home, she can be a bit of a clown and loves to play.
She has a strong pack instinct and loves to live with a family and with other dogs. She is friendly to all, and, therefore, does not make a good guard dog.
The Alaskan Husky info
Photos
The Alaskan Husky is not a purebred like the previous two sled dogs, nor is she even recognized as a breed. She is a mix of many Northern breeds, and she is defined by her purpose: as a sled dog, and a fast one!
Appearance
As she is a hybrid of various breeds, her looks vary. She is usually medium to large in size, with a larger and leaner body compared to the Siberian Husky. She has a double coat, which can come in any mix of colors, and her eyes are usually brown.
Here is a little look at the Alaskan Husky in all her racing glory. This video also gives you an idea of how varied her physical traits can be:
Characteristics
The Alaskan Husky tends to be mellower than the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute, and, if exercised properly, she is calm indoors. Like both of the other two breeds, she is a true pack animal who love to spend time with their family and is gentle with children.
She is also highly intelligent and trainable, but, like the others, can be stubborn, so it is important to be firm!
Summary of Malamute vs Husky
I hope this article made things clearer for you.
Alaskan Malamute and Huskies are known as sled dogs of the North. These three dog breeds have a lot of things in common like their appearances such as coats, eyes, height, and intelligence. But their differences when it comes to temperament and sociability make each of them unique.
If you still not sure and compare Malamute vs Husky, consider which one will better fit into your family and everyday life. Some of them require plenty of exercises and lots of attention. Their size is different, so you’ll need to consider that too.
Let us know what you think of one or all of these breeds! Comment below!
7 replies on “Alaskan Malamute VS Husky (Siberian and Alaskan)”
They are beautiful animals. We adopted a female from the local Humane society. She’s at least a couple years old. Very playful but aggressive with out smaller dog.
We own a malamute husky mix and it was interesting to read the Malamute vs Husky comparison. We had her DNA tested and she’s 62.5% malamute and 37.5% husky. She is very vocal! Howls, talks and barks! She isn’t necessarily good with people though, she can be aggressive if a stranger tries to touch her. It’s publicised that malamutes and huskies love people, not always true she loves her pack but not random people. She also is very good off lead, an exception as this is seldom true of the breed!
My female Malamute and male husky and Malamute mix usually get along great, but will FIGHT over treats and toys. The Malamute is 2 months older and 40 lbs heavier.
How can I stop this behavior??
We adopted an 11 month old Alaskan from our local shelter, she is simply amazing with our two young girls (6 and 8 years old), but is super aggressive with almost every other dog she has encountered. Prey instinct is through the roof as well, and she has taken down a few small mammals in mere seconds of contact. But we are working on socializing her with neighborhood dogs and seeing some small progress. All in all, one of the best dogs I’ve ever owned, a fantastic breed! Highly recommend based on our (so far) 6 months of experience.
I have a Siberian husky but he appears to be quite big when I went to a dog show and saw more Siberian husky they seem to be small I have no paper work for but did see the parents he weight is 32 kg is this normal and he is always moulting no matter how much I brush him any ideas
When I first laid eyes on the Alaskan Malamute (as a teenager) the experience was almost mesmerizing their blue-hued orbs and mottled coat.
And no, only one dog (unsubstantiated) was reported to have contracted SARS-coV-02, aka, COVID-19.
-James
Correction: Siberian Husky. Your caveat ✅. I was confused with the three breeds.