The Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute are the most popular arctic dog breeds making them among the top considerations for most people looking to adopt a spitz-type dog. If you are torn between the two, what about a mix of the two breeds?
The Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mix, or Alusky, is a designer breed between two arctic dog breeds, the Alaskan Malamute and the Siberian Husky. The resultant offspring is an adorable fluffy puppy that thrives in cold environments. Because of its size at maturity, the Alusky needs abundant space in its kennel and lots of physical activity to keep fit.
Just like with getting any other dog, there are things you should know before getting the Alaskan Malamute. Before getting into that, let’s first see how big an Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mix can get.
How Big Do Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mixes Get?
On average mature Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mixes grow to a height of 26 to 28 inches and weigh between 60 and 100 lbs.
Physical Appearance
The Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mix inherits most of its physical attributes from featured parents. Some of their defining physical features include:
- Almond-shaped eyes
- Dark nose
- Broad and deep muzzle
- Heavily furred tail
- Strong and muscular legs
- Wedge-shaped upright fears
Here is how the Alusky compares with their parent breed.
| Alaskan Malamute | Siberian Husky | Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mix | |
| Weight | 70 to 85 lbs | 35 to 60 lbs | 60 to 100 lbs |
| Height | 24 to 26 inches | 20 to 23 inches | 20 to 28 inches |
| Body | Stocky | Lean | Stocky |
| Ears | Slightly Offset | High on top | Upright |
| Eye color | Brown | Brown and blue | Brown, black, or blue |
| Nose | Black or pink | Black | Brown or black |
| Coat | White underbelly topcoat, black, blue, brown, gray, red, sable, seal, and silver. | Full coat patterns, such as red, gray, black, and snow white | Brown, light brown, gray, golden, silver, and white coat |
| Life Expectancy | 10 to 14 years | 12 to 15 years | 10 to 15 years |
Coat Colors And Patterns
Like most large breeds, Alusky dogs have thick double coats. This coat comes in several color variations, including brown, light brown, gray, golden, silver, and white. Regarding patterns, these coats can either be plain or a combination.
Can A Malamute Husky Mix Have Blue Eyes?
Depending on the dominance of the parent’s genes, the eye of an Alusky pup can be brown or blue. In most cases, pooches that have blue eyes took after their Siberian Husky side.
How Long Do Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mixes Live?
An Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mix has an average lifespan of 10 to 15 years, just like the parent breeds.
Considering its large size, this is an impressive figure. That said, it isn’t uncommon to experience health issues, some of which are inherited from their parents. The following are some of the most common health issues that affect Alusky dogs.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is usually a result of the abnormal formation of the hip joint. This condition is either congenital or the consequence of rapid bone development when the dog is still a pup. Besides being painful, it can cause paralysis when your canine gets old if left untreated.
Luckily, modern breeders have the knowledge of preventing this condition from being passed from parents to offspring.
Polyneuropathy
Polyneuropathy is a condition that affects the nervous system, targeting mostly peripheral nerves in various body parts. Its adverse effects include difficulty in breathing, exercise intolerance, and weakening of limbs.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
This condition affects a dog’s vision by damaging the photoreceptor cells responsible for converting light energy to signals that your mind can interpret. Eventually, the dog becomes blind, and there’s nothing you can do to reverse the process.
Degenerative Myelopathy
Like progressive retinal atrophy, this disease is incurable. It causes paralysis of your canine’s hind legs. The first signs will include lowered activity levels and occasional limping during movement.
Von Willebrand Disease
This issue targets the circulatory system and manifests itself as excessive bleeding. If left untreated, it causes general body weakness and can lead to fatality.
How To Take Care Of Your Alusky?
Since it’s naturally active, it’s highly recommended to exercise your Alusky regularly, lest it becomes bored, and sometimes it can get destructive. Ensure that you walk, run, and play with your canine friend.
You can also improve your dog’s digging skills by placing a sandbox inside the cage. Always avoid hot and humid conditions since your dog is sensitive to such conditions. Before we look at the exercise routine an Alusky should have, let’s tackle its nutrition.
What About Nutrition?
A high-quality diet is as crucial as exercising to improve your dog’s health. The right amount of food depends on age, weight, size, metabolism, and level of activity. Generally, larger Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mix that engages in intense activities feed more.
An average Alusky consumes three to five cups of high-quality kibbles daily, divided into two portions. Ensure that the servings include some bits of dry food, as this improves your pet’s teeth and gum health.
Other useful nutrients that your dog food should have are calcium and phosphorus. Like multivitamins, calcium boosts the immune system. Phosphorus helps in bone growth and development.
An excellent way to make sure your Alusky is eating a balanced diet is getting vet-approved recipes like these ones by Pet Plate. Pet Plate Entrees are available in beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb options and are prepared with human-edible ingredients.
Being a crossbreed, your Alusky is more susceptible to overfeeding and gains weight faster than its parental purebreds. Checking if your dog is overweight is easy – all you need is to press your finger against the spine and run it along the back. If you don’t feel the ribs, it means that your pet needs to shed weight.
Exercise Routine
Because Aluskies are high-energy dogs, they require consistent physical and mental exercises every day. That’s why these dogs are best for active pet parents.
The two most common exercise routines for Alusky canines are obedience training and crate training.
- Obedience training – It’s vital to start obedience training while your dog is still young. Focus on simple commands such as walking, running, and sitting. You can also incorporate a little hiking and fetching exercises.
- Crate training – After teaching the basics, start training your pooch with a crate filled with treats and toys. Keeping them busy with items like tennis boredom fights boredom and improves physical health.
But, how often should you exercise your Alusky? Ideally, your pup should get at least one hour of physical exercise daily. And since these dogs are sensitive to your tone, you shouldn’t talk harshly.
Are Husky Malamute Mixes Aggressive? Temperaments Of Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mixes
With proper training from a tender age, Aluskies can be polite pets that will be friendly towards welcomed visitors and kids. However, they can be aggressive toward strangers.
Here are some of the defining characteristics of this crossbreed pet.
Intelligent
Aluskies are highly intelligent and energetic. For your Alusky, you need to create an exercise routine that integrates physically and mentally stimulating activities, such as puzzles and fetch games.
If you leave them inactive for extended periods, Alusky dogs become bored and destructive. From digging holes to biting your sofas, you can create a nuisance that is easily avoidable by exercising them regularly.
Affectionate
Both of the parent breeds of Aluskies are affectionate, meaning that their offspring will definitely love spending time around people. Your pup will demand consistent cuddling and playtime, even if you’re tired after a day’s long work.
Alertness
Another impressive characteristic of an Alusky is its alertness. Due to its natural suspicion, you can be sure that it’ll alert you of any potential intrusions into your property. This trait makes this dog breed an excellent watchdog.
Are Aluskies Good Dogs?
Aluskies are the ideal family companion because of their affectionate nature. They get along well with family members, including children. They also extend warmth to visitors, provided you introduce them.
Do Aluskies Shed? Grooming Tips For Alaskan Malamute Siberian Husky Mixes
Alaskan Malamute Siberian Huskies are not hypoallergenic and shed heavily, especially during the hotter months or when exposed to heat. You will need to groom them more frequently under these conditions.
Below are some of the grooming practices you need to observe for your Alusky.
Brush The Coat At Least Twice Weekly
The best way to keep your dog’s coat clean and free from entanglement is by brushing it at least twice weekly. While doing this, pay more attention to the ears because they are prone to bacterial growth.
A great deshedding tool for Aluskies is the FURminator Undercoat Tool, as it makes the task easier and leaves the coat shiny. It has an ergonomic design that increases comfort and a built-in fur release mechanism that makes the experience hassle-free.
Bathe The Pooch Every Six To Eight Weeks
Although brushing is an effective way of maintaining hygiene, it doesn’t mean that you can get away with not bathing your pooch. Ensure that you bathe them at least once every six weeks using a shampoo and conditioner such as the Pro Pet Works All Natural 5-On-1 Oatmeal Shampoo.
That said, bathing your furry friend too often can cause them to shed more and make them susceptible to cold weather.
Related Questions
How Much Does An Alusky Cost? The cost of acquiring an Alusky starts from $1,000 and upwards. It can get higher at times, mostly because this species is rare and has a reputable pedigree worldwide. For budget purchases, try out your local dog rescues and there is some chance that they have Aluskies waiting to be adopted.
Can Husky Malamutes Swim? Husky Malamutes can swim, but only in shallow waters. You can play with them on your swimming pool’s shallow end and other shallow water bodies.
Do Alaskan Malamutes And Siberian Huskies Get Along? Both the Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Huskies originate from cold regions and are mostly bred for transporting people and goods on sleds. They get along well, as the parent species are innately loyal and affectionate towards their masters.
