Why you Should Get the Australian Shepherd Instead of the Alaskan Malamute.

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2022

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Australian Shepherd Versus Alaskan Malamute: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Australian Shepherd and for the Alaskan Malamute. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Australian Shepherd or the Alaskan Malamute.

Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute

Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute: Overview

A very important difference between the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog while the Alaskan Malamute is a large-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Australian Shepherd belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Alaskan Malamute belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Australian Shepherd to the Alaskan Malamute based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute

FactorAustralian ShepherdAlaskan Malamute
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/51/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Easy To Groom1/51/5
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Height18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sh
Good For Novice Owners2/51/5
Tolerates Being Alone2/51/5
General Health2/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/55/5
Does NOT Shed3/51/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/55/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/52/5
Kid-Friendly4/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
Does NOT chew on things2/53/5
Low Prey Drive2/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor2/51/5
Weight40 to 65 pounds75 to 100 pounds
Easygoing1/52/5
Affectionate With Family5/54/5
Dog Friendly5/52/5
Easy To Train5/54/5
Intelligence5/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/51/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/51/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$1180$1470
Price Range$800 – $1500$1000 – $1800
Temperament Score82.2 percent84.8 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • POLYNEUROPATHY
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds1559
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Australian Shepherd in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Alaskan Malamute. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Australian Shepherd is 70 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Alaskan Malamute is 63 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Australian Shepherd is a better pet than the Alaskan Malamute. So, you should get a Australian Shepherd!

    Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute

    Below is a list of where the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are most different:

  • Australian Shepherds get along well with other dogs. However, Alaskan Malamutes do not get along well with other dogs.
  • The Similarities Between the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute

    The Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are most similar:

  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are very easy to train.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute.

    The Australian Shepherd weighs 40 to 65 pounds when fully grown. The Australian Shepherd is 18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Alaskan Malamute weighs 75 to 100 pounds when fully grown. The Alaskan Malamute is 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the sh when fully grown.

    Size of Australian Shepherd versus Size of Alaskan Malamute

    Appearance (Colors) of the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute

    Australian Shepherd Colors

    The Australian Shepherd comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Black
    • Merle (Red)
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Harlequin
    • Merle (Blue)
    • White / Cream
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Bicolor
    • Golden
    • Brindle

    The Australian Shepherd comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Black
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Sable
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Merle (Blue)

    Alaskan Malamute Colors

    The Alaskan Malamute comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Bicolor
    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Brown / Chocolate

    The Alaskan Malamute comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Golden
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Bicolor

    Lifespan of Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute

    The lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of the Alaskan Malamute is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Alaskan Malamute is 13.5 years.

    The Alaskan Malamute live as long as the Australian Shepherd.

    Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute

    Temperament of the Australian Shepherd Versus the Alaskan Malamute

    The Alaskan Malamute has a better temperament than the Australian Shepherd.

    This is because the temperament score for the Alaskan Malamute is 84.8 percent while the temperament score for the Australian Shepherd is 82.2 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 82.2 percent, the Australian Shepherd has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 84.8 percent, the Alaskan Malamute has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute by measuring the temperaments of 702 Australian Shepherds and 244 Alaskan Malamutes.

    Price of Australian Shepherd versus Price of Alaskan Malamute

    The average price of the Australian Shepherd puppy is $1180. The price of the Australian Shepherd typically ranges from $800 – $1500. However, the price of a Australian Shepherd can be as low as $100 and as high as $12009. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2674 Australian Shepherd puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Alaskan Malamute puppy is $1470. The price of the Alaskan Malamute typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of the Alaskan Malamute can be as low as $120 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 321 Alaskan Malamute puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Alaskan Malamute is more expensive than the Australian Shepherd.

    Australian Shepherd Alaskan Malamute
    Average Price $1180 $1470
    Price Range $800 to $1500 $1000 to $1800

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Australian Shepherd and Alaskan Malamute. For different price points, the charts show how many Australian Shepherd puppies or how many Alaskan Malamute puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Australian Shepherds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Australian Shepherds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Alaskan Malamutes

    A breakdown of the prices of Alaskan Malamutes

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Australian Shepherd puppy or the Alaskan Malamute puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute

    Adopting the Australian Shepherd versus Adopting the Alaskan Malamute

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Australian Shepherds and many Alaskan Malamutes are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Australian Shepherd named Alonzo that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Australian Shepherds like Alonzo on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Australian Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes are also available for adoption. For example, Loki is a Male Alaskan Malamute that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Alaskan Malamutes like Loki that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also, Baby Bear is an adorable Male Alaskan Malamute on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more Australian Shepherds and Alaskan Malamutes that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of Australian Shepherd versus Popularity of Alaskan Malamute

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Australian Shepherd is more popular with dog owners than the Alaskan Malamute. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Australian Shepherd is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Alaskan Malamute is 59 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Australian Shepherd

    Popularity of Australian Shepherd

    Popularity of Alaskan Malamute

    Popularity of Alaskan Malamute

    Year Australian Shepherd Popularity Rank Alaskan Malamute Popularity Rank
    2013 20 57
    2014 18 54
    2015 17 54
    2016 16 59
    2017 17 59
    2018 15 58
    2019 13 64
    2020 12 65
    2021 12 68

    Health Problems of Australian Shepherd versus Health Problems of Alaskan Malamute

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Australian Shepherd is prone to more genetic health problems than the Alaskan Malamute.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Australian Shepherd than for the Alaskan Malamute.

    7 health tests are recommended for Australian Shepherd while 5 tests are recommended for the Alaskan Malamute.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Australian Shepherds and in Alaskan Malamutes.

    Australian Shepherd Health Problems

    Australian Shepherds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Australian Shepherd puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Australian Shepherd puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Australian Shepherd breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Australian Shepherds for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Australian Shepherds here.

    Alaskan Malamute Health Problems

    Alaskan Malamutes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Alaskan Malamute puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Alaskan Malamute puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Alaskan Malamute breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Alaskan Malamutes for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • POLYNEUROPATHY

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Alaskan Malamutes here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Australian Shepherds and Alaskan Malamutes

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Australian Shepherd Breed is Cataracts problems.

    This is because the Australian Shepherd ranks 1 out of 5 dog breeds for Cataracts problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 107 Australian Shepherds, 2 of them had Cataracts problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Australian Shepherds, and how common these diseases are in Australian Shepherds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Cataracts problems: Rank 1 out of 5 Dog Breeds
  • Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems: Rank 2 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 7 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 12 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 19 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 28 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 60 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 66 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 77 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 103 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 133 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 150 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Alaskan Malamute Breed is Degenerative Myelopathy problems.

    This is because the Alaskan Malamute ranks 19 out of 70 dog breeds for Degenerative Myelopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 52 Alaskan Malamutes, 4 of them had Degenerative Myelopathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Alaskan Malamutes, and how common these diseases are in Alaskan Malamutes relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 19 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 28 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 52 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 82 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 102 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 105 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 114 out of 182 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Australian Shepherd and in Alaskan Malamute and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute:

    Disease Australian Shepherd Rank Alaskan Malamute Rank
    Cataracts problems 1 out of 5 dog breeds Not Common
    Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems 2 out of 7 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 7 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 12 out of 70 dog breeds 19 out of 70 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems 19 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 28 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 60 out of 159 dog breeds 28 out of 159 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 66 out of 115 dog breeds 52 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 77 out of 144 dog breeds 82 out of 144 dog breeds
    Patella problems 103 out of 145 dog breeds 105 out of 145 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 133 out of 182 dog breeds 114 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 150 out of 198 dog breeds 102 out of 198 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute

    Australian Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

    Alaskan Malamutes do not like to be left alone.

    Do Australian Shepherds shed more than Alaskan Malamutes?

    Australian Shepherds shed moderately.

    Alaskan Malamutes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Shepherd or the Alaskan Malamute?

    Australian Shepherds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Alaskan Malamutes require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Shepherd or the Alaskan Malamute?

    Australian Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.

    Alaskan Malamutes do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs? What about Alaskan Malamutes?

    Australian Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Alaskan Malamutes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Australian Shepherd Easier to Train than the Alaskan Malamute?

    Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.

    Alaskan Malamutes are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Australian Shepherd or the Alaskan Malamute

    Australian Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Alaskan Malamutes do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Australian Shepherds and Alaskan Malamutes?

    Australian Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Alaskan Malamutes get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Does the Australian Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Alaskan Malamute?

    Australian Shepherds have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Alaskan Malamutes have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Australian Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Alaskan Malamutes?

    Australian Shepherds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Alaskan Malamutes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Alaskan Malamutes Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Australian Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Alaskan Malamutes can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Australian Shepherd vs. Alaskan Malamute

    Australian Shepherds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Alaskan Malamutes have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Alaskan Malamutes Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Australian Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.

    Alaskan Malamutes cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Is the Australian Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Alaskan Malamute?

    Australian Shepherds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Alaskan Malamutes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Australian Shepherd or the Alaskan Malamute?

    Australian Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Alaskan Malamutes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Australian Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Australian Shepherd compares to other breeds aside from the Alaskan Malamute. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Australian Shepherd to other breeds:

    Australian Shepherd versus Akita     Australian Shepherd versus Spinone Italiano     Australian Shepherd versus Afghan Hound     Australian Shepherd versus Plott     Australian Shepherd versus Aussiedoodle     Australian Shepherd versus Bich Poo     Australian Shepherd versus Maltese     Australian Shepherd versus Bracco Italiano     Australian Shepherd versus Pomchi     Australian Shepherd versus Komondor     Australian Shepherd versus Chow Chow     Australian Shepherd versus Bloodhound     Australian Shepherd versus Westiepoo     Australian Shepherd versus Border Collie     Australian Shepherd versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Australian Shepherd versus Goldador     Australian Shepherd versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Australian Shepherd versus Portuguese Pointer     

    Conclusion: Australian Shepherd versus Alaskan Malamute. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Australian Shepherd and the Alaskan Malamute better suits you and your family.

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