 Malamutes
and Huskies
by Richard Linde, 27
October, 2001, updated 9
February 2009
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.
 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.
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 Alaskan Malamute to serve as
canine 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.
On September 9, 2008, Spirit suffered a shoulder
injury, stepping into a hole while chasing a squirrel. As a result he sat out the 2008 season (0-12)
and retired prematurely. With the Huskies' Spirit broken, it became
another burden to shoulder during the never-ending season.
 The new Husky mascot, an Alaskan
Malamute named
"Dubs" was born on November 15, 2008. See Link.
The photo of Dubs (left) was purchased from Replay Photos, scanned and
then edited with Adobe Photoshop.
To reference Dubs' home page,
click here.
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.
List of Washington Husky
mascots (the sled Dawgs):
Frosty I (1920-1929)
Frosty II (1930-36)
Wasky (1946)
Wasky II (1947-53)
Ski (1954-57)
Denali (1958)
King Chinook (1959-68)
Regent Denali (1969-80)
Sundodger (1981-91)
King Redoubt (1992-97)
Prince Redoubt (1998)
Spirit (1999-2008; owned by Kim Cross)
Dubs, 2009 (a male, born November 15, 2008)
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Sled Dawgs
for Eternity--Dedicated to King Redoubt and to all the Sled Dawgs: from Frosty
I to Dubs
By:
Richard Linde
Have you seen a Siberian Husky from afar?
Or being much closer an Alaskan Malamute?
For very certain what they are,
Their likeness the learned do dispute.
But tethered to the sled,
From the Dardanelles to the bogs.
All of them are wed,
Those gallant, mighty Dawgs.
Joyfully they sled on high,
Those sled Dawgs joined from afar.
Mals and Huskies in the sky,
Their gravitas pulling at our star.
In turn, he bore the snow and rain,
To join the fray in spring through fall.
His toil was for all our gain,
Amidst the din of the raucous maul.
The sled Dawgs had him in their prayers,
As the siren signaled the call to
entrench.
From the tunnel he led the players,
And set up camp beside their bench.
When he had done his job,
As darkness dimmed the light.
He was greeted by the mob,
A full partner of their fight.
When time wends them into its
fraternity,
They share a common bond.
There are friendships made in eternity,
All of which they are fond.
For when he joined the sled,
He met his mates with glee.
And found himself in good stead,
On the snowy glimmer of a cloud in Husky history.
Dubs is the eleventh Alaskan Malamute
to serve as the Husky mascot. Up until his final day, he will be
faithful to the Purple and the Gold, making appearances at Husky Picture
Day to pose with cheerleaders, players and fans; he will make himself
known to the entire country during live telecasts of Washington games.
For that we honor him, as we do all of his predecessors that are part of
Husky history.
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(*) The
photo of the Siberian Husky (Jessee) shown above has been released into the public domain. Click
here for information
relating to its release.
Richard Linde, aka Malamute, can be reached at
malamute@4malamute.com
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