Animation Source Forums

I'm sold on the fact that Steele is a malamute.

He is a large dog, has a curled tail, relies on brute strength (malamutes are bred for heavy freights) and has appropriate markings.

It's very likely that the artists used a malamute as a model for Steele.

A husky CAN be as big as Steele. Just because you never seen a husky as big as him, doesn't mean there isn't any. I've seen a dog as big as Steele. And YES, a Siberian Husky can have a curled tail, and thick fur!!! :O

And why do people keep making topics like this?

GRRRRR. I'm SICK of these posts.

Every time one is settled another pops up.

Sorry to flame.. but's just so ANNOYING.

Steele is a Siberian Husky. In the official Merlin sticker album story, it says something like he's a champion husky.

End of story. But in truth, in doesn't MATTER. Who cares if he's a husky or a malamute or even a Beagle?? It's an animated movie for children. I'm sure kids aren't going to question what breed he is. They just know that he's a villian and that's it.

May be half Siberian husky,and half Malamute ;D

I think he is a malamute. But do malamutes Race dog sleds?

yes. originally bred for use as an Alaskan sleddog.

I agree...though the argument must get rather tiresome. No animated dog is going to look precisely like any real dog or breed...

Huskies were for sled dog racing since racing requires very minimal weight. Basically the weight of the rider, the sled, and a minimal number of supplies.

Malamutes were bred for heavy freighting carrying immense weight at a leisurely pace. Malamutes are all strength and stamina, not speed and stamina. Though you could use a Malamute it is not nearly as practical for racing. Malamutes are not meant to race speed races. They could be used for something like the Iditarod because with the length of the race the dogs pretty much do the entire race at a trot. Although mushers still prefer the mid range huskies.

I know it is an animated film and I know Hollywood is going to change facts around like they always do when they tell a story and I don't mind that at all. I really could care less what breed people think the dogs are however when I see people throwing around real world "facts" about malamutes and huskies as proof then I have a problem with it because 90 percent of the stuff I see on here about Malamutes has been completely wrong.

I don't care about being right and I don't want to argue. If you believe the dog is a Malamute I have no problem with that. But when you say you believe he is a Malamute because in real life Malamutes can have blue eyes, that is when I step in. To correct the false stuff. Someone simply stated something about being a racing dog so I gave an answer on the true reason of sled pulling behind each breed. I never said anything about what breed Steele was because I don't care.

Everyone is entitled to ther own opinion but with all the facts about Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes. Steele is def a oversized Siberian husky, like all breeds huskies can have a couple OVERSIZED dogs. Alaskan Malamutes dont have blue eyes only huskies. and huskies curl their tails over their backs too and certain times. Malamutes arent shorter than huskies they are generally bigger more bulky. huskies are smaller. And malamutes are generally used as wheel dogs in mushing becasue they are so strong. so I believe that Steele is just a really big SIBERIAN HUSKY.