The Huskamute, also known as the Alusky, is the result of crossbreeding an Alaskan Malamute with a Siberian Husky. With both parent breeds sharing similar histories and a wolf-like appearance, there’s no surprise that the Huskamute is incredibly popular.
Their intense exercise and grooming requirements, combined with their stubbornness, can make them a challenging breed to own, but their loyal personalities more than make up for it.
So, are you interested in adopting a Huskamute? Or are you simply curious about the crossbreed?
Keep reading for everything you need to know before bringing one into your life!
Contents
Quick Profile
In a hurry?
Here’s our quick breakdown of the essential facts you need to know about Huskamutes. Be sure to keep reading for more detailed information and facts.
- Other Names: Alusky, Huskymute
- Average Lifespan: 10-14 years.
- Average Height: 22-24 inches for males, 21-23 inches for females.
- Average Weight: 50-80 lbs for males, 45-70 lbs for females, possible for some to reach 100 lbs.
- Coat Appearance: Dense, medium length, straight, grey, and white in color, with browns, reds, and blacks scattered throughout.
- Eye Color: Brown or blue.
- Activity Level: Very high.
- Grooming Frequency: Daily.
- Typical Temperament: Energetic, loyal, stubborn, playful, intelligent, independent.
- Daily Food Consumption: 2-3 cups of dry kibble.
- New Owner Friendly: No.
- Suitable to live with children? With supervision.
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Yes, if they have been socialized from a young age.
- Suitable to live with cats? No.
Huskamute Appearance
Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies share a lot of physical features, so it’s no surprise that Huskamutes look very similar to both parent breeds.
There is less variation between individual Huskamutes thanks to these similarities, but the breed is still not stabilized as it is not recognized as an official breed by the American Kennel Club.
This means they can more closely resemble either a Husky or an Alaskan Malamute depending on the genes they inherit.
Huskamutes are often described as looking like bigger, more muscular Huskies. They do not usually reach the impressive sizes of their Malamute ancestors, but some have been known to grow to as much as 100 lbs!
- Male Average Size: Height = 22-24 inches, Weight = 50-80 lbs.
- Female Average Size: Height = 21-23 inches, Weight = 45-70 lbs.
Their eyes are almond-shaped and can be either chocolatey brown like an Alaskan Malamute’s or the striking blue that’s associated with Huskies.
A Huskamute’s ears are pointed and erect, much like both parent breeds. Their long, narrow muzzles and dark noses give them the wolf-like appearance that they are known for.
The double coat of a Huskamute is the real showstopper. It is dense, medium length, and resembles a wolf pelt with shades of grey, white, brown, and black scattered throughout. They will usually have dark facial markings that can extend onto the chest and down the legs.
They have long, fluffy tails which can either be curled over the body like a Malamute’s or hang down like a Huskies.
Huskamute Grooming Guide
Huskamutes are the product of two of the most grooming-intensive breeds, so be prepared to have a home coated in hair!
Their dense double coats shed year-round and will purge themselves during seasonal changes in a process called ‘coat blowing.’
Loose hairs that aren’t properly removed from a Huskamute’s coat can form painful matting that pulls on their skin. To prevent this, a Huskamute’s coat needs basic brushing every day, with more intensive grooming sessions required during the coat-blowing season.
To help with the grooming process, we recommend owners invest in a few essential tools:
- A pin-brush: Used during daily brushing to remove loose hairs and stimulate the skin underneath.
- An undercoat rake: Essential during the coat-blowing season to remove large clumps of undercoat quickly and painlessly.
- A dematter tool: A brush with slightly serrated edges that easily removes matting and difficult tangles without causing pain.
Maintaining a regular grooming routine can be difficult at first, but it is essential to keep their coats looking healthy and to prevent issues down the line.
Other than grooming, a Huskamute will need bathing roughly once every 6 weeks. Their coats have developed to remain naturally clean by repelling dirt away from the skin, and bathing them too frequently can remove natural oils just as it does with the Husky and Malamute.
Their ears should regularly be cleaned to prevent infections, and their nails should be clipped as needed. Their teeth should be maintained with daily brushing or daily dental treats.
Huskamute Temperament
Huskamutes are a highly energetic breed that needs a lot of care and attention to remain happy. They can happily play for what seems like hours on end and are better suited to owners who can put in the time to keep up with them.
They are also a very intelligent breed. They benefit from training and stimulating toys such as snuffle mats that can keep their minds occupied. A Huskamute’s intelligence means they can easily become bored, which may lead to destructive behaviors such as furniture chewing.
Huskamutes love people but also value their own independence.
We’ve noticed that they are usually not shy in letting their owners know what they want! They’ll gladly come demanding attention by shouting their heads off, but once they’ve been fulfilled, they’ll usually retreat to a more secluded area of the home.
Their independence and stubbornness, no doubt inherited from Alaskan Malamutes, can make training difficult. Huskamutes need firm owners who can put their pets in their place and not be walked all over by.
If you allow a Huskamute to act however they want, they will quickly see themselves as being the leader of the household pack. It can be hard to overcome their puppy-dog eyes, but consistency in the rules you set are essential to having a well-behaved pet.
Huskamutes usually do well in homes with other dogs so long as they have been properly socialized from a young age. Their high prey drive means they should not live in homes with cats and other small furries, as their instincts may cause them to chase or harm them.
Whilst they are a challenging crossbreed to own at times, their love of people and strong presence in the home makes them highly rewarding. Their pack nature means that as long as you remain the leader of your household pack, they will respect you and remain loyal to you until the end.
Learn about other popular Alaskan Malamute mixes here!
Huskamute Health
Note: If you have any health concerns about your Huskamute, please consult a registered vet.
Huskamutes are a large dog breed which makes them more susceptible to developing certain health conditions in the later stages of their life.
There are also some health conditions that they have an increased chance of being born with due to the genes they inherit from their parent breeds.
Huskamute Life Expectancy
The average life expectancy of a Huskamute is 10-14 years, which is very respectable given the size of this dog.
Common Huskamute Health Issues
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia – A skeletal condition that causes the hip and elbow joints to deteriorate over time. It is commonly seen in large dog breeds, and the first signs usually appear in the later years of a dog’s life.
Chondrodysplasia – An abnormal growth of cartilage that results in disproportionate dwarfism. Typically appears as excessively shortened front limbs. For more information on chondrodysplasia in Alaskan Malamutes, we recommend reading this article provided by the AMCA.
Epilepsy – A chronic neurological disorder that causes a dog to have repeated seizures. Seizures may cause a dog to lose voluntary control over their body (recognized as jerking or muscle twitching).
Cataracts – Clouding of the eye lens, which may look like a white disc behind the dog’s iris. Causes worsening of eyesight and may lead to blindness in the affected eye if untreated.
The recommended health tests for Huskamutes are:
- Elbow and hip evaluation
- Ophthalmologist evaluation (eyes)
As with all dogs, we recommend getting your Huskamute neutered and vaccinated at the appropriate ages.
You will also need to routinely take precautions to prevent them from getting fleas or worms using over-the-counter medications.
Huskamute Exercise Needs
Before adopting a Huskamute, you need to be prepared for the exercise commitments that come with the crossbreed.
Huskamutes are only suited to homes that can provide them with 1 to 2 hours of physical exercise every day. If their exercise needs are not met, their excess energy may lead to them being destructive at home or behaving badly.
Both parent breeds of the Huskamute come from working backgrounds and were bred to pull sleds. Although most Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies are not working dogs anymore, their energetic personalities have remained and will be passed down to Huskamutes.
Huskamutes are not usually picky with what kind of exercise they get, but long hikes and runs are often the favorites. They will also enjoy playing with toys, so owners need to have a large, enclosed yard.
There are a couple of precautions you will need to take when exercising your Huskamute – the first is to make sure they are always kept on their leash when they are not in an enclosed space.
This is because Huskamutes have a high prey drive and will chase small animals such as squirrels or even small dogs. Their stubbornness can affect their recall abilities, so it’s best to avoid getting into these situations in the first place.
The second is to make sure you are only exercising your Huskamute in the appropriate weather. Their thick double coats are better suited to colder temperatures, and they can quickly overheat if they are exercising in hot weather.
Don’t worry, though – Huskamutes love the rain and snow, so there’s no excuse to get out in it!
Finally, make sure your garden is enclosed with a high fence (over 6ft) that is securely dug into the ground. Huskamutes take after their Husky ancestors and can be known for being escape artists. If you want your Huskamute to be able to play unsupervised, you’re going to need to make sure there’s no easy way for them to leave.
In Summary
It’s clear to see why Huskamutes are such a popular crossbreed amongst lovers of big dogs.
Their larger-than-life personalities are hard to find in any other breed, but be sure you have the time and commitment needed to care for the crossbreed before adopting.
Do you have a Huskamute? We’d love to hear from you! Send in your stories to info@themalamutemom.com for a chance to be featured on our site.
