🧳Travelling with a Alaskan Malamute: car, crate and rules

Alaskan Malamute : Plan on a size L/XL reinforced metal crate: its power destroys fabric crates. With unreliable recall and considerable strength, a sturdy long line remains the rule outside enclosed areas.

In short: Large dog, 58 to 66 cm and 34 to 43 kg, thick arctic coat with woolly undercoat, high energy and great pulling power. Powerful, independent and sometimes stubborn, friendly with people but pushy with other dogs. Built to haul heavy loads at a walking pace: its pulling power defeats fabric crates and unburied fencing alike.

In the car with a Alaskan Malamute

At 34 to 43 kg, the only genuinely safe option is a crash-tested crate of about 105 cm secured in the boot — failing that, a solid partition grille. An unrestrained dog of this weight becomes a projectile under braking — and a possible fine for distracted driving.

Trains, planes, holidays

Too big for the cabin, the Alaskan Malamute flies in the pressurised hold in an IATA-approved crate — an ordeal to reserve for unavoidable trips. On trains, a muzzle and lead meet the rules. Plan the habituation: a Alaskan Malamute that eats and naps in its open crate at home will treat it as a den, not a trap.

Identification and good habits

Before any departure, check the trio: microchip, up-to-date vaccines and an EU passport for trips abroad. In warm weather a Alaskan Malamute never stays in a parked car: fifteen minutes is enough for tragedy.

Frequently asked questions

What crate size for a Alaskan Malamute?

The rule: roughly 105 cm, i.e. room to stand and turn without contortion. For air travel, check the specific model’s IATA approval.

Can a Alaskan Malamute fly in the cabin?

No, it exceeds the cabin limit (8 kg including the bag): it travels in the pressurised hold in an IATA crate — avoid it when you can.

The guides that apply to you

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• Microchip or tattoo: which ID actually gets a lost dog home?

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