Meet The Malamoodle (Alaskan Malamute Poodle Mix)

The Alaskan Malamute Poodle mix, often called the Malamoodle, is a rare cross between two energetic and intelligent dogs.

Malamoodles are incredible dogs but require a fair bit of work to keep them happy. They’re more suited for active homes and, ideally, those where they can also socialize often.

This guide will break down everything there is to know about this mix, so let’s waste no time and get straight into it.

Quick Overview Of The Alaskan Malamute Poodle Mix

Here’s a quick overview of the critical facts you need to know about the Malamoodle:

  • Other Names: Malamoodle
  • Average Lifespan: 10 to 15 years
  • Average Height: 18 to 23 inches
  • Average Weight: 50 – 85 lbs
  • Coat appearance: Medium to long, can be single or double coated and smooth or wiry
  • Grooming Frequency: Medium
  • Typical Temperament: Highly intelligent, friendly, outgoing
  • Daily Food Consumption: Medium
  • New Owner Friendly: Can be challenging due to size and exercise needs
  • Suitable to live with children? Yes, but requires socialization from early age
  • Suitable to live with other dogs? Yes, but requires socialization from early age
  • Suitable to live with cats? In rare cases when socialized together from a very young age

Note that Alaskan Malamutes are most often crossed with standard Poodles due to the similar size, rather than the Toy or Miniature Poodle.

Appearance

The appearance of the Malamoodle can vary a lot, depending on which traits they inherit from the parent breeds.

For example, some Malamoodles take after the Poodle in their coat and have a wiry, single coat that can be groomed in many ways. Others have a thicker double coat, similar to the Malamute.

They’re medium in size but can appear even larger due to their coats.

Given how much variance there is with the appearance of this mix, I’ve tried to include as many example pictures in this article as possible to give you a better idea of what to expect.

Alaskan Malamute Appearance & Background

Alaskan Malamutes are one of the largest Spitz breeds, but don’t let their appearance fool you; they’re one of the friendliest dogs you’ll ever meet.

They have many characteristics of Spitz-type dogs, such as pointed ears, fluffy double coats, and a fluffy curled tail. They’re often mistaken for wolves, thanks to their looks.

Wooly Malamute

Malamutes have a super friendly expression, but they can be pretty intimidating to those unfamiliar with the breed. You’ll usually find Malamutes in a black-and-white coat, but there are a lot of other possible colors as well.

Malamutes have an extensive history as sledding dogs, specifically used to pull heavy loads.

Poodle Appearance & Background

(Standard) Poodles are medium-sized dogs known for their wiry coats and inquisitive expression.

Their wiry coat is often groomed into various cuts, including the continental cut, which is often seen on Poodles competing in shows, and the teddy bear cut, which is common for puppies.

A black Standard Poodle up close wearing a black collar

Poodles have a very fun-loving temperament and can be very goofy at times. Don’t let this fool you, though; they’re incredibly intelligent and can quickly learn commands when they want to.

Check out our comparison article on the Alaskan Malamute vs Poodle to learn more about the parents of this mix!

Average Size

Malamoodles are medium in size, reaching 18 to 23 inches in height and 50 to 85 lbs on average, although there are exceptions to these ranges.

Coat Appearance

The coat of the Malamoodle can vary drastically, depending on whether they inherit the wiry Poodle coat or the smooth Malamute coat.

Grooming Guide

Malamoodles will have a double or single coat, depending on which type they inherit.

Single-coated Malamoodles will only need to be groomed once or twice per week.

On the other hand, double-coated Malamoodles will require a complete grooming session once or twice each week (see details below).

  • The grooming process starts with a slicker brush designed to target the undercoat and remove loose hairs.
  • After that, use a dematter comb, gently removing stubborn tangles with a serrated edge.
  • A gentle undercoat rake is then used to target the undercoat further and remove any remaining loose hairs.
  • Lastly, a general grooming comb removes any loose hair or matted areas.

The easiest way to tell the difference is to check their coat; if they have a wooly undercoat, they’re double-coated. Double-coated Malamoodles will also blow their coat twice yearly, which is when they shed seasonally.

Bathing

Single-coated Malamoodles can be bathed very often, even weekly if needed, whereas those with a double coat will benefit from less frequent bathing, more like once every 2 to 3 months.

This is because double coats are great at keeping themselves clean, and frequent bathing can dry out the coat and cause more harm than good.

Temperament Of The Alaskan Malamute Poodle Mix

Temperament is paramount when looking at any potential new dog, especially a mix like the Malamoodle, where it can be hard to know what to expect.

Let’s explore the temperament to better understand what you’re getting into with this mix.

Highly Intelligent

Malamoodles are always highly intelligent, thanks to the inherent intelligence of the parent breeds.

Poodles are known as being one of the most intelligent dogs and can learn commands quickly, and while Malamutes are more stubborn, they’re also very intelligent in their own way.

Active

Alaskan Malamutes are known for their energetic temperaments, thanks mainly to their background as sledding dogs. It should be no surprise that they need at least 2 hours of exercise every day.

Poodles are also quite active – not as much as the Malamute, but still benefit from at least an hour daily.

This means the Malamoodle will require anywhere from 1 to 2 hours of high-intensity daily exercise.

But Can Be Stubborn

Despite their high intelligence, Malamoodles can often be stubborn.

This comes more from the Mal side, but Poodles can also have stubborn streaks too.

In my experience, using dog treats can be a great way to help with stubborn dogs (as long as they’re food-motivated). I’ve recently been experimenting with single ingredient treats from PierrePark, and my Mals love them.

Super Friendly

Both parent breeds are very, very friendly, so you can expect Malamoodles to be super social and love to meet new people and spend time with them.

Socialization is a very important part of owning this mix. You’ll need to let them frequently meet new people and other dogs for their well-being.

A Note On Prey Drive

On the topic of Malamoodle temperament, it’s important to mention prey drive, as these dogs are prone to having quite a high prey drive.

This means that they’re prone to chasing after other smaller animals without giving it a second thought, so leashes will be important in unsecured areas.

It also means they aren’t great with cats unless raised together from a young age.

Are Malamoodles Good Family Dogs?

Malamoodles can make great family dogs if they’re socialized from a young age with children and other small pets like dogs or cats.

They’re obviously better suited for an active family due to their exercise needs, and they also prefer to socialize very often, which requires a lot of commitment.

They’re incredible dogs with a temperament to match if you can meet their needs.

How Much Do They Cost?

The average prices of each parent breed can be found below:

  • Alaskan Malamutes cost between $1,500 and $3,000 on average
  • Standard Poodles cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000 on average.

There’s a lot of variation here depending on the breeder, and keep in mind it’s pretty rare to find a breeder dedicated to the Malamoodle. The price will likely fall somewhere between $1,000 to $3,000, though.

If you’re interested in learning about more Alaskan Malamute mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:

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About The Author

Caitlin is the owner and lead writer for The Malamute Mom. She has over 10 years of experience with Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies. She is currently working on getting her PhD in materials science but continues to write for The Malamute Mom in her spare time.

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