Alaskan Malamute - Does anyone have experience of the breed? Questions

Agree with the others research and meet this breed is a must, don't just go to see one breeder and come home with a puppy big mistake.

We researched the breed for 2 years before we even asked to go on any waiting list and then waited another 2 year for the puppy, while waiting we went to as many rallies as possible and met as many owners, breeders and dogs as possible. You really need to get up and personal with this breed before you make a decision.

I totally agree with what has been said by other malamute owners, you need to research then research again, speak to as many breeders and owners as you can, go to the shows, fundays etc and meet and play with the dogs.
I have 2 Alaskan Malamutes, they are the most loving and loyal dogs I have ever owned. They are very quick to learn, but once they've learnt it, they don't always want to do it again. Mine were housetrained within a few weeks, they do howl, especially at sirens.
Don't expect to find a good breeder on your doorstep, be prepared to travel, it's worth it. It may also be worth your daughter looking at a rescue dog, joining the malamute forum will give her alot of help and tips.

good advice been given, and agree with it all, esp the bit about meeting other mally owners, at shows and rallys, and going on the forum- really helpful

Well done guys.... all good advice.

You know I always when asked about my breed, is to pile on the negatives.... I will labor then, trying not to miss anything out, if people are still interested after that, then I will go on to the good points.

For me you are doing the dogs and the prospect new owners a service,,, by listing the negative first... we can all get carried away with what we like in a breed...but if anything anyone says about any breed, puts a slight doubt in your mind... then they are more than likely not the breed for you.

Mals are stunning dogs, I love the look of them, but I know they will never be a breed for me...

I think when we are looking for a new bred, we should be 100% honest with ourselves... after all these dogs if they live a long happy life , will be with us for 10/12/13 yrs...

So we need to make sure , we know what we are in for.

So do your reseach, ask those who own the breed, and like already mentioned, visit as many shows as poss... nothing like being surrounded by the breed you fancy to see if they are for you.

LOL>>Ok Jackie you asked for it

The howlllll..well no..they Wooooo wooooo woooo

They did HUGE holes in your garden

They escape if they can (under or over fences)

They can't be let of lead unless you REALLY put the effort into training them

They can be destructive, (Lola ate my curtains!!)

They can be aggressive with same sex dogs

They can be harder to train (or maybe that should be different to train)

They are very brainy (yes that can be a bad thing!)

They can eat tea towels and toys and socks..(ask Mo about Aspen)

They play fight like a boxing match

They LOVE food

They are loyal to whoever has the biscuits

They are not guard dogs (unless its over the biscuits)

They lie behind you and trip you up at every opportunity..

They will challenge mostly every 2nd thing you say

They will leave you covered in fur..it will be in your coffee..in your sandwich..in your bed..on your curtains..

They will blow their coat big style once/twice a year and if you thought it was a hairy house before..you aint seen nothing yet..(could be worse though..you could want a Samoyed!)

Ummmm can't think of anything else..but I am sure there are more..

OOOhh did someone mention they can be destructive? heres the result of two 10 month olds entertaining themselves for a couple of hours.




mo

Hmm and a little job our Bailey has been working on for a few years, (everytime the girls come into season a little bit more gets whittled off.


Mo

On a positive note this is how they normally are lol

Mo

I do not beleive for one minute ickle Timber and Savvy did that to the sofa.. I am sure it was Terry that was missing you xx

Well I knew there where reasons, they are not for me

Mind I have a Boxer here, who likes to eat tea towels,and socks

LOL Our Aspen, the latest addition is now 9 monbths old and up to now had TWO operations to remove firstly a full rope tug at the age of 12 weeks and the other month a dish cloth along with little peices of a hard plastic ball, she has cost nearly £1,000 in vet bills, all cloth,sock.towels etc are banned from this house lol.

mo

I count myself lucky then , Bandit usually passes his through

When in kennels a few wks back, (we where on holiday) the first thing the owner of the kennels said when we got back was..........Bandit had poo`d a pair of knickers

Thanks to all of you for your great advice. My daughter met up with a mal owner, she looked at all your replies and agreed with them all. The pictures are really fantastic, actually, they remind me of my retriever when he was young. The damage he did, well my husband (who bought me the pup) said its me or him. After twelve years I am happy to report that I still have them both. Anyway, they have decided that this breed is not for them at this time. They feel that they do not have the time they need to devote themselves to the training and wellbeing of a Mal. But in the future they really look forward to owning one.
Once again a great thank you to you all, but for you they might have a great mistake, for them and for the dog itself.

Thank you for letting us know, they sound like lovely, sensible people - if only more prospective owners were as concientious and did their research. I wish them well and in time they will get a dog that suits them and their current lifestlye and possibly even a Mal in the future

Excellent to hear they made an educated sensible decision. Like you say, hopefully they will be able to have one in the future when the time is right for them.

Glad you hear your daughter could make an educated decision, all too often people are blinded by the looks of the breed, and realise too late that they are not for them, good luck to your daughter on finding the right breed that suits their lifestyle.

Mo

Our malamute is 2 and she loves people, but other small animals are a different matter.
She can see through the fence at the top of our garden into the field where people walk thier dogs. As soon as she hears another dog in the field she races up there leaps at the fence and starts barking. I call her back and she comes running down the garden with a big grin on her face as if to say look I`ve scared them off.
Children are a different matter, they stand behind the fence and call her, she races up and they put thier hands through the bars and start fussing her. I tell them not to as she could bite them but they still do it.
She is a wounderful dog, she has a great charater, but she is nuts.