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The AKC breed standard calls for a natural range of size, with a desired freighting weight of 75 to 85 pounds and a height of 23 to 25 inches. Heavier individuals (100+ pounds) and dogs smaller than 75 pounds are common—there is often a marked size difference between males and females. Weights upwards of 140 pounds or more are occasionally seen; these dogs are produced primarily by breeders who market a "giant" malamute. These "giant" sizes are not in accordance with the breed's history or show standards. The coat is a dense double northern dog coat, somewhat harsher than that of the Siberian Husky. The usual colors are various shades of grey and white, sable and white, black and white, red and white, or pure white. Eyes are almond-shaped and are always brown; blue eyes are an indication of mixed breeding and will disqualify the dog in shows. The physical build of the Malamute is compact with heavy bone.

The Malamute is one of the most "unaltered" of breeds, retaining its original form and function. Their affectionate nature does not make them useful as watch or guard dogs. The Malamute is also noted for independence of thought, and many a 'musher' has had their life saved by a Malamute refusing to obey a command. If a dog owner cannot cope with a dog that will not comply with the owners every command, a more compliant breed should be selected. This dog has a long genetic foundation of living in the wilderness with man and surrounded by other animals. The instincts of this breed are very strong and until another animal is accepted as part of its 'family' group, it is better to be safe than sorry.

The Malamute is a descendant of dogs of the Mahlemut tribe of the upper western Alaska. Mahlemuit people depended on dogs as draft power in their struggle for survival. They were on equal footing with their human companions working, hunting and living along side of them. The interdependent relationship between the Mahlemuit and their dogs gave prosperity to both and enabled them to flourish in the inhospitable arctic land The sturdy, intelligent Malamute was used to hunt polar bears and seals and to haul freight. The Mahlemuit people were kind and gentle to their dogs; the Mals had to contend with harsh climates and periods of food shortages, but they were spared the cruel practices of some other Arctic natives. The dogs were not pampered pets, they had to work for their food and shelter. In times of scarcity, the dogs often battled each other for scraps that were available. Legend says that Mahlemuits sometimes staked out their females in heat for wolves to breed and replenish the toughness and adaptability of the Malamute stock, but legend is disputed by those who note that wolves are shy and secretive, hardly valuable traits for a sled dog.

In the late 1890's and early 1900's the Alaskan Malamute became more widely known as a breed as a result of the Alaskan Gold Rush. Sled Dog racing became a popular pastime of the many gold prospectors who flooded into the area and in 1908 the newly founded Nome Kennel Club organised the first All-Alaska Sweepstake race.

In 1935 the Alaskan Malamute Club Of America was formed and soon afterwards followed the recognition of the breed and registration of the first Alaskan Malamutes with the American Kennel Club. At this time two different strains or "types" of Malamute were being bred.

Milton and Eva ("Short") Seeley had been breeding from dogs acquired from, amongst others, Arthur Walden who bred and trained the dogs used in Admiral Byrd's Antarctic Expedition in 1928. Under their kennel name "Kotzebue" they were able to develop a line which produced dogs uniform in type. Their foundation dogs can be found behind most of today's Malamutes pedigrees in the UK.

For the first 30 years that Malamutes were registered with the AKC, all those registered were Kotzebue dogs. However at the same time that The Seeleys were developing their line, Paul Voelker was busy developing his own line - the M'Loots. While The Seeley's had been much more precise about the selection of dogs that they would use in their breeding program, Voelker used a much wider range of Arctic dogs resulting in a very different, larger type to that of the Kotzebue dogs. Again, many of the M'Loot foundations dogs can be found behind today's dogs pedigrees.

In 1960 the AKC Breed Standard was changed to reflect the characteristics of the M'Loot dogs.

In reality, many of today's dogs are actually a combination of Kotzebue and M'Loots lines, although some pure Kotzebue kennels do still exist.

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