Animal register · DogComing soon to the app
Alaskan Malamute
Malamute, Mal, Alaskan Mal
The Alaskan Malamute is one of the oldest Arctic sledge dogs: a powerful, substantially built Nordic sledge dog from the USA with a thick, coarse coat. The FCI standard gives desirable sizes of 63.5 cm and 38 kg for males and 58.5 cm and 34 kg for females; PDSA gives 58–64 cm and 34–39 kg. A dog of this size is fully grown at about 15–18 months (PetMD), and PDSA gives a lifespan of over 10 years (PetMD: 10–14 years).
PDSA recommends a minimum of two hours of heavy exercise and daily brushing every day, and says Malamutes shed a lot, have a very strong prey drive, should not be left alone for more than four hours and suit active adults or families with older children; it calls them challenging for first-time owners. PetMD advises checking the ears once a week and a bath every 6–8 weeks, and notes that the thick coat makes hot weather hard for them.
Built and tested; it arrives with a coming app release.
Updated:
At a glance
- Size
- large — PDSA S639
- Adult weight
- males 34–39 kg, females 34–39 kg — PDSA S639
- Daily exercise
- at least 2 hours a day — PDSA S639
- Brushing
- every day — PDSA S639
- Shedding
- sheds — PDSA S639
Key facts from the sources at the bottom of the page. Where sources differ, each value is listed.
Who it suits
Good for:
- an active familyS639
Keep in mind:
- needs lots of exercise every dayS639
- powerful dog — needs an experienced ownerS639
- large dog — not for homes with small childrenS639
- loves company — best with someone home most of the dayS639
- shedsS639
- needs brushing several times a weekS639S640
- thick coat — struggles in hot weatherS640
- strong prey drive — may chase small petsS639
The same tags as in the app. Each tag is backed by the sources listed at the bottom of the page.
What it needs
From breed standards, kennel clubs, veterinary charities and studies. Where sources differ, each one is shown.
Questions and answers
Answered only from the sourced facts on this page; every answer names its sources.
How much exercise does an Alaskan Malamute need?
According to our sources, the Alaskan Malamute needs this much exercise: at least 2 hours a day — PDSA S639.
How long does an Alaskan Malamute live?
According to our sources, the lifespan of the Alaskan Malamute is: more than 10 years — PDSA S639; 10–14 years — PetMD S640. The sources give different values, so each one is listed.
How big does an Alaskan Malamute get and how much does it weigh?
Size and adult weight of the Alaskan Malamute, according to our sources: Size: large — PDSA S639; Adult weight: males 34–39 kg, females 34–39 kg — PDSA S639.
How much grooming does an Alaskan Malamute need?
Coat and grooming of the Alaskan Malamute, according to our sources: Brushing: every day — PDSA S639; Shedding: sheds — PDSA S639.
Who is the Alaskan Malamute a good fit for?
Our sources describe the Alaskan Malamute as a good fit for: an active family — PDSA S639. Keep in mind: needs lots of exercise every day — PDSA S639; powerful dog — needs an experienced owner — PDSA S639; large dog — not for homes with small children — PDSA S639; loves company — best with someone home most of the day — PDSA S639; sheds — PDSA S639; needs brushing several times a week — PDSA, PetMD S639S640; thick coat — struggles in hot weather — PetMD S640; strong prey drive — may chase small pets — PDSA S639.
Game rules, not veterinary advice
How PetPrep simulates it
In PetPrep one real week is one month of the pet's life. These are the rules the game uses for this breed. PetPrep chose them from the sources on this page; they are not care instructions for a real animal.
| Life stage | Starts | Meals a day | Daily step goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puppy | arrives at 2 months | 4; from month 3: 3; from month 6: 2 | 1,000 steps per month of age (2,000 on arrival), up to 12,000 from month 12 |
| Young dog | month 9 | 2 | 9,000 → 12,000 steps |
| Adult | month 36 (3 years) | 2 | 12,000 steps |
| Senior | month 90 (7.5 years) | 2 | 9,000 steps |
- Step goal = minutes of daily exercise × 100 steps: an adult gets 2 hours, so 12,000 steps a day.
- Learns commands as fast as the mixed breed of the free plan.
- Becomes a senior in month 90 (7.5 years) — the last quarter of the breed's expected lifespan.
- Walks count real steps from Apple Health or Health Connect (with permission, read-only) and the phone's motion sensor — no GPS.
- Combing 7 times a week.
- Care: checking and cleaning the ears once a week — a task for the child.
- Care: a bath every 6 weeks — a reminder for the parent.
Each game number is a PetPrep decision recorded with its sources. — PetMD, AAHA, Dogs Trust, ASPCA, VCA Animal Hospitals, The Royal Kennel Club, Purdue University Canine Welfare Science, Wikipedia, British Journal of Sports Medicine, PDSA S10S11S14S18S19S21S24S35S45S639S640
Health
For information only, not vet-reviewed. Ask your vet about your own animal.
- Hip dysplasia, a poorly developed hip joint that can lead to arthritis, occurs in the breed; breeders are advised to have the parents' hips scored. — PDSA S639
- An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), which can affect weight, skin and energy levels, can occur in the breed. — PetMD S640
- Cataracts, which cloud the lens of the eye and can lead to vision loss, can occur in the breed. — PDSA S639
- Chondrodysplasia, a disorder of cartilage and bone growth, occurs in the breed; puppies can be checked with an X-ray. — PDSA S639
- An inherited nerve disease (polyneuropathy) occurs in the breed; a DNA test of the parents lets breeders avoid it. — PDSA S639
Before you buy: what to check with the breeder
Questions to settle before you take a puppy home. The points are advice from vets, welfare charities and kennel clubs; each cites its source.
For every breed
- See the puppy with its mother, where it was born. — PDSA, RSPCA K1K2
- The puppy should not leave its mother before 8 weeks of age. — PDSA K1
- Ask for the pedigree. Under FCI rules a pedigree may be issued for correct parentage only. — FCI K7
- Ask to see the health-test results of both parents. Which tests matter depends on the breed. — PDSA, British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K1K9K10
- National kennel clubs can set breeding rules that go beyond the FCI's — ask the breed club which tests the parents need. — FCI K7
- Ask for a written sale contract that records the puppy's background and health. — British Veterinary Association, FOUR PAWS UK K9K10
Laws on the minimum age, microchipping and vaccination differ by country — check the rules where you live.
Health tests of the parents for this breed
Other screening schemes for this breed
These lists come from the UK's Royal Kennel Club and are an orientation; national kennel clubs can set their own, stricter rules. Ask the breed club and the breeder which tests the parents have done.
Similar breeds
Other dogs in the register with similar needs — each with sourced facts.
Sources
Every fact on this page cites one of these sources.
- S10PetMD — S. C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP, 2025-05-20 — When Do Dogs Stop Growing?https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/when-do-dogs-stop-growing
- S11AAHA — 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines — Canine life stage definitionshttps://www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/canine-life-stage-definitions/
- S14Dogs Trust (UK) — Caring for an older doghttps://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/at-home/looking-after-an-older-dog
- S18ASPCA — General Dog Carehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/general-dog-care
- S19VCA Animal Hospitals (2025-02-21) — Feeding Times and Frequency for Your Doghttps://vcahospitals.com/pets-first/know-your-pet/feeding-times-and-frequency-for-your-dog
- S21The Royal Kennel Club (UK) — Puppy feeding tipshttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/puppy-feeding-tips
- S24Purdue University Canine Welfare Science (content: Pet Leadership Council 2019, bedogsmart.com) — Dog Fitness and Exercise (PDF)https://caninewelfare.centers.purdue.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Dog-Fitness-and-Exercise.pdf
- S35Wikipedia — The Intelligence of Dogshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intelligence_of_Dogs
- S45British Journal of Sports Medicine (2018) — Tudor-Locke C. et al. How fast is fast enough? Walking cadence (steps/min) as a practical estimate of intensity in adults. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-097628https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6029645
- S637FCI — FCI breeds nomenclature — Alaskan Malamute (243)https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/ALASKAN-MALAMUTE-243.html
- S639PDSA — Alaskan Malamute Breed Informationhttps://pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/large-dogs/alaskan-malamute
- S640PetMD — Zack Newman, reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM (updated Jan. 10, 2023) — Alaskan Malamutehttps://petmd.com/dog/breeds/alaskan-malamute
- K1PDSA — Getting a puppyhttps://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/getting-a-puppy
- K2RSPCA — Buying a puppyhttps://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy
- K7FCI (copy hosted by Norsk Kennel Klub) — International Breeding Rules of the FCIhttps://nkk2023.stage22.coretrek.no/getfile.php/131987377-1520848467/Dokumenter/Registrering/FCIs%20avlsregler%202013.pdf
- K9British Veterinary Association — What should you consider when buying a puppy?https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/what-should-you-consider-when-buying-a-puppy/
- K10FOUR PAWS UK — Questions to ask when buying a puppyhttps://www.four-paws.org.uk/our-stories/publications-guides/questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-puppy
- K32American Kennel Club — Working Group Health Testing Requirements (breeder programs)https://www.akc.org/breeder-programs/breed-health-testing-requirements/working-group-health-testing-requirements/
PetPrep is a simulation for families. This page is not veterinary advice — for a real animal, ask a vet or the breed club.
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