The Alaskan Malamute Saint Bernard mix is a rare cross between two large dogs that love to spend time around people, and they make ideal family pets.
They are very demanding, though, due to their size, grooming needs, and several other factors. In this guide, we’ll explore all of these factors and more so you can learn everything there is to know about this dog.
Let’s get into it!
Contents
Quick Overview Of The Malamute Saint Bernard Mix
Before we jump into the main details, here’s a quick overview of the Malamute Saint Bernard mix:
- Other names: Alaskan Bernard
- Average Lifespan: 10 to 12
- Average Height: 25 to 30 inches
- Average Weight: 90 to 180 lbs
- Coat appearance: Medium to long, double coated and very thick
- Grooming Frequency: Very High
- Typical Temperament: Very Friendly, Intelligent, Energetic
- Daily Food Consumption: Very high
- New Owner Friendly: Not suited for new owners due to large size, stubbornness, and grooming needs
- Suitable to live with children? Great with children but requires supervision due to high energy
- Suitable to live with other dogs? Good with other dogs of similar size, socialization required with smaller dogs
- Suitable to live with cats? Problematic due to high prey drive
Appearance
Malamute Saint Bernard mixes are huge dogs with a very friendly demeanor; they definitely fit the description of ‘giant teddy bears.’
While their appearance can vary significantly between individuals, they usually have a large, broad skull and a thick muzzle. Black and white markings are very common, and the ears can be either floppy like the Saint Bernard or erect and alert like the Malamute.
The coat is always thick and comes in many different color combinations, and the eyes are always a shade of brown and never blue.
Alaskan Malamute Appearance & Background
Alaskan Malamutes are one of the largest Spitz breeds, and their appearance shows it.
They have many characteristics of Spitz-type dogs, such as pointed ears, fluffy double coats, and a fluffy curled tail.
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.
Saint Bernard Appearance & Background
Saint Bernards originated in the Alps in the 11th century, where they were used to aid in mountain rescue for travelers heading to Rome. A monk named Bernard of Menthon established the hospice where Saint Bernards were bred to help in rescue missions.
The Saint Bernard was thought to be bred from the ancient Molloser breed, like many other European dogs such as the Mastiff.
Saint Bernards have also been used to protect livestock and for guarding duties throughout the years and are one of the largest dog breeds on the planet.
Saint Bernards are well known for being great with children and families and maturing at quite a slow rate despite their large size. They are pretty eager to please, which makes them relatively easy to train, although they aren’t the most intelligent breed.
They have thick coats to help them withstand harsh weather conditions and thrive with a job to fulfill.
If you want to learn more about the differences between the parent breeds of this mix, check out our comparison article here.
Average Size
The Malamute Saint Bernard mix is an incredibly large dog; not only is their coat large and thick, but they’re also very tall and heavy.
These dogs easily exceed 100 lbs and can get close to 200 lbs in rare cases, with an average height at the shoulder from 25 to 30 inches.
Coat Appearance
The coat of the Malamute Saint Bernard mix comes in a lot of different colors as the parent breeds (more so the Malamute) can have a wide range of possible coat colors.
It’s always long in length with a double coat, which means that the coat is split into two layers.
The first layer is a dense wooly undercoat that provides insulation in both cold and hot weather, and the second is a longer guard later, which protects the coat and skin below from debris and moisture.
Grooming Guide
Double-coated breeds with a long coat require regular grooming and ideally should be groomed daily briefly with a grooming comb.
They’ll also need a more intense grooming session once or twice per week to target both layers of the double coat, and the details for that can be found below:
- The grooming process starts with a slicker brush, which is designed to target the undercoat and remove loose hairs.
- After that, use a dematter comb, which gently removes stubborn tangles with a serrated edge.
- A gentle undercoat rake is then used to target the undercoat further and get rid of any remaining loose hairs.
- Lastly, a general grooming comb is used to get rid of any loose hairs or matter areas.
Another thing with grooming to consider is when the Malamute Saint Bernard mix is blowing coat; they will need daily grooming sessions.
Coat blowing is a process where double-coated breeds shed much of their undercoat to prepare for the changing seasons, and this happens typically once in the fall and once in spring.
Bathing
Malamute Saint Bernard mixes don’t need to be bathed as often as you might think, and it’s actually very much the opposite of their grooming needs.
You only need to bathe them once every few months or less, as their double coats are pretty efficient at keeping themselves clean.
Temperament
As with any dog, temperament is essential to consider for the Malamute Saint Bernard mix.
Friendly & Great With Children
Both the Alaskan Malamute and Saint Bernard are renowned for being great with children as long as they are appropriately socialized.
They’re also both incredibly friendly, which means that the Malamute Saint Bernard mix is also a very friendly mix that loves to spend time around people.
Quite Active
Malamute Saint Bernard mixes are quite active, thanks mainly to the Malamute parent – Alaskan Malamutes are incredibly active dogs due to their background as sledding dogs and need at least 2 hours of exercise daily.
Saint Bernards are a lot more laid back and enjoy 30 minutes to an hour per day, but you can expect the mix to need between 1 and 2 hours every single day.
At home, they will be quite relaxed, but they must be exercised a lot first.
Prone To Stubbornness
Another shared trait between the parent breeds of the Malamute Saint Bernard mix is stubbornness.
Stubbornness in dogs means that they will often refuse to listen to you, which can make things like obedience training very difficult.
With this mix, patience really is the key. Don’t expect them to learn new tricks quickly or follow commands repeatedly.
Intelligence
Despite their stubborn streak, Malamute Saint Bernard mixes are highly intelligent.
They might not listen to you or follow your commands, but there’s a very good chance they’ll understand what you’re asking of them.
High Prey Drive
Malamute Saint Bernard mixes will always have a pretty high prey drive, which means they’re prone to chasing after smaller animals instinctually, including other small dogs and cats.
This does mean that they’re not ideal candidates for living with other cats and smaller dogs, but it is possible if they are socialized together from a young age.
You can find more details about this here.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Another common trait for both parent breeds of the Malamute Saint Bernard mix is that they are prone to separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety is a condition where a dog develops destructive behaviors and becomes very stressed when they’re left alone.
With a dog as large as the Malamute Saint Bernard mix, separation anxiety leading to destructive behaviors is the last thing you would want, so it’s important to get them used to spending time alone and providing lots of distractions for them.
Requires Lots Of Socialization
Socialization is important for every dog; there’s no denying that. However, it’s beneficial for larger dogs that can easily scare or even harm other people or dogs without realizing it.
When you consider that the Malamute Saint Bernard mix can reach nearly 200 lbs, it’s pretty clear why they need to be socialized and confident around other people without getting overexcited.
Start with socializing them from as young as possible by taking them to as many new places as possible, and let them experience lots of new sounds and smells as they explore the world and build their confidence.
Is The Malamute Saint Bernard Mix A Good Family Dog?
Malamute Saint Bernard mixes are excellent family dogs as long as they get along well with other small animals that might be part of the family.
They’re highly affectionate and gentle with children and kids, but make no mistake, they’ll need a lot of exercise daily and don’t like to be left alone often.
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
- Saint Bernards cost between $1,000 and $1,500 on average
It’s very rare to find a breeder for the Malamute Saint Bernard mix, however, and you’re much more likely to find this dog at a rescue or shelter.
In Summary
Hopefully, you’ve got a much better idea of what the Malamute Saint Bernard mix is all about after reading this guide.
You really do need to take the time to read this article carefully if you are considering getting one of these dogs, as they’re a big commitment, but if you’re able to meet their needs, they are more than worth the effort.
If you’re interested in learning about more Alaskan Malamute mixes, you can check out some of our recent articles below:
