There are many designer breeds out here in the world that are interesting inclusions to the canine world; and take note that not all of them are meant to be a house pet, yet most of them are not meant to do heavy work at all.
Until you come across an Alaskan Malamute Akita mix, nicknamed “Akita Malamute”. This breed of dog is a larger size dog that has the capacity to be your best friend, an amazing worker, as well as a solid form of protection.
Since you’re interested, keep reading and I’ll let you in on the secrets of the Alaskan Malamute Akita breed.
Physical Characteristics (Size and Physical Look)
When measured from the shoulders, an Akita Malamute can stand anywhere between 22 and 28 inches tall, and can weigh anywhere from 80 to 120 pounds, which puts this dog in the medium to large dog category.
Since both an Akita and an Alaskan Malamute both have double coats, you can rest assured that your Akita Malamute will also most likely have two layers of fur; the only difference is that this mixed breed is more prone to having longer hair than their parents.
Their fur can come in a small range of colors including white, gray, black, brown, or even a mix of the aforementioned colors.
You’ll also find that this mixed breed has more of their Akita side in their face, with a noticeable longer snout than a malamute. When it comes to their size, however, you’ll clearly see that they take from their larger counterpart, the Alaskan Malamute.
Lifespan
The lifespan of an Alaskan Malamute Akita mix tends to land between 10 and 12 years, which is a bit shorter than the average lifespan of most dogs, which is higher at around 12 to 15 years.
Now, it’s possible for an Akita Malamute to live up to 15 years, but they will need the proper provisions in order to do so.
By proper provisions, I mean a massive dose of exercise to keep their body in tip-top shape, a very healthy diet that consists of the necessary nutrients to keep their bones and muscles going strong, as well as the proper environment for them to thrive in.
With these attributes, your Akita Malamute may reach between 13 to 14 years of age, and with quality love and care, make it to that 15 year home run.
Grooming Needs
Grooming an Akita Malamute is more challenging than grooming the average dog, including an Alaskan Malamute and an Akita.
As I mentioned earlier, the hairs of an Alaskan Malamute Akita mix dog is long, or longer than average when compared to their individual breed of parents. With that being said, be prepared to have your vacuum ready because you will definitely need it.
This breed is known to shed – a lot – and have the capacity to create a legitimate fur carpet. To manage this massive shedding, you’ll want to brush your dog’s hair several times per week in order to grasp the loose hairs before they fall off.
In addition, be sure to bathe these canines about once per week or twice per month. This will keep their skin moisturized; and be sure to use a towel to dry them, because leaving them outside to dry like a wet towel will potentially cause sickness.
Temperament
Believe it or not, Akita Malamutes are pretty even toned animals. Yes, Akitas are known to be strong with heightened senses, while the Alaskan Malamute has brute strength, and enjoys being around its family, or “pack”.
So for these reasons, you’ll find that Akita Malamutes definitely follow suit. They are compassionate animals that are prone to becoming connected to those that care for it.
They make great companions, and are a solid pick for performing major activity like pulling or pushing heavy objects, as they enjoy it very much.
They are capable of having their personal time, so you won’t have to worry about this canine being under you 24/7; yet, they are also capable of joining in on the occasional cuddle session every now and again.
The one characteristic about their temperament is that they can get bored really easily, so it’s smart to always have a significant activity around so that they don’t destroy your home creating one.
Exercise Needs
If an Akita needs at least one hour of exercise, and an Alaskan Malamute requires at leat one hour of major activity, then logic presumes that their offspring will require the same amount of exercise, if not more!
You’ll want to give your Akita Malamute at least one and a half hours of exercise per day; and that’s just to get their initial energy out! 2 hour per day is an optimal amount of time for them to use their body enough to keep it going and growing.
Health Risks
Everytime you see a dog, they are just so cute aren’t they? But unfortunately, Akita Malamutes are prone to some health risks that may later affect them in their elder years of life.
The good news is that their health risks are not as prominent as other dogs, and do not happen as soon as other dogs; however, they do happen.
The most common forms of health risks that you can be concerned about usually come down to different forms of dysplasia: hip or joint. This is because of their naturally big size, and over time, it can be a pretty big weight for them to bear.
In addition to these ailments, you may also see some minor concerns occur, such as glaucoma, cataracts, hypothyroidism, or even bone-degenerative diseases.
All of these health risks are reasons for concern, so it’s best to take good care of your Akita Malamute so that you can reduce the potential of these ailments occurring sooner than later.
Feeding
Akita Malamute feeding habits are like that of other dogs; they require fresh and quality food in order to keep them growing strong and healthy.
They tend to eat once to twice per day, depending on the size of the meal; the bigger the meal, the less amount of times per day they need to eat; and feeding time usually takes place towards the late morning or early afternoon, all within an 8 to 10 hour window.
The most important part of their feeding is their diet. Due to their body type and history, Akita Malamutes require fresh animal protein like fish, small mammals, beef, and even the occasional liver as a treat.
In addition, to filter out the excess waste, you’ll want to add some whole grains and vegetables into their diet in order to keep their gastrointestinal system regulated, which will keep their weight manageable and reduce their chances of obesity.
Are Alaskan Malamute Akita Mixes Protective?
Oh yeah, you’ll figure out quite quickly that this Alaskan Malamute Akita Mixes are very protective.
Although they aren’t the leader of your “pack” they do feel as though they are part of it, which makes them feel very honored and obligated to protect you and your family by any means necessary.
At the first sense of danger, an Akita Malamute will be able to pick up on what’s happening, and defend itself, and you, until the threat has removed itself from the scene.
The beautiful thing about their protection is how they do it; it will first start off as a low grumble, and if the threat persists, they’ll become very assertive, and then aggressive, if necessary. They aren’t out to harm anything, but they will if that means keep you, their caregiver, safe and sound.
How Much Does an Alaskan Malamute Akita Mix Cost?
To start, it’s always more affordable to purchase this breed as a puppy rather than a fully matured dog.
On the low end, you may be able to find an Alaskan Malamute Akita Mix dog roughly around 800 and 1,500 dollars; on the higher end, you’ll surely find one between 1,800 and 2,800 dollars.
These prices are determinant on several factors. One of them is whether there is more Akita than Malamute; more Akita equals less money, while more Malamute equals a higher price. Another attribute that plays into what you pay is their health.
If your future doggy has one or two health issues, the price can be haggled; but if it’s in it’s prime shape, be ready to pay a premium price for this substantially equipped dog.
Is an Alaskan Malamute Akita Mix Right for Me?
Akita Malamutes are a great dog to have; they are protective, fun, and pretty interesting because of their size. Because of these attributes, they are best handled by professional dog breeders, or experienced dog trainers.
However, if you are up for the challenge, you too can be a great companion and caretaker for an Akita Malamute.
It’s a great feature to have knowing that this dog will help you out due to the fact that it does pretty well with being trained and taking orders, but it must start sooner than later.
The Alaskan Malamute Akita Mix breed is a true force to work with, and will require your strength and intelligence to match theirs.
Once it’s matched, it is up to you to keep the training consistent because this will deem you the “leader of the pack” which they will be more than willing to follow.
Best Climate For an Alaskan Malamute Akita Mix
I’ll inform you that both Alaskan Malamutes and Akitas are both winter dogs, and thrive very well in extremely cold weather.
With that being said, it’s important to know that the mix between the two still do very well in cooler weather, especially since their hair will most likely end up being longer than usual.
So the best climate for an Alaskan Malamute Akita mix would be an environment that is between the fahrenheit temperatures of 70 and below. Anything higher than 74 degrees will become a challenge for the animal, which will require you to create a cold spot for them to cool off properly in order for them to regulate their internal body temperature.
Sure, they are known to do well in tropical areas of warmth, but this isn’t their optimal environment. So if you have an Akita Malamute in warm weather, be sure to have cold water and a cool area readily available for them.
The Attention an Alaskan Malamute Akita Mix Needs
Both Akitas and Alaskan Malamutes are strong-willed and powerful animals that do very well in taking charge whenever they need too. However, they still are conscious beings that do engage and enjoy attention and compassion.
They are known to have moments of love and affection, and enjoy snuggling up with you while you hold them and use them as a live body pillow. But there are also times where they would prefer to be alone and away from loud noises, or disorganized events that disturb them.
When they are energetic, they prefer to engage in connective activities with you, like running, jumping, or playing catch.
They also enjoy moments of peaceful companionship such as relaxing on the couch while watching T.V. When that isn’t possible, they are more than capable of having their own time to recollect and regain their strength.
In essence, they require an easy amount of attention from you because they are capable of entertaining themselves.
Compatibility with Kids
Akita Malamutes are big dogs, so it’s important that you train them to properly associate themselves with children to reduce any form of accidents that could occur. In other manners, Akita Malamutes do very well with children!
Since Akita Malamutes are big dogs, and children are the same size or smaller, they can be seen as puppies, or even litter mates of the Akita Malamute. So with such a great connection, this breed of dog will do well with kids, and will have a lot of fun with them!
Compatibility with Other Animals
Because of their awesome personality, but willingness to defend themselves, with little enemies to go against them, Akita Malamutes do fairly well with other animals, including other dogs and cats as well.
It all comes down to the initial social training that is necessary for these aforementioned words to come true. Once the social training is commenced, this designer breed has the capacity to make friends with various other canines, with little to no problem.
Simply remember that the sooner you start initiating social training with an Alaskan Malamute Akita mix, the sooner they’ll be making friends with other animals.
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