A COMPARISON OF THE ALASKAN MALAMUTE AND THE SIBERIAN HUSKY
Prepared by Wendy Willhauck (copyright - Wendy Willhauck)
Function:
• Malamute: To carry a heavy load.
• Siberian: To carry a light load at a moderate speed over great distance.
General Appearance:
• Malamute: Powerful, substantially built, heavy boned (as compared to the Siberian), structured for strength and endurance.
• Siberian: Body proportions and form reflect balance of power, speed, and endurance.
Size:
• Malamute: Dogs: 25" at the shoulder, 85 lbs. Bitches: 23" at the shoulder, 75 lbs.
When dogs are equal in all other aspects, the dog nearest the desired freighting size is preferred.
THE "BIGGER" SHOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE CONSIDERED TO BE THE "BETTER".
• Siberian: Dogs: 21" to 23.5" at the withers, 45 lbs. to 60 lb. Bitches: 20" to 22" at the withers, 35 lbs. to 50 lbs.
DISQUALIFICATION: Dogs over 23.5", bitches over 22".
Head/Expression:
• Malamute: Soft, indicates an affectionate disposition.
• Siberian: Keen, but friendly; interested and even mischievous.
Eyes:
• Malamute: Brown, almond shaped, medium size dark eyes preferred in all colours except reds, obliquely set in skull.
DISQUALIFICATION: Blue Eyes.
• Siberian: Almond shaped, moderately spaced, set a trifle obliquely -- blue or brown, one of each colour or parti-coloured.
Ears:
• Malamute: Medium size, but small in proportion to the head, triangular, slightly rounded at the tips -- set wide apart on the
outside back edges of the skull on line with the upper corner of the eye, giving ears the appearance, when erect,
of standing off from the skull. This description of proper ear placement is accurate only when the eyes have the
correct oblique placement in the skull.
• Siberian: Medium size, triangular, close fitting, set high on the head. Thick, well furred, slightly arched at the back, strongly
erect, slightly rounded tips pointing straight up.
Head:
• Malamute: Broad and deep, in proportion to body, muzzle bulky
• Siberian: Medium, in proportion to body.
Stop:
• Malamute: Top line of skull and top line of muzzle show a slight break downward from a straight line as they join.
• Siberian: Well-defined.
Topline:
• Malamute: Gently sloping to the hips
• Siberian: Level from withers to croup.
Coat and Colour:
• Malamute: Thick, coarse guard coat -- never long and soft -- usually shades of grey to black and white
(sable and red are also acceptable -- always with white). The only solid colour allowable is white.
Broken colours, uneven splashing are undesirable.
• Siberian: Double, medium in length, soft dense undercoat, guard hairs of outer coat straight and smooth lying --
never harsh or standing straight off. All colours from black to pure white. Variety of markings.
Pigment:
• Malamute: Black, brown (liver) in red dogs, "snow nose" acceptable.
• Siberian: Black in grey, black, tan dogs -- liver in copper dogs -- flesh coloured in pure white dogs --
"snow nose" acceptable
Feet:
• Malamute: Large, compact, snowshoe. Tough pads.
• Siberian: Oval, not long -- medium in size, compact, well furred between toes and pads. Tough pads.
Tail:
• Malamute: A waving plume, moderately set, follows the line of the spine at the base.
• Siberian: Fox-brush, set just below the level of the top line, carried in a sickle curve or trailing.
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