My pseudonym is Malamute and I’m a Washington Husky.

But are Malamutes the same as Huskies, you might ask?

Well, I’m a Husky through and through.

Technically speaking, Malamutes are not Huskies; they are a separate breed of dog. The two breeds are closely related though and perform the same work, e.g., pull sleds.

Alaskan Malamutes are playful, brown-eyed rascals, who are larger than Siberian Huskies and more docile. They are extremely loyal and have been known to work to the death for their masters. The Malamute’s thick coat is usually gray and white or black and white. These colors frequently form a mask-like marking on the head. It weighs between 74 to 85 pounds and ranges from 23 to 25 inches high.

The Siberian Husky weighs between 35 to 60 pounds and stands 20 to 24 inches. It is usually gray, tan, or black and white, and it may have head markings resembling a cap, mask, or spectacles. The breed, kept pure for hundreds of years in Siberia, is noted for intelligence and a gentle temperament. See photo below and click to enlarge.

Malamutes make better mascots than Huskies since they are not as high strung and easier to control in large crowds. Unlike Malamutes, Huskies can have blue and green eyes, as well as brown eyes. Malamutes have brown eyes.

Jim Robinson's King Redoubt Junior (or simply “Junior”) is a Malamute. Junior is the Husky mascot for all Husky games played on the road. Junior made his debut at Washington on September 19, 1998 when he patrolled the sidelines during the Huskies' home opener against BYU. He is pictured to the left. The photo of Rocky, a Malamute owned by officer Lee Groinman, is morphed in our logo and appears at the top of this page. 

For more on Junior, reference the following link (Prince Redoubt).

The tenth Malamute to serve as mascot for the UW, Whitepaw's Alut Spirit of Gold Dust ("Spirit"), debuted in 1999. See his photo above, as he sits with his tongue hanging out in front of the blue background. It was a hot day.

This photo of a blue-eyed Siberian Husky, named Jessee, is subject to the copyright limitations appearing below. (*) Note his pointed ears. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Early in Husky history, at the time when the school decided to change its nickname from “Sun Dodgers,” strong consideration was given to “Malamutes,” along with "Huskies," as a potential nickname. To placate Malamute enthusiasts, an Alaskan Malamute named Frosty I (1922) was chosen as the first mascot. A spirited mascot, Frosty I tore off a milkman's trousers one day; rumor has it that he was an Oregon fan.

In the final analysis though, both Huskies and Malamutes are definitely Dawgs.