The Alaskan Malamute, also sometimes called just a Malamute, is one of the purest breeds of sled dogs in the Working Group. This dog is sometimes confused with the Siberian Husky because of its similar looks and color, but the Alaskan Malamute has a more powerful build, a more affectionate disposition, a denser and harsher coat, a plume-like tail, and slight differences in other physical characteristics such as the ears and body line. The Alaskan Malamute was AKC approved in 1994.
The AKC breed standard calls for a natural range of size for Malamutes, with a desired weight of 75 - 85 pounds and a height of 23 - 25 inches. The physical build of the Malamute is compact with heavy bone. In this context 'compact' means that their height to length ratio is slightly longer than tall.
Malamutes are, as a general rule, particularly amiable around humans and children, and in some instances friendly with smaller dogs. However, it is still a good rule of thumb to be mindful of your Malamute around smaller animals until you become acquainted with its behavior.
There is only one known health survey of Alaskan Malamutes, a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey. The median lifespan of 10.7 years measured in the survey is very typical of a breed their size. The major cause of death was cancer.