Siberian Husky vs Alaskan Malamute
The two great northern sled breeds, and the pair people mix up most. Same wolfish looks, but one is built for speed and the other for raw pulling power.
Siberian Husky
Alaskan MalamutePick the Husky for a lighter, faster endurance dog that fits an active home; pick the Malamute if you can handle a much bigger, stronger, more independent freight-hauler. Both are friendly, pack-loving, heavy-shedding escape artists that make hopeless guard dogs and struggle in the heat. Neither is a beginner's dog.
Side by side
| Siberian Husky | Alaskan Malamute | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium · 50–60 cm | Large · 58–64 cm |
| Weight | 16–27 kg | 34–39 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 years | 10–14 years |
| Energy | Very high — 2+ hrs/day | High — 60–120 min/day |
| Shedding | Heavy, twice a year | Heavy · seasonal blowouts |
| Coat | Thick double coat · many colours, blue or brown eyes | Thick double coat · grey, sable, black & white |
| Good with children | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Trainability | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Openness to strangers | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Barking | — | 2/5 |
Size and build
The clearest difference is scale. The Malamute is a heavy freighting dog at 34–39 kg, built to haul weight slowly over distance. The Siberian Husky is a lighter sled dog at 16–27 kg, built for speed and endurance. Side by side, the Malamute is the heavyweight and the Husky the marathon runner.
Temperament and energy
Both are affectionate, people-loving and useless as guards, but they burn energy differently. The Husky is a tireless runner that needs miles a day or it invents its own fun, usually digging or escaping. The Malamute is stronger and more independent, less frantic but immensely powerful, and just as keen to pull and roam.
Coat, shedding and climate
Both wear a thick double coat built for the cold, and both blow it spectacularly twice a year. Expect fur everywhere and brushing all year round. Neither handles real heat well, and the Malamute's heavier coat makes hot climates harder still.
Common questions
What's the difference between a Husky and a Malamute?
Size and job. The Alaskan Malamute is a larger, stronger freight dog bred to haul heavy loads; the Siberian Husky is a smaller, faster dog bred to pull lighter sleds at speed. Both are friendly, high-energy and heavy shedders.
Which is bigger, a Husky or a Malamute?
The Malamute, clearly. Malamutes typically weigh 34–39 kg, while Siberian Huskies usually sit between 16 and 27 kg.
Are Huskies or Malamutes better family dogs?
Both are affectionate but demanding. Huskies suit active families who can run them daily; Malamutes suit owners who can manage a large, strong, independent dog. Neither guards, and both shed heavily.