You’re in the right place if you want a full rundown of the Alaskan Malamute vs Rottweiler.
This guide will take you through every similarity and difference between these two large and popular dog breeds, including how they compare in temperament, size, obedience, and much more.
If you want a quick summary, check out the infographic below; otherwise, let’s get straight into the comparison.
Contents
Difference In Appearance
Before we get into the more specific differences between the Alaskan Malamute vs Rottweiler, let’s address the most obvious one – appearance.
Malamutes have a wolf-like appearance, with thick, fluffy coats and several Spitz features like a fluffy curled tail and pointy, alert ears.
The expression of the Malamute is welcoming and excitable despite their potentially intimidating appearance.
Rottweilers have much more of a Mastiff-type appearance, with a thick, large skull and floppy ears.
Rottweilers have a short coat that does little to hide their muscular body and broad shoulders.
Other Key Differences Between The Alaskan Malamute Vs Rottweiler
It’s clearly not a challenge to tell these two dogs apart, so let’s explore some of their less noticeable differences.
Origin
Alaskan Malamutes are one of the oldest sled breeds in the Arctic, and their name comes from the Mahlemiut tribe, who settled in Alaska long ago.
Their ancestors were brought across the Bering Strait thousands of years ago, and the Mahlemuit tribe bred the Malamutes to pull heavy loads over long distances.
Rottweilers are also an ancient breed, descending from the Roman Army’s mastiff-type dogs, becoming the breedstock for many German breeds today.
After many years, they settled in the cattle town of Rottweil, where they were used mainly as farm dogs to protect and herd livestock. When the cattle car was introduced in the 1800s, the Rottweiler shifted from farm work to various other roles in the police and as personal protectors.
Guarding Instinct
Rottweilers naturally have a high guarding instinct, thanks to their background in protection and guarding roles. They are still used as guard dogs to this day, and their presence alone is enough to deter strangers from their territory.
Alaskan Malamutes are very much the opposite and have very little guarding instinct. This comes from their social nature; Mals would rather make friends even with strangers than be suspicious of them.
Exercise Requirements
Rottweilers need a lot of exercise – more than many other breeds at 1 hour to 90 minutes per day – but Malamutes need even more.
Malamutes thrive with lots of exercise and need around 2 hours a day or more. This is thanks to their background as powerful sled dogs capable of pulling sleds for miles at a time.
There’s no denying that both breeds are active, but Mals are definitely more work in this regard.
Trainability
Malamutes and Rottweilers have very different trainability levels.
Malamutes are notoriously hard to train, but not because they lack the intelligence.
Mals are known for being stubborn and having a mind of their own, so they’ll often refuse to listen to you entirely if they feel like it, clearly making obedience training challenging.
Rottweilers, on the other hand, are very receptive to obedience training and like to please their owners. They’re pretty intelligent, too, which helps them to learn new tricks pretty quickly.
If you want a dog that will learn tricks and commands and actually listen to you reliably, Rottweilers are the better option.
Coat Color Variation
Coat color variation is another area where these two breeds differ considerably.
According to the AKC, Rottweilers have three accepted coat colors: black and rust, black and mahogany, and black and tan. Other colors are possible outside of the standard, but the base coat is very often black.
Alaskan Malamutes have a much wider variation in their coat color. The ‘classic’ Mal is black and white but can also be red and white, silver and white, all white, and more. If you’re interested, you can find out about all the possible colors in our article here.
Grooming & Shedding
Mals are a lot more work in terms of grooming and shedding.
They have a medium to long thick double coat designed to keep them warm in sub-zero temperatures (and cool in hot weather as well).
A double coat means that there are two layers to the coat: a short, dense wool undercoat and a longer guard layer that protects the skin and fur below from moisture and debris.
Due to this, Mals need grooming properly a few times per week and will shed year-round; they’ll also shed excessively when they’re blowing their coats, which is seasonal shedding to prepare them for the warmer (or colder) months.
Rottweilers also have a double coat, but their coat is much shorter, so it doesn’t require as much grooming. This also means they will seasonally shed as well, but as their fur is shorter, it isn’t as much of a problem.
Size
Rottweilers are typically larger than Malamutes both in height and weight:
- Malamutes reach 23 to 25 inches in height at the shoulder and 75 to 85 lbs in weight, although they very regularly exceed this weight.
- Rottweilers are larger and reach 22 to 27 inches in height at the shoulder and 80 to 135 lbs in weight.
There isn’t much difference in the height, but Rottweilers are generally much heavier. Some Malamutes, known as ‘Giant Malamutes,’ can exceed 100 lbs easily, but this does come with health risks, and it’s better for Mals to stay within the healthy range of the breed standard.
Similarities
Despite the many differences between the Alaskan Malamute and Rottweiler, there are quite a few similarities between these breeds, and a lot you wouldn’t expect at first.
Working Background
Although the origin of the Malamute and Rottweiler is very different, both dogs have a working background.
Working dogs tend to have a higher requirement for exercise, which is true of both of these breeds, and they’re also generally more intelligent.
These differences become more noticeable if you get a working-line version of either breed.
Strength
Alaskan Malamutes are freight dogs, which means they were bred specifically to haul heavy loads over long distances.
With this came a natural strength that hasn’t left them; Mals can easily pull you over if you aren’t expecting it, and it’s why on-leash training is important with this breed.
Rottweilers are also incredibly powerful thanks to their large and muscular physiques, and can also easily pull you over if you aren’t suspecting it.
Prone To Separation Anxiety
Another similarity between these two dog breeds is that they are both prone to separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety is a condition where a dog may exhibit destructive behaviors when left alone for periods due to stress.
Malamutes and Rottweilers are prone to this condition, which can become a big issue due to their size.
Require Socialization
Socialization is a requirement for the Alaskan Malamute and Rottweiler. All dogs benefit from socialization, but it impacts the Malamute and Rottweiler in slightly different ways.
Malamutes benefit from socialization specifically because it teaches them to contain their excitement and behave correctly around new people rather than jumping up at them.
Socializing Rottweilers can help calm their guarding instinct and help them interact with strangers without hesitation. The guarding instinct of the Rottweiler is often beneficial, but they must be friendly to other people when needed.
In Summary
Alaskan Malamutes and Rottweilers are both incredible dogs that specialize in different things.
Rottweilers are suited for guarding roles and are naturally suspicious of strangers; they’re also larger than the Malamute in both height and weight.
Alaskan Malamutes, although smaller, are still large dogs and are highly energetic and friendly. However, they’re more difficult to train than Rottweilers due to their stubborn personalities.
When it comes down to choosing between the two, it all depends on which traits you value.
Feel free to check out some of our other Alaskan Malamute comparison articles below:
