Alaskan Malamutes and Siberian Huskies are often confused for each other and are very similar in their personalities and behavior, but do malamutes talk like huskies as well?
Malamutes definitely talk, just like huskies do. They will talk to you whenever they feel like it; this can be due to excitement, seeking attention, or several other reasons.
If you want to learn why malamutes and huskies share this behavior and why Mals talk to you in the first place, then keep reading.
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Contents
What Does ‘Talking’ Mean?
It can be funny to other people when we Mal owners talk about our dogs talking because it is so specific to this breed and other Arctic breeds like the Husky.
You can get a better idea of what I’m talking about with the video below:
Talking is just what we use to describe when our Mals whine and make noises at us that resemble talking. It’s also often referred to as ‘wooing’ as well – very scientific, I know.
Mals will also cry, howl, and make a variety of other noises too.
Why Do Malamutes Talk Like Huskies?
Malamutes talk like huskies because they are very similar dogs with a similar origin.
Huskies originated from Siberia, where they were domesticated by the Chukchi people and used for pulling light sled loads over long distances.
Alaskan Malamutes likely originate from ancestors who were brought across from Siberia over the Bering Strait thousands of years ago, so it’s very likely that these two dogs share much of the same heritage.
Malamutes were then domesticated by the Mahlemuts (hence the name), an Inuit tribe in northwestern Alaska, and used for pulling heavy loads across long distances.
You only have to look at these two dogs to see their similarities.
Howling, wooing, and other types of talking is common for both dogs, and it’s not a coincidence.
Research suggests that huskies are more closely related to wolves than other breeds, and wolves are known for their howling.
4 Reasons Why Malamutes Talk So Much
Here are the four most common reasons why Malamutes talk so much.
1. Attention Seeking
One of the most common reasons your Malamute will talk at you is that they want attention.
Malamutes can have an independent streak about them as Spitz dogs, but they are also very friendly and sociable when they want to be.
If your Mal wants to spend more time with you, they will let you know about it.
2. Stubborn
There is no denying the stubbornness of the Alaskan Malamute.
These Arctic seasoned workhorses are used to getting their own way and don’t listen to commands easily.
If they feel like being stubborn, they will let you know about it. This can manifest in a few ways – they might go outside and take some alone time, or they might howl, whine, and talk at you until they get what they want.
They may also refuse to listen to your command and talk back to you instead; it’s one of the joys of owning this breed!
3. Excited
Malamutes have a lot of energy, which is no surprise given how much exercise they are capable of doing.
This means they can get excited quite easily, especially if they haven’t been for their daily exercise yet.
One of the ways they can express their excitement is by being vocal. Simply asking your Mal to go for a walk is enough excitement for them to start being vocal; it doesn’t take much.
4. Lacking Mental Stimulation
Malamutes are an intelligent dog breed, much smarter than most people give them credit for, and they need a lot of mental stimulation outside of their regular exercise needs to be met.
This includes things like obedience training, playing games with them, or giving them puzzle toys.
If your Mal isn’t mentally stimulated, they will become bored and more likely to howl or talk just for something to do.
You can check out my toy recommendations to keep your Mal busy here.
Can You Encourage A Malamute To Talk?
You can definitely encourage a Malamute to talk, and there are a few ways to do it.
One of my favorites is to speak to my Malamute and offer them one of their favorite treats. Rather than giving them a command like sit, I ask them to ‘Talk’ and encourage them with lots of praise.
If they are energetic enough and interested in the treat, getting them talking doesn’t take long.
Another easy way is to play the sounds of other malamutes or even huskies howling and talking.
In Summary
Malamutes and huskies are both talkers and will whine, howl, cry, and make various other sounds just about whenever they feel like it.
Considering how closely related and similar these two dogs are, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise.
If you were hoping that malamutes were quieter than huskies, I’m sorry to break the news to you! Malamutes are probably one of the few dogs that can match huskies in terms of being vocal.
