Alaskan Malamute vs Poodle
Compare the Alaskan Malamute to the Poodle. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Alaskan Malamutes and Poodles.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - The Poodle is an excellent choice for new/inexperienced owners. The Alaskan Malamute is not recommended for new owners.
- Children - Both breeds are child friendly, but the Poodle is the most friendly between the breeds.
- Grooming - Both breeds have high grooming requirements, but the Poodle is slightly easier to groom between the two.
- Barking - The Alaskan Malamute bark/howls frequently. The Poodle has an average level of barking.
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| Breed Name | Alaskan Malamute | Poodle |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | No | Yes |
| Lifespan | 12-15 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Height | 23-25 in. | 15-24 in. |
| Weight | 70-100 lb | 45-70 lb |
| Intelligence | Average | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | United States | Germany |
| Origin Year | 1900 AD | 1200 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| |
| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | -45°F to 70°F | 35°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | High | High |
| Exercise Required | High | Medium-High |
| Top Running Speed | 22 mph | 32 mph |
| Strength | Very High | Medium |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Medium | High |
| Shedding | Medium | None |
| Dander | Medium | None |
| Drool Amount | None | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Alaskan Malamute | Poodle |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | Yes | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | Yes |
| Independent | Yes | No |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | No | Yes |
| Average | Yes | No |
| Focused & Patient | No | Yes |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Very Low | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Average | Very Low |
| Chasing | Below Average | Below Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | Average |
| Fighting | Very Low | Below Average |
| Guarding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Herding | Average | Average |
| Hunting | Below Average | High |
| Protection | Below Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | Average | Very Low |
| Sledding | Below Average | Very Low |
| Watch | Very Low | Average |
| Breed Name | Alaskan Malamute | Poodle |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 12-15 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Addison's Disease | No | Yes |
| Allergies | No | Yes |
| Bloat | No | Yes |
| Canine Atrial Septal Defect (asd) | No | Yes |
| Cataracts | Yes | Yes |
| Chondrodysplasia | Yes | No |
| Cushing's Syndrome | No | Yes |
| Ear Infections | No | Yes |
| Epilepsy | No | Yes |
| Hemeralopia | Yes | No |
| Hip Dysplasia | Yes | Yes |
| Hypothyroidism | Yes | Yes |
| Inherited Polyneuropathy | Yes | No |
| Legg-perthes Disease | No | Yes |
| Neonatal Encephalopathy (news) | No | Yes |
| Optic Nerve Hypoplasia | No | Yes |
| Patellar Luxation | No | Yes |
| Premature Graying | No | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Runny Eyes | No | Yes |
| Sebaceous Adenitis | No | Yes |
| Von Willebrand's Disease | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Alaskan Malamute | Poodle |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | No |
| Hair | No | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | No |
| Corded Coat | No | Yes |
| Single Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Wooly | Yes | No |
| Straight | Yes | No |
| Rough | No | Yes |
| Wavy | No | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Long | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Agouti & White | Yes | No |
| Black & White | Yes | Yes |
| Blue & White | Yes | Yes |
| Gray & White | Yes | Yes |
| Red & White | Yes | Yes |
| Sable & White | Yes | No |
| Seal & White | Yes | No |
| Silver & White | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | Yes |
| Apricot | No | Yes |
| Black | No | Yes |
| Black & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Black & Brown | No | Yes |
| Black & Cream | No | Yes |
| Black & Gray | No | Yes |
| Black & Red | No | Yes |
| Black & Silver | No | Yes |
| Black & Tan | No | Yes |
| Blue | No | Yes |
| Brown | No | Yes |
| Brown & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Brown & White | No | Yes |
| Cafe Au Lait | No | Yes |
| Cream | No | Yes |
| Cream & White | No | Yes |
| Gray | No | Yes |
| Red | No | Yes |
| Red & Apricot | No | Yes |
| Silver | No | Yes |
| Silver Beige | No | Yes |
| White & Apricot | No | Yes |
| White & Silver | No | Yes |