RELATIVES OF THE ALASKAN MALAMUTES BREED
Alaskan Malamute have many relatives in the spitz-type, but the most closely related are the the Siberian Husky, the Samoyed and Greenland Dog. FCI, AKC, KC and ANKC are not recognising the Canadian Eskimo Dog and the Alaskan Husky is excluded world wide. All of these are sled dogs being created and bred for the same purpose as the Alaskan Malamute.
We will try to introduce you to these breeds in short:
SIBERIAN HUSKY:
The Husky is smaller than the Alaskan Malamute. He can be from 53 to 60 cm tall in withers, ideal size is from 55,1 to 58 cm for males and 52,6 to 54,5 cm for females. They can have two blue coloured eyes, one brown, one blue or two brown. His coat can be of any colour, with white being the only disqualification. Huskies have not been bred for strength but for speed. They are the most popular Nordic breed worldwide.
They love activity such as back packing and activities to demonstrate their hunting instinct. Huskies don't bark much and isn’t good watchdogs. They hate to be alone all day and if left then they may jump the wall and run away. They need a lot of regularly exercise. They are kind and friendly which also makes them very good companions.
Siberian Huskies became very much generalised in South Africa, where you can now even pick them up from Pet Shops and puppy millers for a fraction of their worth. Many Huskies ends up at the SPCA, or Animal Rescues for adoption and because of their run-away nature ends up their more than once.
SAMOYED:
The Samoyed is beautiful dog with a characteristic smile. Ideal size for the males is from 56,1 to 58 cm and for the females from 52,1 to 54 cm. Eyes can be only brown. Colours are pure white, cream or biscuit. Of the Nordic breeds Samoyeds are the third most popular dogs. Samoyed has been bred in Siberia for many purposes, like pulling sleds, herding reindeer, hunting, etc. Samoyeds bark more often than other sled dogs. Like all their relatives, the strive on being loved. Samoyeds aren't aggressive, they're loyal and they love their family. Their longer coats needs lots more care.
GREENLAND DOG
The Greenland dog is a typical natural breed that has been raised by the Greenland people for centuries, or even maybe for thousands of years. Ideal size for the males is 60 cm and more and for the females 55 cm and more. Eyes are only brown. The Greenland Dog can have almost all colours, such as brown, black, grey or white with or without white markings. The Greenland Dog is the rarest of all the Nordic dogs. This breed really loves to work. Greenland Dog is always ready for action. They are more independent than other Nordic breeds, but can also be classified as a good companion. The best that you can do with this dog, is sledding.
ALASKAN HUSKY:
Another example of an un-officially breed of the Nordic breed is the Alaskan Husky. This dog breed isn't very old; we can trace its origin back to 60 or 70 of years as some of the other Nordic breeds are thousands of years old. It is also not specified as a real breed, but rather a type of dog. They also don’t have an official standard. These dogs have been raised and bred only for character and their working abilities. Alaskan's can have eyes of any colour including blue. They haven't any definite size or coat colours or markings. Alaskan's love to work and they are one of the most popular working sled dogs of the world. Alaskan Huskies were and are crossed with other breeds such as Greyhounds to produce faster dogs. These dogs are called "hounds". They are too sometimes crossed with Alaskan Malamutes or Siberian Huskies or some of the other Nordic breeds.
CANADIAN ESKIMO DOG:
The Canadian Eskimo Dog or simply the Eskimo Dog is classified as an un-official breed by all of the leading cynological organisations, except for the Canadian Kennel Club. This breed is very old and its history can be traced back to some 2000 years. It nearly became extinct when its numbers dropped from about 20,000 dogs in the early part of the century, to only 200 in the 1970's. Fortunately, it was re-established with the help of the CKC and the diligent breeders. Sadly, it's still very rare... Ideal size for the males is from 56 to 64 cm and for the females from 51 to 58 cm. The dog can be any colour, or pattern of colour. The only colour that will disqualify a dog is that of the albino. Eyes should be only brown. The Eskimo Dog is though, eager, untiring and powerful breed when working, but it isn't the ideal family dog. Eskimo Dogs are very strongly pack oriented. They're sometimes difficult and very dominant, although the females can be charming and lovable personalities with the males being more imposing, but when you put these dogs in a harness they will be at their happiest.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE ALASKAN MALAMUTES AND SIBERIAN HUSKIES?
The most famous and popular of the Nordic breed world-wide is most probably the Siberian Husky. We always have the experience that all people visiting or those seeing our Alaskan Malamutes on walks confuses them with Huskies.
The most prominent difference between the two breeds?
Size: The Alaskan Malamute is a lot higher and weights more than Husky (but you need to know that a male of Husky can be the same size as a female of Mal!).
Eyes: Siberian Husky may have one or both eyes blue in colour. That's a big fault for Alaskan Malamutes!
Body look: Huskies are usually slimmer than Mallies. Mallies are very stylish in comparison.
Hair: Sometimes, you can differentiate these two breeds by the length of Alaskan Malamute hair. Some Mallies especially the woolly ones, have much longer and thicker hair than a normal Husky.
Markings: Some Mallies have fawn or rusty markings on the back side of the ears, on the front legs near the elbows and on the back legs on (near) the place that is opposite to a knee. I have never experienced these specific markings on Huskies.
We trust that the above differences will assist people to correctly identify and to be able to differentiate between the Alaskan Malamute and the Siberian Husky. The Alaskan Malamute are unique by their exterior and personality.
