Personality
The Alaskan Malamute is basically your rugged friend who wears shorts in winter, refuses to follow directions, and still somehow wins everyone over with charm and fluff. Bred to haul heavy sleds across the Arctic, this dog is built like a tank and acts like a goofball—if a Clydesdale and a stand-up comedian had a snow-loving baby, this would be it. They’re loving, loyal, and excellent with family, but when it comes to other dogs, they’re less “besties” and more “establishing dominance through interpretive wrestling.” Training one requires a sense of humor and possibly a sled of your own—they’re smart but selectively deaf when your commands don’t align with their personal goals. Malamutes shed with the ferocity of a seasonal blizzard and require enough grooming to justify their own personal vacuum. If you’ve got space, stamina, and a good snow shovel, the Malamute will be your snowy sidekick for life.
Trait Table
The Alaskan Malamute is a powerhouse of fluff and fun—loyal to their pack but not clingy, they’d rather pull a sled than sit in your lap (unless your lap is in the snow). They’re playful goofballs who love roughhousing, yet they come with a hefty helping of stubbornness and a strong “I do what I want” energy. Built for wide open spaces and freezing temps, they’ll turn your apartment into a snowglobe of fur if they don’t get enough exercise. Alert and clever, but not exactly guard dogs—they’re more likely to greet intruders with a wag and a snowball.
If you haven't already check out our awesome blog series about success and messy failures of trying to train a dog, And the lessons learnt along the way in The Bark Side Chronicles.
