All You Need to Know About the White Alaskan Malamute

A cousin to the Siberian Husky, the white Alaskan Walamute was originally bred as a sled dog. They were not bred to be racing sled dogs but more for pulling heavy loads and for recreational sled pulling. This breed is believed to possibly be the closest living relative to the first dog. Originally bred to be a working dog that hauls freight and moves heavy objects, this beautiful dog has found its way into the homes of many around the World. The size of these dogs varies greatly. They can be anywhere from 40 to 160 pounds, and the smaller breeds tend to get just as much recognition if not more than the extremely large ones.

Smaller breeds of the white Alaskan Malamute tend to have a longer lifespan. With proper diet and the right exercise regimen they can live up to around 18 years. However, the average life span is 10-14 years. Females tend to be smaller than the males as in most breeds of dog. They do resemble a wolf and can often times be mistaken for one. However, they are on average 8 inches shorter than a wolf. Their howl is for the most part identical to the wolf though. It is nearly impossible to tell them apart by their howl.

Due to their predatory and hunting nature, white alaskan malamutes do not always do so well with other small animals including dogs. Caution should be taken when having them around small children and other small animals until you become familiar with their behavior. Introduction and familiarization of children and other animals while the malamute is still young will assist in better behavior. This breed is often stubborn and doesn’t listen to every command they are given all of the time. They do need someone who is dedicated to properly and consistently training them on a regular basis.

During the winter months white Alaskan Malamutes love to be outdoors and play and romp around in the snow. They are an overall healthy breed but hip dysplasia and cataracts are hereditary. There hasn’t been much research done on the health of this breed, and the research that has been done has been with a small number of dogs. From the amount of research that has been done in the UK it appears that cancer is the most common cause of their death.