The Alaskan Malamute is a large northern dog breed originally bred for use as an Alaskan sled dog and is often mistaken for a Siberian Husky. The Alaskan Malamute is a descendant of dogs of the Mahlemut tribe of upper western Alaska. These dogs stood prominently on equal footing with their human companions - working, hunting, and living alongside them. The interdependent relationship between the Mahlemut and their Alaskan Malamute fostered prosperity among both and enabled them to flourish in the inhospitable land above the Arctic Circle.

Appearance
The Alaskan Malamute is a powerful and substantially built dog with a deep chest and strong, well-muscled body. The Alaskan Malamute stands well over the pads, and this stance gives the appearance of much activity and proud carriage, with head erect and eyes alert showing interest and curiosity. The head is broad. Ears are triangular and erect when alerted. The muzzle is bulky, only slight diminishing in width from root to nose. The muzzle is not pointed or long, yet not stubby. The coat is a double northern dog coat, somewhat harsher than that of the Siberian Husky. The undercoat of the Alaskan malamute is dense, oily and woolly. The coarse guard coat varies in length as does the undercoat. The coat of the Alaskan Malamute is relatively short to medium along the sides of the body, with the length of the coat increasing around the shoulders and neck, down the back, over the rump, and in the breeching and plume. Alaskan Malamutes usually have a shorter and less dense coat during the summer months.

Character
While an Alaskan Malamute is, as a strong rule, extremely gentle with people, and very loyal to every member of its human family, especially after it's reached adulthood and settled down, until one knows the exact nature and disposition of a specific individual dog, the Alaskan Malamute must always be watched around smaller animals, even those in the same household. Only time and experience will tell you when a specific Alaskan Malamute can be left unwatched with other household pets. It is never safe to assume that because a given dog is comfortable with your other pets it will be comfortable with the other animals in the neighbourhood or with pets of your friends in your house or in their house. One of the alluring traits of the Alaskan Malamute is its strong instinctual sense and almost uncanny awareness of the world around it. But that very trait that is alluring, is also dangerous to smaller animals. Until one is completely familiar with a specific individual dog, never assume that you have 'trained' it. Because only a tiny fraction of the Alaskan Malamutes life has been around modern man, it is still more of a working dog, bred to haul heavy freight long distances in harsh conditions, than a 'show' dog. Its relationship with its owner and its 'family' is deeply personal and devoted, but it is not a dog bred for large cities of thousands of people and thousands of other dogs.
An Alaskan Malamute is generally a quiet dog and seldom barks like other dog breeds. When it does vocalize, more often than not they tend to "talk" by vocalizing a "woo woo" sound. The Alaskan Malamutes may howl like wolves or coyotes, and for the same reasons. When they howl, the howl is difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish from that most ancient ancestor of all dogs, the wolf. Anyone who has heard a Coyote yip, has heard an Alaskan Malamute yip. Anyone who has heard a wolf howl, has heard an Alaskan Malamute howl. This, too, is one of the alluring traits of this breed.
 

Temperament
The Alaskan Malamute's gregariousness and tendency to openly, unreservedly give affection make them highly attractive to many dog owners; these same qualities make an Alaskan Malamute a poor guard dog. Not all big, fierce looking dogs are suitable for guarding. In a small Arctic village it would be difficult to find a need to protect your things from other people, so this trait was never important to select for. And there is good reason to select against it. When living in harsh arctic conditions the ability for the people of a village to get along with each other is more important than the need to protect yourself from the people who may one day be the ones who come to save your life.

Exercise/Training
The Alaskan Malamute also needs a great deal of exercise to be happy. Any sled dog is never happier than when pulling a sled. This is as true of an Alaskan Malamute as any other Sled dog. While an Alaskan Malamute can feel absolutely at home in an apartment, a tent, or buried comfortably in the snow, it will never be happy unless it gets several very long walks a day, and most love a run of a mile or more every day. To an Alaskan Malamute, a day without a run is a day without joy. This is a very old and primal breed of dog, and its needs are simple, but primal. Food, water, and a run. It's simple, but often more than just anyone can give. It's better to get a dog that fits your life style, than to get a dog that requires a life style you cannot provide.

Color
The usual colours range of the Alaskan Malamute are from light grey through intermediate shadings to black, sable and shadings of sable to red. Colour combinations are acceptable in undercoats, points and trimmings. The only solid colour allowable is all white. White is always the predominant colour on underbody, part of legs and feet, and part of face markings. A white blaze on the forehead and/or collar, or a spot on the nape is attractive and acceptable. The Alaskan Malamute is mantled, and broken colours extending over the body or uneven splashing are undesirable.

Grooming
The coat of the Alaskan Malamute needs to be brushed once or twice a week – more often when shedding. A good nutrition and regular brushing keeps the proper coat shine and the skin healthy. Bathing doesn’t harm the coat of the Malamute as long as you use a good quality shampoo that doesn't dry the skin and coat and is formulated for a canine coat. The ears of the Malamute should be kept clean and regularly inspected as well.

Any breed described as "good with children", the dog must be accustomed to children. Any dog that is not well socialized with children will not behave predictably around them. As with all dogs, they should never be left alone with young children.