Great info. I have had Malamutes for over 30 years but thought we should “downsize” to a husky to try something different. I have always tried to put my dogs in lots of different situations to keep them socialized. The biggest difference between mals and huskies that I have noticed is in their reaction to other dogs. All my mals were super friendly but if another dog showed any aggression, look out! They really enjoyed a good scrap! On the other hand, I have never heard my male husky even growl, despite being harassed by some pretty nasty dogs. He just puts up with it and hopes the love will eventually come! By far the happiest, friendliest, most confident dog we have ever had.

This is the best comparison I’ve seen. Thank you, Sir! (I know a “husky” that is likely an Alaskan Malamute, so this was very interesting indeed.) Writing from the fair state of Mushachusetts. 😉

Cool video. Lines up with my experiences of the breeds as well. You mentioned huskies liking the water and it really brought back some good memories of taking my old husky to the local dog beach, and watching her swim out into the ocean, wondering if she was going to turn around and come back at some point, or just decide to live the rest of her life as a sea otter.

Thank you so much for taking the time to create this video. It's been a great help and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't wait to share it with my wife. We have 3 dogs, one is a Siberian Husky mixed with a White Shepherd, the product of an accidental breeding that we purchased. My wife and I have had several dogs during our 37 years, but our Husky Mix (Scout) really stands out. He has the same personality traits you've discussed in this video for Huskies and we're grateful he is a part of our family. Thanks again, and keep up the great work.

I liked your video. What I like is that your own practical experience match what one would expect based on both Mushing Science and Breed History. Do not get me wrong I like Mals, but its their history is clear, and well explained in books. They are effectively the first designer dog breed in History. They were bred by Eve Seeley by mixing different arctic dogs, to get what she thought a sleddog was supposed to look like... thinks got worse after the war when the breed was close to extinction, stud book reopened and a lot of randome dogs admitted (the Mloot were a bit of everything). Yet Mald look like waht you see in Holliwood movies (many Mloot were from film industry even) hence even now people stopping you for photoes. Huskies on the other hands (racing bloodlines and Seppala -showline have evolved a bit away from the optimum for racing) are the real deal. They are an ancient breed selected originally by native people in Chukotka, probably more than 9000 years ago... and they were truly optimised to do their job by the Chukci. They came to the alaskan racing circuit at the time of the gold rush effectively prebred to win, and that is what Seppala did. His great credit being 'believing' they could win when others called them 'siberian rats' or called him 'the small man with his small dogs' (he was short)... We now know 25KG is about the ideal weight for a running sleddogs and Huskies were selected to be economical. Frugal eaters that can put in the miles on less calories, mean less wasted weight on your sled for food for the dogs... which for natives tribes in the arctoc was key to survival... Notably chukci did not only use their dogs for running... they worked as blankets for elerly and kids, they were selected to also love the inside and to love to snuggle with humans... Notably if I am not wrong Huskies are a breed defined as 'good with kids', I do not think its the same for Mals.

Loved your video! I’m going dog sledding in Vail Co today and I was just doing some research. Your video is very intriguing.

Hello, came across your channel today and this video is spot on! I am in Connecticut. Had eight Siberians over thirty years, as many as five at a time. Ran sled trails with Connecticut Valley Siberian Husky Club, Narragansett Bay Sled Dog Club, and Yankee Siberian Husky Club. A couple of mine absolutely loved water and swimming, others, not so much. One thing you didn't mention about Huskies is that they are such great escape artists. I could tell many tales. Mine typically lived to about fourteen years - one to sixteen. My last passed in June 2022. Currently have a Border Collie mix but the house just is not the same without a Siberian Husky. Am looking for other videos. Cheers and Happy New Year, Tom K- also known as "Mushertom".

What a wonderful comparison, I have had malamutes my entire adult life and your description is spot on. We are also from Massachusetts. I wish I came across your channel sooner. I have always wanted to go out on a sled dog excursion.

The point about small animals and in particular our OWN animals is spot on. My Mally will kill pigeons almost weekly even at 11 years old but my pet birds inside the house are OFF LIMITS and he knows. Same as our cats, the Mally cuddles with our two indoor cats but tries desperately to eat the neighbour's outdoor cat 😂

Good comparison! I have a two year old mix that looks like a Malamute, but his mom is a Husky and the dad is a Belgian Shepherd/ Malamute cross. He has attributes of all, he is 80 lbs, stocky, light colored with long fur and a bushy plume of tail.

Jumped around on the video but will be back to watch it entirely… but I’m sure it’ll be beneficial to have malamutes as wheel dogs, smaller malamutes/bigger huskies as team dogs and husky/huskies as lead dogs. Depending on how many dogs you would ever run at once obviously

My huskies although very well socialised and "trained", and pack family would without doubt chase anything that moved at speed, if the animal was smaller it was food if it was similar size or bigger it was something to jump and play with. The only smaller dog that got on with mine (didn't get treated as potential prey) was a English bulldog and oddly a pug used to get licked but that it). Unfortunately I was in the house and they were in their garden (same as normall garden in size but with dug in fences (5 foot deep), reinforced and anti climb 15ft high) - honestly they will all work together to get out and explore! Anyway the cat from a few doors down would wind them up often. Didn't worry about it but when I came outside I found a bit of blood on some, assuming they may have played a lil rough as they sometimes do as a pack to sort heirachy, however I realised very quickly that they had (at least 5) had consumed most of the cat. I couldn't bare to tell the owners.

Great video, Bob. I have a rescue dog who was listed as a "husky mix" - a DNA test revealed she's about 50% Husky, 25% Malamute, with the rest being Samoyed and GSD. I was pleasantly surprised to have ended up with such a "snow dog"! She has many of the typical husky traits and behaviors, and she's only about 40 lbs. Since we live in Wisconsin, I am hoping to get into some recreational mushing and other winter activities with her. Training is a bit slow since she's not very food motivated. I've had her in training class and she seems pretty uninterested in doing the exercises, but I do wonder if she'd be more motivated if she were doing something breed-specific that she was meant to do, like pulling and running. Would love to see a video on training dogs who aren't particularly treat-motivated. Thanks! Love your videos and your beautiful dogs.

Nice video, just have one Siberian husky, getting her started at the dog scootering, she loves it

Amazing video! Very helpful! I picked up my first malamute pup yesterday and he is a ham but definitely loveable, starting harness training shortly

Great comparison! Always wondered how the compared.

Very cool video! A lot of great information. Beautiful dogs! Where are you located in Massachusetts?

Thank you for such an informative video I was actually wondering about this we have a traditional looking Siberian Husky although she has 1/4 German Shepherd from her dad she looks exactly like your dog just a little less fluffy and her tail does not curl up ....her sister we gave to a friend of mine and she looks like your girl ...we have been overjoyed to have them and like you said with the eating is as the exact same thing with our girl ....it will take her all freaking day to eat a bowl of dog food but if her dad brings home half a pizza it's totally gone!

saludos desde paraguay

I've raised performance pitbulls most of my life but have always admired these dogs for their cardio & performance aspects well as the owners dietary knowledge.This is very informative as the mushing dogs look totally different to me than the ones I see at the conformation shows.How do you keep the RBC count high in the cold weather or is it a generically inherited trait?I've lived in both Northern & Southern temperatures and found through blood panels that there's definitely a difference in the need.I run a higher count in colder weather and a lower count in the 80/90 degree weather.Tripe works better and a more simple fats instead of high protein which damages the kidney function,I stay away from high protein and my dogs live much longer,less issues and alot healthier that way.

Very insightful. I was surprised that your huskies like water. My purebred Siberian hates water-avoids it at all costs even in 115 degree temperatures here in Vegas. I can’t get her in the pool to save my life! But I know her dad works in Alaska pulling sleds (as did her grand parents so it might have been a trained characteristic generationally bred into her.

Your Huskies don't howl because there are only 2 of them. Get a group of 4 or more, who live together, and they will howl just like your Malamutes used to. It's a wolf pack behavior; they are showing the size of their pack to any nearby threats. Your two huskies are not trying to show how weak their pack is. I have four huskies, and it's a nightly ritual for them. Especially during the winter when they sleep outside.

Hi Bob. Thanks for the new video uploads. I do recreational mushing with my husky and am always looking forward to your videos. My girl is like Shiva with water. She’ll go in up to her chest but no further. I’ve read that most arctic breeds typically don’t like water too much. Has something to do with the inherent danger of getting soaking wet in (below) freezing temperatures. As far as I know, huskies are also the only breed that can regulate their own metabolism, which means they will adjust their calories needed to their calories burned. That is why they usually don’t overeat and free feeding is possible. I think science hasn’t fully figured it out yet. Could you maybe make a video on how to integrate a second dog into a team? I believe you said you had Bandit first and then added Shiva. I’m in a similar situation. I currently have one dog that I’ve been using for recreational mushing for a couple of years. I would like to get a second husky to make it a real team but don’t know if it should be done in certain steps, what to watch out for etc. (in regards to mushing, not in general). Thanks and Happy Trails to you guys!

How about watchdog and guard dog abilities?

First time owner, chose a mal.. i wouldn't say its "that" big of an issue as people portray it,if your prepared to invest time and dedication to your dog. They are definitely stubborn and what i like to refer to as "selectively intelligent", but a joy to live with overall. Ours will hop into any body of water she deems swimmable, but the shower is an arch nemesis :) Loved the video, quick question... would you suggest we start with bike or sled for pulling, which one is"safer" in case of mishaps? Definitely plan starting of with tires, etc, but which one is a better bet to carry on afterwards? Greetings from the Alps!

Thank you for the video mate! Very informational. My Mal is a companion first and foremost and comfortable in the house. He Checks almost all the marks you mentioned, except for the water part (swam in the ocean with me yesterday and did not want to get out again) and he is very comfortable indoors and outdoors because I raised him indoors since he was nine weeks old. Question if you don't mind: he is 11 months now and on the very light side (only 62 lbs on him) but very fit. I want to start bike joring with him come december and for that I'd like to prepare his condition with running come September, since its starting to get colder then (Germany). Any advice on conditioning a single mal for pulling me (light dude) on a bike? Best of greetings and again thanks for the info!

Loving your videos Bob. Quick question, what age do you start sled training them? I have a 10 months old golden retriever that I bike around my neighborhood with, eventually i would like to take her biking in specific locations where not paved. Afraid i might be doing her some damage to her joints. Any advice?

So the Huskies use less kibbles and bits per mile!

Malamute more dangerous just because size; they can playfully paw at a small creature and injure it.