There have been a lot of questions lately to just exactly what breed steele is. Most people think he is a malemute, but hes not, the two breeds are so different.

 Take a look at this malemute for example.

 Now compare this picture to Steele's. This malemute is shorter and stalkier then Steele.

 Howerver this husky is tall enough and large enough to be Steele. 

  The husky and malemute were bred for two different things also. The malemute was large enough and strong enough to pull  a large amount of wait a short distance. The husky, on the other hand, was tall and sleek, yet strong enough to run and pull sleds long distances in a short amout of time.

   Steele is probably a little larger b/c  the animaters wanted him to have the look of a beautiful dog that could be a bully at the same time. Just b/c Steele may have some of the traits of the malemute dose not make him one he is way to tall and small to be a malemute.

  Well this is just my opinion and this is my first article so please post some comments and tell me what you think.

Similar articles :

• Steele and Napoleon
• Steele isn't named randomly...
• Balto beats steele
• Niju and Steele
• Balto DVD case.
• Steele's Name
• Incorrect sizes
• He is a HUSKY!!
• Possible Balto 4
• Something for the Steele lovers...

36 visitors have seen this article (17 this week)

Dragon Tamer, March 22, 2008 at 06: 21 Webranker

I gave up having any opinion on this ages ago, really. He's a amalmute in my fanfics because they used another series with him as a malamute for a springboard, but I think the whole thing is, all in all, rather pointless. Wasn't the message of the movie supposed to be the fact that your ancestry doesn't mean a thing?

jerseycaptain, March 22, 2008 at 07: 43 Member

The question of breeds is only a matter for fan discussion, and not backed up by any documented facts in the Balto cartoon canon. In the end, what breed Steele is (and the other dogs are) really doesn't matter...it's an individual interpretational thing...except in the VERY few cases we can be sure of...Jenna, Dusty, Mel, and the terrier in Balto 2 - respectively: Siberian husky, Siberian husky, Welsh...or perhaps Airdale...Terrier, and Scottish Terrier...which come in more than just black coloration). However, I wonder how you can suggest that the photo of the malamute you posted above is evidence of the dog being "shorter and stockier" than Steele. If you look at Steele standing next to his musher, just after the race at the beginning of the movie, you'll see he's definitely not shorter than the malamute standing next to the handler in that photo. By far. And your information on the purpose of huskies is not correct. They were not bred simply to pull sleds over long distances in a short time. That is an interpretation of the Europeans and Americans who came to recognize huskies from the Siberian stock as good for that purpose. The original lines, however, were bred randomly (and, later, more selectively) by the Chukchi Natives of Siberia out of a cultural need...the same as the other ancient sled dog breeds (Samoyeds, Malamutes, Canadian Eskimo Dogs and Greenland Dogs) - guarding, transportation, companionship, and even some herding (especially in the case of the Samoyed). Leave behind the modern interpretation of show breeders and competition people, and look back at the historical legacy (not that which is a tainted perspective so often SOLD by show breeders and competition people...and by that I mean racers too), and you'll find a much different and, dollars-to-doughnuts, far more historically-accurate story.

Rainy Days, March 23, 2008 at 05: 55 Webranker

Actually, Alaskan Malamutes are taller than Siberian Huskies. Steele could just be a tall Husky. I've seen large Huskies before. But just need to make it clear that Malamutes are larger than Huskies. You have it wrong.

jerseycaptain, March 23, 2008 at 06: 51 Member

Man, you really need to take some attitude adjustment classes, Southpaw. And I suggest you take your own advice too. Because I never said that you said that Steele was shorter than the malamute. I said that you said that the malamute is shorter, by comparison, than Steele given the malamute photograph you provided. Which is exactly what you did. Stop with the sarcasm, and learn to be more diplomatic. AND don't comment back unless you're sure of yourself.

SouthPaw, March 24, 2008 at 00: 48 Member

I admit jersycaptian I was a little hostile but thats because every idea I have you given hostile opinion I love having your comment but man lay off a little please.

Thorn, March 24, 2008 at 19: 27 Member

You do have a good point, but I was reading this dog breed book and it said that huskie's are medium sized dogs while malamute's are large. Since Jenna is a huskey you see a different between her and Steele. But, there are different sizes in huskies so he could be any breed, even inter mixed.

Claymore, March 24, 2008 at 22: 16 Fanart mod

He's a dachshund. End of story. Prove me wrong

Nocturne, March 25, 2008 at 06: 03 Member

aw, I thought these petty bred fights were over. But you do raise a good point. but I just wish all this Steele being a malamute or a husky is starting to get annoying.

Rainy Days, March 25, 2008 at 19: 34 Webranker

Ileu is pretty much right. Its only a dog from an animated movie. Its hard go tell the breed AND it doesn't matter. All we know is that he is a sled dog, and thats all we need to know. These articles and such all about Steele's breed are really annoying, will you guys just stop making them? It only causes fights. >..

SouthPaw, March 26, 2008 at 00: 44 Member

Ok ok man I just neede something stupid and VERY easy to start out with for my first article and this was all I could think of, I know it was VERY DUMB, but man give me a break it was just my first people.

SouthPaw, March 26, 2008 at 23: 47 Member

Thanks for understanding Ileu

canislupus0404, March 28, 2008 at 20: 20 Member

It's a nice article, but the Steele picture you used was'nt a good one to use to distinguish the breed. I am an animal expert, and Steele is a Malamute. I'm sure of it. And, it doesn't matter, really.

SouthPaw, March 29, 2008 at 18: 09 Member

Yea it doosent matter I know but it was just my first so...

letranger, March 30, 2008 at 20: 34 Member

What happened to my comment? Ugh, I hate when they randomly disappear! Anyway, good job for your first article. Still, I agree with those who say that it really does not matter, and I also concur w/ Canislupus0404. I lean more toward Steele being a Malamute. However, I honestly think he could be either, and that a cartoon dog's breed(s) isn't an important point to argue over.

SouthPaw, April 02, 2008 at 23: 20 Member

I have oly written one other one music wolf but this was my VERY first I did the other one way later

aleu45, April 12, 2008 at 22: 43 Member

great article I see your point.

SouthPaw, April 15, 2008 at 20: 01 Member

thank aleu45 nobody has been that nice

Flurrin, April 15, 2008 at 20: 29 Member

He's probably got the blood of both dogs running in his veins. Plus, he's a cartoon.

Rainy Days, April 17, 2008 at 20: 03 Webranker

Steele is a purebred, so he only has one breed running thru his veins. If you watch the movie Balto says "Since when do you need a pedigree to help someone?". Welp, theres your proof Steele is a purebred. 'Nuff said there.

Grey wolf, April 20, 2008 at 13: 36 Member

Steele looks more siberian husky than malamute..

Aniu (awe sha-lou my husky pup, April 20, 2008 at 18: 12 Member

yes well this could be very true! Or he could even be a cross between the two u never no! but good article!!

Rainy Days, April 21, 2008 at 04: 03 Webranker

Obviously people didn't pat attention to the movie. It stated that he was a purebred. >.

SouthPaw, April 30, 2008 at 22: 51 Member

Obviosly you think inside the box the animators may have given him the charaisstics of both dogs but stated he was pure. I dont know this was kinda a stupid first article for me to pick (sorry )

SouthPaw, May 02, 2008 at 23: 40 Member

Thanks Sweet tea!! I agree 100%

WhiteWolf123, May 15, 2008 at 10: 02 Member

Claymore, are you quite alright? Good article, SouthPaw!

SouthPaw, May 21, 2008 at 18: 31 Member

Thanks WhiteWolf123

Dakota The Black Wolf, June 11, 2008 at 03: 15 Member

Have you people noticed, but steele has blue eyes. Blue eyes in a husky means there was cross breeding. Maybe steele could be both, but who knows?

SouthPaw, June 12, 2008 at 19: 32 Member

blue eyes in a husky does NOT mean cross breeding. Blue eyes are quite natural for a pure husky. What huskies are widely known for is there blue eyes.

Riley, June 26, 2008 at 16: 08 Member

Geez I'm getting so sick and tired of this argument. I think it has to be the most common one out there--even worse than the whole Aniu vs the White Wolf thing! I say that he's a malamute because he looks much more like an animated version of a mal than a husky. I made a post on it along time ago with an actualy photo of a malamute with BLUE eyes (to settle the whole "eye color" part of the discussion). Also, I think tht jerseycaptain made a lot of good points. Many people who choose the husky side of this argument base their evidence on the specific jobs of the breed in todays world, and not what they were first used for. I have a dog breed book with little bits of info on the first uses of breeds, and today's uses. The first use for both huskies and mals was PULLING DOG SLEDS. Yes, huskies were used for it back then, but so were malamutes.

SouthPaw, June 27, 2008 at 20: 01 Member

Everyone one knows mals are also used in sled pulling, this is obvious due to thier endurence and strength. Next has nyine taken into consideration Steeles nose? Mals have short, and stout noses and small delicate ears. Another thing, yes this s the most useless topic there is and it's really stupid, BUT it was my VERY FIRST article and I wanted to pick something simple and crazey that I knew eeryone would have something to say, I've said this MANY times so could you be a little less critical

Dakota The Black Wolf, June 30, 2008 at 03: 32 Member

Sorry about the blue eye thing, I gotten the information off of wikipedia. (which now, I HATE that place , it's driving me nuts with their careless infomation!) Now since I am reading many article about the breeds, I mean who cares? But you are trying to prove a point here, and this is your first article, so good job!

SouthPaw, June 30, 2008 at 23: 20 Member

Thanks Dakota

Baltopup16, July 31, 2008 at 01: 03 Member

wow i always thought he was a malamute but your right he is a husky but he is bigger

SouthPaw, July 31, 2008 at 16: 09 Member

thanks Baltopup16

Conception