Siberian Husky vs Alaskan Malamute
A side-by-side look at two breeds people often weigh against each other. Every line below comes from each breed's own care profile on this site, so both sides are described the same way.
Key differences at a glance
- The Siberian Husky tends to live longer - about 12-14 years, against 10-14 years for the Alaskan Malamute.
- The Alaskan Malamute is the bigger dog - a large breed at 34-38 kg, while the Siberian Husky is medium at 20-27 kg.
 Siberian Husky The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized Arctic sled dog with the wolf-like beauty, ice-blue eyes, and explosive energy... |  Alaskan Malamute The Alaskan Malamute is one of the oldest and largest of the Arctic sled-dog breeds - a powerful, heavily built working... | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Medium | Large |
| Typical weight | 20-27 kg | 34-38 kg |
| Lifespan | 12-14 years | 10-14 years |
| Temperament | Friendly, outgoing, and sociable. | Affectionate, sociable, dignified, and stubborn. |
| Exercise needs | Among the highest exercise needs of any popular breed. | Enormous. |
| Grooming | The double coat is enormous and sheds. | The double coat sheds spectacularly. |
| Best suited for | Active, outdoor-oriented owners (runners, hikers, cyclists). | Active rural homes in cold climates. |
Which one suits you?
Both are northern sled breeds, both are friendly to strangers and useless as guard dogs, and both are among the hardest common breeds to live with in an ordinary home. The Husky is the lighter, faster, more escape-prone of the two; the Malamute is the heavier, stronger, more stubborn one with more potential for conflict with other dogs. Neither belongs in a flat, a hot climate, or a house with cats.
Health, and what it costs you
The Siberian Husky averages 12-14 years, long for a medium-large athletic breed; the Malamute 10-14. Both carry hip dysplasia and eye conditions, and both can have hypothyroidism. The Husky adds a zinc-responsive skin condition; the Malamute adds chondrodysplasia, a heritable dwarfism with a DNA test available. Neither breed's main danger is medical, though - it is behavioural, and it is running off.
What each one asks of a normal week
Both need 90 to 120 minutes of vigorous daily exercise, and for both, walking is preparation rather than exercise: pulling, running, hiking, sled or scooter work is what actually drains them. Both shed spectacularly twice a year. The Malamute is the more dominant with other dogs, especially of the same sex, and the more stubborn to train. Both profiles explicitly rule out households with cats or small pets, and both rule out hot climates.
Choose the Siberian Husky if
you want the lighter, faster, more sociable of the two and can build a genuinely escape-proof garden.
Choose the Alaskan Malamute if
you want the stronger, more dignified dog for real pulling work and are experienced with dominant dogs.
Health figures above come from each breed's own profile on this site, and breed averages are exactly that - averages. An individual dog from screened parents can do far better than its breed's statistics, and one from an unscreened litter can do far worse. Ask any breeder which tests the parents have had, and walk away from anyone who finds the question rude.
Common questions
Does the Siberian Husky or the Alaskan Malamute live longer?
On published ranges the Siberian Husky tends to live longer, roughly 12-14 years against 10-14 years for the Alaskan Malamute. Any individual dog varies with genetics, weight and care.
Is the Siberian Husky bigger than the Alaskan Malamute?
The Alaskan Malamute is the larger breed - a large dog at roughly 34-38 kg, where the Siberian Husky is medium at 20-27 kg.
Which one fits depends on your home, your time and your experience with dogs. Read the full guides for Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute, or compare two other breeds.
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