Why Do You Want a Malamute?

Alaskan Malamute

Think you want one? Please think again.
And then ask yourself why.

"They'd be great protection." They are not, by nature, a vicious dog and attempts to change nature most often end with disastrous results. A number of other breeds are better suited for guarding and protecting.

"They look like wolves." All dogs descended from the wolf and although many northern working dogs have retained the wolfish qualities for survival reasons, they are not wolves. If you're looking to run with wolves, you'd best stick to your books, movies and dreams.

"They could pull a sled for me." Indeed - with a lot of training. Northern dogs are not born with an inherent knowledge of the human expectations for a sled dog. While many pull by nature, they do not have a sense of the human definition of left, right, slow, ignore it and keep going, or stop. A working dog is not a machine.

"They're intelligent." Most definitely. But intelligent beings are easily bored and Mals are no exception. They remind me of ADHD kids. If they like what they're doing, they'll do it for hours - constructive or destructive - but if they don't, they'll be restless and annoying until they find something that interests them. They are also incredibly stubborn. If they don't see anything in it for them, they're not apt to want to do it.

"They move with such grace." The key word there is move. Mals know two speeds - go and stop. They want to go more than they want to be stopped. Do you have room for one? Inside, believe it or not, they are incredibly agile for their size. Mine does laps around the dining room table (because he knows it take two people to catch him if he does this) without bumping or knocking over a single thing. These dogs require far more than a few walks around the block. Walks totaling five miles a day barely keeps mine satisfied. If you don't have room for a large, secure pen (yard size, not crate size), with a non-chewable fencing material, with a buried or bermed lower edge, you'll need to make arrangements with an establishment that can offer that four or five times a week, at least. Mals hate to be tied for long. (Who doesn't?) No leash law in your area? I still wouldn't let a Mal loose. Although they tend to be a bit calmer in nature than their slightly smaller cousin, the Siberian Husky, they will still run for miles and miles and miles - if they don't meet with a moving vehicle first. And if your dog is caught running with deer, s/he can be legally shot and killed by a warden or law officer. It is a safety issue to keep your Mal contained. Some can be trained to walk off-lead but those tend to be the exception rather than the rule. The two things about owning a Mal that can be most tiring are keeping him/her exercised and keeping him/her safe. If this is more work than you are prepared for, you should consider a different breed. And please consider it BEFORE you acquire the dog. Dogs are not homes or vehicles. You can't just move or sell it if you feel you made a mistake. When you acquire a pet, you have a moral obligation to that life for the duration of its life.

Malamutes are ruled by the old code of dogs. (If you love retrievers, Mals will probably drive you nuts.) Alpha status is something the human must always retain and to do so usually requires a change in the human's behavior. It must be an inherent behavior that says, "Watch me, follow me." It is not something learned and established with a few weeks of obedience training. Life is always lead or be lead. If you don't take the lead with your Mal, s/he will rule your life. A successful leader uses gentle but firm actions, few words, and absolutely no abuse what-so-ever. You need to act the way an alpha dog acts and that means you'll probably need more training than the dog - but if you're willing to make the commitment, it's more than worth it.

Once you've made the commitment, expect your human friends to think you've lost your mind. You'll make concessions for this creature you probably wouldn't make for another human, even your own child. I've rearranged my life countless times for my Mal and sometimes I honestly believe he knows this and is grateful. It's a fleeting moment, though, and soon he's off acting like he's the only one that matters in the world.

Malamutes like to chew. They can usually be persuaded to leave furniture and shoes alone if there is an endless supply of sturdy toys and rawhide bones/chewies. (And you thought kids were spoiled?) Mine likes tennis balls but prefers to bounce and catch them himself. Fetch is not a game Mals seem to be interested it, at least not the return trip part. They will, however, chase another dog that is fetching and retrieving a ball. (Exercise two dogs with one ball.)

They tend to be quiet, unless they have something to say. Their vocabulary ranges from howls to Chewbacca wails (Star Wars) to barking and when they want you to listen to them, they'll speak - as loud as they believe necessary to be adequately heard - regardless of where they are or what time.

Still determined to bring one into your fold? You're in good company - welcome aboard.


I can divine for water.........		.........see?


"It's a tight squeeze, but I did it - see?"		"I'm sitting. Now hurry up and take the picture."


"Well?"		"OK, I was still for 2 seconds so you could take my picture. Can we go now?"


bird watching		pond gazing