Malamute vs Husky comes down to build and purpose. The Royal Kennel Club calls the Alaskan Malamute the strongest of the sled dogs and the Siberian Husky the lightest and fastest. Its standards give Malamute males a preferred 64cm and 39kg, against 53–60cm and 20–27kg for Husky males. Both need more than two hours’ exercise a day.
We haven’t owned either breed, so this comparison draws on the Royal Kennel Club breed standards, Dogs Trust’s UK longevity study, PDSA’s breed guides and RVC VetCompass data.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Malamute vs Husky at a glance
| Alaskan Malamute | Siberian Husky | |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Kennel Club group | Working | Working |
| RKC size category | Large | Medium-Large |
| Height | Preferred: males 64cm, females 58cm | Males 53–60cm, females 51–56cm |
| Weight | Preferred: males 39kg, females 34kg | Males 20–27kg, females 16–23kg |
| Eyes | Brown; blue eyes are highly undesirable | Blue, brown, one of each, or parti-coloured |
| Ears | Small, set wide apart | Medium, set high and close together |
| Tail | A plume carried over the back, not tightly curled | A fox brush; a sickle curve at attention, trailing at rest |
| Coat | Coarse guard coat over a dense, woolly undercoat | Double, medium length |
| Colours | Light grey to black, or gold to liver, always with white underneath; all-white is the only solid colour | All colours and markings except merle |
| Grooming (RKC) | Every day | More than once a week |
| Exercise (RKC) | More than 2 hours a day | More than 2 hours a day |
| Home and garden (RKC) | Large house; large garden | Large house; large garden |
| UK median lifespan | 11.3 years (11.1–11.8; n = 1,980) | 11.9 years (11.7–12.0; n = 4,453) |
| UK legal status | Not a banned type | Not a banned type |
Sources: the Royal Kennel Club breed standards and breed pages, Dogs Trust’s 2024 UK longevity study and gov.uk. Breed standards describe the ideal dog, so an individual Malamute or Husky may be larger or smaller than the figures shown.
Two sled dogs, two jobs: where each comes from
The Alaskan Malamute
The Royal Kennel Club says the breed takes its name from the Mahlemut, nomadic Inuit people who developed it to pull heavy loads over long distances. Its standard describes a freighting sled dog, able to survive Arctic conditions and haul heavy loads at steady speeds.
That job explains the build. The standard asks for a heavily boned, powerfully built dog, never short on the leg. The RKC adds that Malamutes will often sleep outside in all weathers, protected by their double coat, and that even the insides of their ears are furred.
The Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky comes from north-east Siberia. The Royal Kennel Club notes it was also known as the Chukchi sled dog, after the people who used it for long-distance sled hauling. By the early 20th century, the RKC says, it dominated sled racing.
The RKC also records its best-known moment. In 1925, relays of Husky teams carried diphtheria serum hundreds of miles to Nome, Alaska, during an epidemic, and a statue in New York’s Central Park commemorates the dogs. The breed has also taken part in many famous expeditions.
The Husky standard reflects that history: a medium-sized sled dog, quick and light on its feet. It should never look so heavy as to suggest a freighting animal, nor so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint-racing one.
How to tell a Malamute from a Husky
Size and build
The two standards measure size differently. The Malamute standard gives preferred sizes: 64cm and 39kg for males, 58cm and 34kg for females. The Husky standard gives ranges: males 53–60cm and 20–27kg, females 51–56cm and 16–23kg. It describes these as the extremes, with no preference for either end, and says weight should be in proportion to height. A Husky male shouldn’t exceed 60cm, or a female 56cm.
The Malamute standard adds that size shouldn’t outweigh type, proportion and movement. Heights are closer than many people expect. The clearer gap is bone and weight. RVC VetCompass data on Malamutes under UK veterinary care in 2019 found a median bodyweight of 38.0kg for females and 43.6kg for males. We found no matching UK figure for the Siberian Husky.
Head, ears and eyes
The Malamute’s head is broad and powerful. Its ears are small, triangular and set wide apart at the back of the skull. The Husky has a finely chiselled, fox-like head, with medium ears set high and close together.
Eyes are the quickest check. The Malamute standard asks for brown, almond-shaped eyes and calls blue eyes highly undesirable. The Husky standard accepts any shade of blue or brown, one of each colour, or parti-coloured eyes, all equally.
Tail, coat and colours
The Royal Kennel Club calls the Malamute’s tail, carried like a waving plume, a hallmark of breed type. The standard says it shouldn’t be tightly curled, nor carried like a fox brush. The Husky’s tail is exactly that: a fox brush, carried over the back in a sickle curve when the dog is alert, and trailing when it’s working or resting.
The Malamute has a coarse guard coat over a dense, oily, woolly undercoat 2.5–5cm deep. The Husky’s double coat is medium length and should never hide its outline. Malamute colours run from light grey to black, or gold to liver, always with white underneath; all-white is the only solid colour allowed. The Husky standard accepts all colours and markings except merle.
Is an Alaskan Husky a Siberian Husky?
No. The Royal Kennel Club’s Breeds A to Z lists only one breed with “Husky” in its name: the Siberian Husky. The Alaskan Husky isn’t on that list, so there’s no UK breed standard to compare it against.
Temperament: what the breed standards and PDSA say
The Malamute standard describes an affectionate, friendly and loyal companion, but “not a ‘one man’ dog”. It calls the breed playful on invitation and dignified once mature, and adds that it “tends to show dominance to other dogs”. PDSA says Malamutes can be extremely challenging and probably aren’t well suited to first-time owners. It also notes they’re renowned for howling rather than barking.
The Husky standard describes a friendly, gentle, alert and outgoing dog that doesn’t show guarding traits and isn’t suspicious of strangers or aggressive with dogs. It expects some reserve in a mature dog, and calls the breed intelligent, tractable and eager. PDSA agrees that Huskies love people, which it says makes them terrible guard dogs. It adds that they don’t cope well alone and can suffer from separation anxiety.
Both breeds have a strong prey drive, according to PDSA, so care is needed around smaller pets. PDSA recommends reward-based training for both, with consistency and patience. No UK study compares how easy the two breeds are to train.
Exercise, home and grooming
The Royal Kennel Club gives both breeds more than two hours’ exercise a day, and suggests a large house, a large garden and a country home. PDSA describes Malamutes as having a strong desire to pull, run and roam. It notes an instinct to pull on the lead, so the dog harness vs collar guide is worth reading before walks begin. PDSA also mentions clubs where Malamutes and their owners can go sledding, even without snow.
For Huskies, PDSA suggests spreading exercise across the day and varying routes so they don’t get bored, with off-lead time only in a secure area. At home, it stresses an extremely secure garden with high fences, because the breed is known for escape attempts and digging under fences. Both breeds can overheat in warm weather. PDSA suggests exercising Huskies in the early morning or evening during summer.
Both shed heavily, most of all in spring and autumn. The RKC lists daily grooming for the Malamute, and PDSA suggests brushing twice a day during those moults. Our guide to deshedding tools covers the main options. For Huskies, the RKC lists grooming more than once a week, and our best dog brush for Siberian Huskies roundup looks at brushes for that coat.
Lifespan and health: what UK data shows
Malamute vs Husky lifespan in the UK
Dogs Trust’s 2024 UK study gives the Alaskan Malamute a median lifespan of 11.3 years (95% confidence interval 11.1–11.8; 1,980 dogs) and the Siberian Husky 11.9 years (11.7–12.0; 4,453 dogs). The two ranges overlap, so this data can’t show that either breed lives longer. Both RKC breed pages give a lifespan of over 10 years.
Alaskan Malamute health
PDSA lists hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, chondrodysplasia, idiopathic polyneuropathy, day blindness and cataracts among the conditions Malamutes can develop. Screening exists for several: PDSA describes BVA/Kennel Club hip scoring before breeding, x-rays of puppies for chondrodysplasia at 5–12 weeks, and blood tests for polyneuropathy and day blindness carriers. It recommends a Kennel Club Assured breeder, as they must do extra health tests.
PDSA also advises leaving a gap between eating and exercise, which is thought to reduce the risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus.
The Royal Kennel Club places the Malamute in Breed Watch Category 1. That means it has currently identified no points of concern specific to the breed for judges’ special attention.
Siberian Husky health
PDSA lists hip dysplasia, epilepsy, certain cancers and eye problems, including cataracts and glaucoma, among the conditions Huskies may develop. We found no single-breed RVC VetCompass study of the Siberian Husky. The Royal Kennel Club places the breed in Breed Watch Category 2; its breed page doesn’t list the specific points.
Before you buy: Ask to see both parents’ health screening results. PDSA advises hip scoring through the BVA/Kennel Club Hip Dysplasia Scheme for both breeds, yearly eye screening of breeding dogs for cataracts, blood tests for idiopathic polyneuropathy and day blindness carriers in Malamutes, and glaucoma screening in Huskies. Ask your vet to talk you through what the results mean.
Which breed suits which owner
Neither breed is the better dog. The choice depends on your household. PDSA says Malamutes suit active adults without children, or families with older children or teenagers. Their size, strength and pull on the lead make them hard for younger children or inexperienced adults to handle.
PDSA says Huskies suit adult-only homes or households with teenagers. It says Huskies ideally need someone around all the time, because the breed copes poorly alone. PDSA advises against leaving Malamutes alone with smaller pets, and against keeping Huskies with them at all.
If the heavier, freighting build appeals, the Malamute fits that brief. If you want a lighter, faster sled dog and can keep up with its escape attempts, the Husky does. If you’re weighing up other spitz-type breeds, our Akita vs Shiba Inu comparison covers two more, and you can browse all our breed guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Malamute bigger than a Husky?
Yes. The Royal Kennel Club standard gives Malamute males a preferred 64cm and 39kg, while Husky males range from 53–60cm and 20–27kg. Heights are fairly close; the bigger difference is bone and weight. RVC VetCompass data puts the median UK male Malamute at 43.6kg.
Can Alaskan Malamutes have blue eyes?
The Malamute standard asks for brown eyes and calls blue eyes highly undesirable, so a blue-eyed Malamute doesn’t meet the breed standard. Siberian Huskies are different: their standard accepts blue, brown, one of each, or parti-coloured eyes, all as equally correct.
Do Malamutes or Huskies live longer?
UK data can’t separate them. Dogs Trust’s 2024 study gives the Malamute a median lifespan of 11.3 years (11.1–11.8; 1,980 dogs) and the Husky 11.9 years (11.7–12.0; 4,453 dogs). The ranges overlap, so neither breed can be said to live longer.
Which needs more exercise, a Malamute or a Husky?
Neither. The Royal Kennel Club gives both breeds more than two hours of exercise a day, and PDSA sets a minimum of two hours for each. Both also need playtime and training on top, and both can overheat in warm weather, so summer walks are best early or late.
Are Malamutes and Huskies good with children?
PDSA advises caution with both around young children because of their size and strength. It says Malamutes suit active adults or families with older children or teenagers, and Huskies suit adult-only homes or households with teenagers. Always supervise any dog with children.
Is an Alaskan Husky the same as a Siberian Husky?
No. The Royal Kennel Club’s Breeds A to Z lists only one breed with “Husky” in its name: the Siberian Husky. The Alaskan Husky isn’t on that list, so there’s no UK breed standard describing it or setting its size, colours or temperament.
