Best dry dog food for an Alaskan Malamute
An Alaskan Malamute is a large, heavy-boned working breed built for pulling weight over distance, so a dry food choice needs to account for both a big-dog frame and, for many pet Malamutes, an activity level well below what the breed was bred for. Look for a large-breed formula with controlled calcium and phosphorus for joint development, and adjust the calorie density to how much exercise your individual dog actually gets.
Feeding a Alaskan Malamute
A large breed
An adult Alaskan Malamute typically weighs 34–39 kg, so a healthy Alaskan Malamute eats a fair amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A large breed is usually done growing at 15–18 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 10–14 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
A high-energy dog eats like one
Alaskan Malamutes sit at the top end for energy, and a dog working through an hour and a half of real exercise a day burns through the feeding guide faster than a dog on a short stroll. Feed to the dog's condition, not to the middle of the range on the bag.
Joint support is worth looking for
Their size and frame put more load through the joints than a smaller dog carries, so a food with joint support on the label is worth reading for — and keeping them lean does more for their joints than any supplement.
Weight matters more than usual here
A long back or a heavy frame makes every extra kilo count twice. Weigh portions rather than eyeballing a scoop, and reduce the food rather than the walks if the waist starts to disappear.
How much should a Alaskan Malamute weigh?
Adult 34–39 kgfully grown at 15–18 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 3.9–4.5 kg | 11% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 6.3–7.2 kg | 19% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 12.6–14.5 kg | 37% |
| 12 months | Adolescent | 25.3–29 kg | 74% |
| 15–18 months | Fully grown | 34–39 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a large breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Alaskan Malamute
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Alaskan Malamute's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Field & Trial Skinner S Field Trial Light Senior
A lower-fat dry food for older, overweight or less active dogs, including working breeds
From£9.85
Autarky Complete Grain Free Adult Turkey
Grain-free complete dry food for adult dogs, with turkey and a marine-algae joint care package
£12.79
Autarky Grain Free Tasty White Fish & Potato Complete
Grain-free dry dog food built around white fish meal rather than poultry
£12.99
Lily's Kitchen Lily S Kitchen Dog Lovely Lamb
Complete lamb-led dry dog food offered in two practical bag sizes
From£25.15
Burns Adult/Senior Weight Control Chicken and Oats
A low-fat weight control dry food for adult and senior dogs, oat-based
£35.99
Burns Adult Large/Giant Breed Chicken and Brown Rice
Complete large-breed dry dog food with 23% chicken and brown rice
£59.99
Burgess Greyhound and Lurcher Chicken
Complete adult dry food formulated for the specific build of greyhounds and lurchers
£35.35
Naturo Senior Rice Poultry Variety 6pk
Six 400g trays across three recipes for senior dogs, with glucosamine and chondroitin
£10.29
Naturo Senior Dog Turkey with Rice and Vegetables 7pk
Turkey at 65% in a senior wet tray, with brown rice, vegetables and added joint support
£11.99
Large-breed growth needs, if you have a puppy
A Malamute puppy can reach 30-40kg as an adult, and growing that large too fast puts real strain on developing joints. A large-breed puppy formula, with calcium and phosphorus levels controlled rather than a generic all-breed puppy food, is worth choosing specifically for this reason.
Slower, steadier growth rather than the fastest possible growth is the goal with a giant or large breed, so resist the urge to overfeed a Malamute puppy who looks thin during a growth spurt — a vet or breeder is better placed to judge condition than weight alone.
Adult Malamutes: energy and joints
Working sled dogs need enormous calorie intakes; most pet Malamutes do not, so matching the food to your dog's real activity level rather than the breed's working reputation avoids piling on weight on a heavy-boned frame that is already carrying a lot of joint stress.
A recipe with added glucosamine and chondroitin, or a joint supplement alongside a standard adult food, is a reasonable precaution for a breed prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, though it is not a substitute for keeping your dog at a healthy weight in the first place.
Coat and skin
Malamutes carry a dense double coat and shed heavily, particularly at the twice-yearly coat blow, and a food with a good fat content and added omega fatty acids supports skin and coat condition through that process.
Grain is not something a Malamute needs to avoid by default — plenty do perfectly well on a standard grain-inclusive recipe — so choose on ingredient quality and your individual dog's digestion rather than following a grain-free trend without a reason specific to your dog.
Common questions
- How much should I feed an adult Alaskan Malamute?
- It depends heavily on your individual dog's activity level, since a working sled dog and a pet Malamute that walks twice a day have very different calorie needs. Follow the feeding guide on the specific food as a starting point and adjust based on your dog's body condition rather than a fixed amount.
- Do Alaskan Malamutes need a large-breed food?
- As puppies, yes — a large-breed puppy formula with controlled calcium and phosphorus supports steadier joint development in a breed that grows this big. As adults, a large-breed adult food is a sensible choice but less critical than getting the puppy stage right.
- Are Alaskan Malamutes prone to food allergies?
- Not especially compared with other large breeds, though any dog can develop a sensitivity to a specific protein or ingredient over time. If you notice ongoing itching, ear problems or digestive upset, it is worth discussing with your vet rather than switching foods repeatedly on guesswork.
- Should I feed my Malamute a grain-free diet?
- Not automatically. Grain-free is not inherently healthier for most dogs, Malamutes included, and the choice should come down to ingredient quality and how your individual dog does on a recipe rather than avoiding grain as a rule.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.