How Much Does It Cost to Own an Alaskan Malamute? 2024 Price Guide

Pet ownership is an expensive commitment. You might think that you only have to pay for dog food and call it a day, but there’s many aspects that go into the total cost of owning a dog. You’re doing the responsible thing by averaging the cost before committing. In this article, we’re going to go over the Alaskan Malamute price and every category of cost that you can expect so that there are no surprises.

Bringing Home a New Alaskan Malamute: One-Time Costs

When you’re bringing home an Alaskan Malamute for the first time, there are several different methods that you can obtain one. Some of them will be adults, others puppies, and everything in between.

Free

You can obtain an Alaskan Malamute for free on occasion. Perhaps someone you know fell on hard times and is no longer able to take care of their animal. Others might’ve found a stray with no microchip and no owner claiming them, and you may decide to take them in.

Others might’ve had an accidental litter of puppies and they’re just looking to find them loving homes. Regardless of the backstory, you can sometimes find them for free.

Adoption

If you see an Alaskan Malamute at a local rescue or shelter and you have major interest, congratulations. Adopting a homeless pet is one of the best things you can do as an owner. There are several perks to adopting a dog.

First, when it comes to overall cost, you’ll be paying significantly less for an adopted dog versus buying one from a breeder. All vet care should be done for you meaning you might be able to wait a little longer to take your pup in for a routine check up.

Plus, you’ll be familiar with any health conditions that exist so you can prepare as the owner to give them the care they require.

Breeder

Breeders’ costs drastically vary depending on the area, the particular breeder’s rates, the quality and bloodline of the dog, and several other factors. While there is no way to tell exactly how much one breeder charges from another, the average is generally somewhere between.

Keep in mind that when you purchase an Alaskan Malamute from a breeder, you can expect quality, permitting that they are reputable. There are some things that you want to consider here. Lower cost does not mean quality puppies.

In some circumstances, low cost can even be a signal of backyard breeding or puppy mill situations. In these situations, these dogs are for profit and profit only; the puppies aren’t receiving the proper vet care or attention they need. The parents are often used as breeding slaves, and the litters of puppies have no real care. These conditions can cause all sorts of behavioral and genetic issues.

Reputable breeders will put in place vet care and rules and restrictions to ensure that puppies go to good homes. Some of these might include deposits and puppy contracts so that their offspring get the best homes possible.

Initial Setup and Supplies

There are a lot of initial costs. Some of them will be a one time deal, while others will be recurring expenses. Either way, when you get a pup, you can expect to not just be paying for the dog themselves, but also all of the supplies and products that go along with them.

List of Alaskan Malamute Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does an Alaskan Malamute Cost Per Month?

The total cost per month of owning a dog can vary drastically, depending on factors such as health and brand preferences. Here is a breakdown of the general costs you can expect.

Health Care

Health is incredibly important when you own any animals. You are responsible for the overall care. Some of them might require annual visits, meaning that most months, you will spend nothing unless your pet is sick or in need of a check up.

However, other dogs can have ongoing health issues that require constant attention. A good example of this would be diabetes. These dogs would need routine medications to keep their glucose levels in check.

Food

Food can be downright pricey, especially when you are feeding a massive dog. Dry kibble and wet canned food are options for any dog, and there are plenty of different foods at different price points to choose from.

Many pet families are choosing to go for more species-specific diets for their canines. Nutrition is incredibly important. Many families are switching to fresh, raw, and home diets for their dog. The benefits are astronomical in most cases.

However, it is best to clear any new diet with your vet to ensure you’re choosing the best possible. Even though some of these diets are marketed for dogs and homemade diets are floating around, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are suitable for every single one.

Always do your due diligence, research the recipe you want, okay it with your veterinarian, and call it a day. If you notice any potential symptoms of allergies, you can always tweak the diet, which could end up being more or less costly, depending on the actual recipe itself.

Grooming

You will definitely have to make grooming a priority when you have an Alaskan Malamute. These dogs have dense, thick double coats that require frequent maintenance.

While they don’t necessarily need any fancy haircut, they do need daily brushing without fail. If you slack off on grooming, it can lead to a lot of complications, such as bulk shed all over your furniture, fabrics, and belongings.

Medications and Vet Visits

If you have a healthy pup with no known health issues, you very well might be able to pay absolutely nothing for your dog in terms of medications.

However, some dogs require a little more TLC than others. There’s always a chance that your dog will be born with or develop a health condition at some point in their lifetime.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is becoming more and more popular with pet parents. As vet costs continue to rise dramatically, more and more families want a layer of protection to be able to cover their dogs in times of need.

There are tons of pet insurance companies these days with varying costs. Even some pet insurance companies that typically only cover humans are starting to adopt pet insurance as part of the policies they offer.

If you already have a policy with one of these companies, you might be able to bundle for additional savings.

Environment Maintenance

Our pets can certainly be messy critters. Because of that, it’s a good idea to know exactly how much you can expect to spend in terms of maintaining their environment. In most cases, it’s a good idea to have poop bags when on walks, and an enzymatic cleaner to clean up messes around the house.

Entertainment

Entertainment can mean different things to different dogs. Your Alaskan Malamute might love ripping toys to shreds so you constantly have to keep replacing them. Others might cover their toys and keep a single stuffy for months, or even years!

The overall frequency of spending money on entertainment has to do with the destructiveness level and overall quality of the toys you buy. Some dogs prefer interactive games like frisbee and fetch, while other dogs like challenging games such as scavenger hunts, puzzles, and play mats.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning an Alaskan Malamute

An Alaskan Malamute can be very expensive or inexpensive, depending on your overall budget and how you shop. It can also vary based on the health of your particular dog, which can be a gamble from pet to pet.

Most of the time, these numbers are not nearly as high as our total, however, it’s best to be prepared for anything. After all, you are solely responsible for the health and well-being of your pet.

Additional Costs to Factor In

Sometimes there are unexpected expenses that creep up on us. When you think about getting a dog, you think about all the obvious things such as leashes, harnesses, food bowls, dog food, and the list goes on.

However, there are things that are much less talked about or thought about for that matter. Here are some realities of dog ownership and the cost associated with them.

Damages

Any dog is capable of causing damage. This is especially true when you have a large dog capable of really destroying a home space. An Alaskan Malamute has very powerful jaws. While they are no more notorious for chewing than other dogs, they certainly can be a headache if they love munching on your furniture, shoes, and other belongings.

Pet Sitting

All of us have to go away sometimes. Unfortunately, in some spaces, our dogs are really not permitted to go with us. Whether you and your family are taking a vacation or you have a business trip coming up, pet sitting might be absolutely necessary.

You can take your dog to your kennels, boarding facilities, or hire a pet sitter to come directly to your home. Overall cost can vary based upon the method you choose, area you live, and the individual rates.

Emergencies

Emergencies happen to the best of us. Sometimes, we can’t possibly foresee or anticipate what is happening. Whether it’s due to illness or injury, the cost associated with it can be extremely high. If it happens after hours, emergency vet clinics can also sometimes be double the cost of other standard veterinarians.

Whether your dog ate something toxic or swallowed a shoestring, immediate veterinary attention is sometimes necessary and you have to have a little rainy day fund to cover such an extraordinary expense.

Owning an Alaskan Malamute on a Budget

Of course, despite how many costs there are associated with overall pet care, there are plenty of ways you can save yourself money as well. You don’t have to go for the top-of-the-line products every time.

There are plenty of ways to reduce the financial burdens associated with pet care. However, we highly recommend that you don’t cut corners too much or skimp on routine care.

Saving Money on Alaskan Malamute Care

Here are a few ideas to help you save on pet care.

DIY

There are tons of adorable DIY options floating around the Internet. Everything from dog toys to dog houses, you can find online. You can typically do these projects for cheaper than the overall cost. You might have to put a little elbow grease, but it’s certainly better than paying store prices when you don’t have to.

Secondhand Items

If you search on my marketplaces, you can find many items to take advantage of. Everything from dog kennels, crates, invisible fences, and dog houses you can find pre-used. Something you would originally pay $300 for, you might find for $50! It really just depends on how diligent you are with looking and what’s available at that time.

Coupons and Savings

There are tons of ways to save using coupons and autoship options. Naturally, this depends on what you’re buying. However, if you frequently have to replace certain items, such as dog food, entertainment boxes, or anything else, you can save a few bucks every month.

Conclusion

Now, you understand more about the overall cost associated with owning an Alaskan Malamute in particular. Keep in mind that all of these prices are averages, and actual cost will vary, depending on a variety of factors as we discussed.

Alaskan Malamutes can be such a rewarding experience. You just have to make sure that you’re capable of handling the financial burden associated with overall care.

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Featured Image Credit: Hanna Borysenko, Shutterstock