Animation Source Forums

Exactly...
Animated characters have the essence of a certain animal(s) or breed(s) but they're not exactly like anything, and not supposed to be. When it comes to two similar-ish breeds like Husky and Malamute, which can each have plenty of variation within itself, and a cartoon dog, it can be sort of pointless to say with certainty that the character is literally one or the other.
Someone could look at Steele as either of those dogs (or even a very weird Dachshund, if you pleased, since we must admit that physically he's just a drawing, not a living creature with living ancestors) without necessarily being wrong. Or that's how I feel anyway..

I never claimed to be an expert and I wasn't trying to be high and mighty but in no way did I bend or pull any information. I'm not a child. I am a full adult who recreationally sleds with my dogs. You don't need to be an expert to know the differences between a husky and a malamute. I stated before, I don't care what breed the animators wanted Steele to be, all I was doing was pointing out the stuff that was wrong in the real dog world that people are claiming as facts. I know malamutes very well and a lot of the things people were claiming on here were just absolutely untrue and there is no bending of that information.

In real life, malamutes will never have blue eyes. In real life malamutes are not used in speed races because they were bred for freight hauling and strength. You just don't see malamutes in speed races. Even in the Iditarod mals are rare and that isn't even a speed race. It is basically a trot the entire way but still mals are a rare sight.

I know the breed standards, I know show quality dogs compared to pets. I know the difference between a mal and a husky. If that makes me seem high and mighty it is probably because I am older than most people here and I'm telling the real truth about the real life dogs and not just going by what I want to believe like a lot of people.

If anyone has any doubts they can email the AKC, they can email the malamute club of america. Talk to a real musher. They will say the exact same things I am saying because there is no doubting it.

Once again just to make it clear, the people who made the movie might of wanted Steele to be a mal, and that is fine because it is just a cartoon and they changed a lot of the real story anyway. All I am saying is there is a difference between movies and the real facts about real dogs that people have made on here. If you want to believe it is a mal that is ok, but once you start saying you believe hes a mal because that is the way a mal is in real life, then to me that is entirely different.

This can all be solved by one older post.

That dog is the spitting image of Steele. I'm surprised nobody caught this sooner. Look at the intimidating blue eyes, the black patches around the eyes, the straight legs, the markings on its back, the white slit on the forehead, and the wide tail.

Now look at these Malamute pics:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/alaskanmalamutephotos.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/alaskanmalamutephotos2.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/alaskanmalamutephotos3.htm
Not a single one looks like Steele. They have similar fur color, and a slightly similar physique, but it ends there.

Well he is an Alaskan Malimute not a husky and I don't think huskies can be that big. I read that huskies are pretty small for sled-dogs somewhere.

I just wanted to clear up the issue about Scar: Lions can have black manes. I watched a TV special about lions that explained this, and lions that have relatively easy lives in comparison to others will develop black manes. This is generally an indication that the lion in question is the leader of a large and successful pride because the lionesses do all the work, leaving the dominant male with few duties and all the privileges (ie, being the first to eat and entitled to the biggest portion of the kill). In "The Lion King," this could apply because Scar seems to lead a very boring, though easy, life because everything is taken care of by Mufasa, who seems to take a more active role in the pride than most "lion kings" do in real life, and Scar doesn't really have a "job" or really much responsibility at all in the pride, yet he probably is still well-fed because as the brother of the "king" he would be the equivalent of a "prince". Though the aniamtors probably gave Scar a black mane mainly as a stylization to make him look more "evil," it could theoretically be possible if the lions of the Pridelands were a real pride.

(Image found on Google.)

Back on topic: As BetaWolf pointed out, Steele has the physique/body-type of a Husky, but is much bigger, which suggests the weight of a Malamute. Yeah, this is the most likely explanation for his size. I always thought he was a Malamute, but now that I see all the evidence put together, I'd definitely have to say he's a husky, or a "husky on steroids" (LOL!) as Letranger said.
Well, Malamutes can have blue eyes, but it is a disqualifying trait for being shown in conformation shows. The AKC Breed standard that they offer online says "Eyes are brown, almond shaped and of medium size. Dark eyes are preferred. Blue Eyes are a Disqualifying Fault" link. I'm not trying to say that you don't know malamutes (I think it's really cool that you're a recreational musher, by the way. I want to do that someday.), I'm just saying that it seems like it's not impossible for one to have blue eyes, just not very desireable. But you're TOTALLY right about Malamutes not being used for speed races! I've never thought about that in relation to Steele, but I've known it for a long time. I'm really glad you pointed that out! Steele is all about speed, so I'm pretty sure he's not a Malamute.

Anyway, I'm sure this debate is going to go on forever no matter how much evidence we pile up. In the end, it is just a cartoon.

It was shown in the movie that he had to snap at another dog in the opposing team's heels to get ahead, so that means Steele wasn't exactly fast.

He's a dog. End of story.

Indeedy he is! Although some sort of husky-like racing breed. Note that husky-like includes malamutes etc etc.

Here is the picture that I used on a post several months ago about blue-eyed Malamutes. I would also like everyone else to pay attention to the eyes of other characters in the movies. Compared to those, Steele's "eye concern" is nothing.

The white of Balto's eyes is yellow, and his irises are orange. NEVER been seen on a real dog, wolf, or wolfdog before. The white of Aleu's eyes is yellow, and her irises are blue. Again, NEVER been seen.

I also want people to start thinking logically. First of all, this is an animated movie, which means they are allowed to make mistakes. Second, since they are allowed mistakes, a Malamute can run on a sled team (even though they don't as some people claim). Third, Steele's design is just TOO muscular to try to pass of as a Husky! I say he's a Mal.

LOL--yes, Steele is a dog! Wise answer.

Seriously though....



Those are excellent points. They can not only make mistakes, they can create characters however they please and have them do whatever they like! The nitpicking over which breed he is gets kinda tedious.

The "blue-eyed Malamute" in that picture is actually a Husky, anyway, though. I remember that pic. It's all been said--Mals could have blue eyes, but it's a disqualifying fault that indicates they have Husky somewhere in them...yeah.

Can I just point out that we have more "evidence" that Steele is a Husky?

He could be a Malamute because...
He is big.

He could be a Husky because...
He has blue eyes.
He doesn't have the build of a Malamute (while they are bigger, they don't have a slender build like Steele, and are more "fluffy" all over). So really, we have nothing to prove when we say he's a Malamute.
He wanted to get together with Jenna, who is most definitely a Siberian Husky.
The official sticker book said he was a Husky.

Alternatively, he could be a mix because...
He's bigger than a Husky but smaller than a Malamute.

I've probably forgotten some, but you get the idea.

Slender? He's not slender at all. He's got a muscular build. And Malamutes aren't usually fluffy, but some are. Idk if we'll ever really find out what he is, though . It would be better if it was said straight from the mouth of one of the people who worked on the film...like from a video or something.