Giant Alaskan Malamutes are oversized Alaskan Malamutes.
A quick search of Google shows there are over 12 million search results for Giant Alaskan Malamutes.
Although the American Kennel Club recognises the Alaskan Malamute, there’s no mention of Giant Alaskan Malamutes.
That’s because Giant Alaskan Malamutes are just Alaskan Malamutes that are at the tall and heavy end of the scale.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at Giant Alaskan Malamutes and Alaskan Malamutes, as well as their size and traits.
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What are Giant Alaskan Malamutes?
You may have heard of Giant Alaskan Malamutes whether it’s online or social media.
There’s a lot of conflicting information online that can make it confusing for anyone trying to research these unique dogs.
Furthermore, you’ll spot a lot of Giant Alaskan Malamutes on social media, which can add to the confusion and misconceptions around these dogs.
However, there’s no such thing as a Giant Malamute, at least they’re not recognised by the American Kennel Club or United Kennel Club.
Where do Alaskan Malamutes come from?
Alaskan Malamute sled dog on the grass (Photo: Adobe Stock)
Alaskan Malamutes are thought to be descended from domesticated wolves that associated with Palaeolithic hunters 12,000 years ago.
Having arrived in the Americas 40,000 years ago, the Mahlemuit Inupiaq nomads have been credited with breeding and developing these dogs.
Alaskan Malamutes came into their own during the Gold Rush in the late 1800s and sled dog racing in the 20th century.
How big do Giant Alaskan Malamutes get?
The AKC sets out the breed standard for Alaskan Malamutes that breeders try to adhere to:
The Alaskan Malamute, one of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, is a powerful and substantially built dog with a deep chest and strong, well-muscled body. The Malamute stands well over the pads, and this stance gives the appearance of much activity and a proud carriage, with head erect and eyes alert showing interest and curiosity.
But let’s look at Giant Alaskan Malamute size vs Alaskan Malamute size to get an understanding of the difference.
The AKC list the Alaskan Malamute size range between 23 and 25 inches at the shoulder and weighs 75 and 85 pounds.
Given the AKC don’t recognise Giant Alaskan Malamutes, there’s no breed standard for these oversized sled dogs.
However, Alaskan Malamute Savvy write that Giant Alaskan Malamutes usually weigh in excess of 100 pounds.
The height of Giant Alaskan Malamutes can exceed 35 inches, according to another dog website called PetHelpful.
We have to emphasise that as Giant Alaskan Malamutes aren’t a breed but Malamautes bred for size rather than temperament, health, structure, and type.
Giant Alaskan Malamute appearance
Alaskan Malamutes walking in winter forest (Photo: Adobe Stock)
As we’ve established, Giant Alaskan Malamutes are merely Alaskan Malamutes that are usually bred with size in mind. This can put the health of these dogs at risk.
Apart from their large size, Giant Alaskan Malamutes have much the same appearance and personality traits as Alaskan Malamutes. Let’s take another look at what the AKC write:
The head is broad. Ears are triangular and erect when alerted. The muzzle is bulky, only slight diminishing in width from root to nose. The muzzle is not pointed or long, yet not stubby. The coat is thick with a coarse guard coat of sufficient length to protect a woolly undercoat.
Alaskan Malamutes come in a number of different colorings that make these large dogs easily recognisable. Apart from their sheer size, they can have striking coat colors and impactful eyes.
Malamutes are of various colors. Face markings are a distinguishing feature. These consist of a cap over the head, the face either all white or marked with a bar and/or mask. The tail is well furred, carried over the back, and has the appearance of a waving plume.
Giant Alaskan Malamute health problems
A lot of Alaskan Malamute breeders will likely express concerns about the breeding of Giant Alaskan Malamutes.
These oversized Malamutes are bred with size in mind, which puts them at risk to suffer a variety of health problems. For example, it can result in oversized dogs with great joint and structural.
Let’s take a look at what breeders Delphi Malamutes has to say about the potential health issues that can affect Giant Malamutes:
With increased size and weight come sundry health issues – shorter life spans, hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, and hip dysplasia. Hip problems are rampant in ‘giants’… Their massive weights, poor structures, and their peoples’ drive to have the biggest dog put immense strain on their bodies.
Alaskan Malamute breeders will usually carry out health checks to ensure there are no potential issues with their breeding stock. However, this may not be the case with all the breeders purporting to be creating Giant Alaskan Malamutes.
How much do Giant Alaskan Malamutes cost?
As you’ve probably worked out already, buying a Giant Alaskan Malamute isn’t a simple process given there isn’t a clear registrar of breeders that does exist for Alaskan Malamutes breeders.
Therefore, it can be easy to fall foul of a misleading advert or a potential scam online. We don’t recommend buying any dog from a website, in a pet store or from a third party dealer.
If you’ve really got your heart set on a Giant Alaskan Malamute despite the associated risks, you’ll want to make sure that both parents are healthy. Therefore, you should ask the breeder to see the health and veterinarian documentation for both parents. You can ask to see AKC or UKC registration documentation.
Anything else to consider
If you have any doubts about Alaskan Malamutes (or so-called Giant Alaskan Malamutes), we recommend contacting a breeder listed on Alaskan Malamute Club of America.
Alternatively, you can also contact Alaskan Malamute owners on social media to learn more about the breed.
It’s worth nothing what appear to be “Giant Alaskan Malamutes” are sometimes Alaskan Malamute mixes. Malamutes are often crossed with other breeds such as Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds and Wolfdogs.
In conclusion
Alaskan Malamute outdoors on a sunny day (Photo: Adobe Stock)
So there you have it, Giant Alaskan Malamutes aren’t a breed. Instead, they’re Alaskan Malamutes that have been bred with size as a priority rather than other qualities such as health, structure, and temperament.
