Books

Here is a list of Malamute-related books, journals, and articles that I can recommend (or not).

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Alaskan Malamutes

Alaskan Malamutes
Betsy Sikora Siino
Fantastic recently published book (only 96 pages) packed with lots of information and nice photos. Probably the best book for anyone that just wants something more than a brief introduction.

The Alaskan Malamute: Yesterday and Today
Barbara A. Brooks and Sherry E. Wallis
Recently published book book (305 pages). Wonderful pictures and well-written and layed-out. Has a little depth on most topics. Highly-recommended.

A New Owner's Guide to Alaskan Malamutes
Mary Jane & Al Holabach
Also a great little book (160 pages) and recently published.

The New Complete Alaskan Malamute
Maxwell Riddle and Beth J. Harris
No colour photos and a lot of historical information but still great reading.

This is the Alaskan Malamute
Joan McDonald Brearley
Getting a bit long in the tooth now but very comprehensive (415 pages). Also has a lot of historical information on the breed.

Alaskan Malamutes
Bill Le Kernec
224 pages. Nothing ground breaking and a large chunk of the book is obviously the same text they use for all dog breed-specific books.

Your Alaskan Malamute
Dianne Ross
Nothing to rave about.

Health

Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook
Delbert G. Carlson and James M. Giffin
Good reference to have around in case of emergencies or if you just want to know more about canine medical problems.

Give Your Dog a Bone
Dr. Ian Billinghurst
ISBN 0 646 16028 1
What more can I say? Great book - revolutionary really. Undoubtedly not something that producers of commercial dog food would want you to read. Dog owners all over the world agree with Billinghurst and hell, it just makes so much sense.

The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog
Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown
Excellent and very comprehensive book with information that is pretty hard to find anywhere else.

Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats
Richard H. Pitcairn and Susan Hubble Pitcairn
Interesting reading but not particularly ground-breaking. Not really a reference either but good to round out one's knowledge.

Natural Healing for Dogs
Susanne Bonisch
Small book (only 96 pages) with lots of alternative solutions for medical problems (homeopathy for dogs). I will always try a natural solution before I turn to modern medicine.

Working

A Guide to Backpacking With Your Dog
Charlene G. LaBelle
Almost everything you need to know about backpacking. Charlene is on the Malamute-L list described on this page. Backpacking is a lot of fun and a great outlet for your strong and energetic Malamute. From my experience and that of others, the best packs to get are the Explorer II packs from Wenaha. These packs are tough and have a separate saddle and removable pack. There are a lot of packs out there that are of poor quality and will fall apart after only a few trips. We have used our Explorer II packs a lot and they stand up to the beating that Malamutes will inadvertedly give them just by splashing in water, rubbing along rocks, etc.

MUSH! A Beginner's Manual of Sled Dog Training
Sierra Nevada Dog Drivers, Inc.
Great book on mushing. Has most of the things you would want to know.

Born to Pull
Bob Cary and Gail de Marcken
This book on mushing is written and illustrated more like a children's book. It is not very technical but is a good introduction with lots of colourful illustrations and large text.

The Speed Mushing Manual: How to Train Racing Sled Dogs
Jim Welch
This 127 page book is a handbook for mushing. Concise with mostly black and white illustrations, it as an excellent introduction to the topic.

Alaska Dog Mushing Guide: Facts, Legends & Oddities
Ron Wendt
The title says it all about this tiny 67 page book. Filled with lots of very short (typically one or two page) stories about dog mushing history. Interesting and fascinating reading.

Training

Everyday Dog
Nancy E. Johnson
Good dog training book.

Mother Knows Best
Carol Lea Benjamin
Carol Lea Benjamin is a great author on this topic. BARF is about emulating the natural diet of your dog in the wild. This book is about emulating the natural way your dog would be guided in life by his/her mother.

Dog Training in 10 Minutes
Carol Lea Benjamin
Another good book by Carol Lea Benjamin. Shorter but still extremely useful.

Dog Training - The Gentle Modern Method
David Weston
Malamutes do extremely well with this method of training. This is revolutionary compared to some other archaic methods. There are many dog trainers that train using this method. Clearly set out and lots of good photos.

Your Ideal Dog
David and Ruth Weston
ISBN 1 875657 93 2
More of the same.

Dog Problems - The Gentle Modern Cure
David Weston and Ruth Ross
ISBN 0 947062 95 5
Discussion and solutions to typical problems like jumping up, chewing furniture, etc.

The Art of Raising a Puppy
The Monks of New Skete
Very comprehensive and sensible book.

How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend
The Monks of New Skete
More of the same.

Breeding

Successful Dog Breeding
Chris Walkowicz and Bonnie Wilcox
I found this to be a great book. It is interesting even if you don't intend to breed dogs. It has an introduction to canine genetics and overall is a good reality check for anyone considering breeding. My hat goes off to all those breeders that go through the many trials and tribulations of breeding for the purpose of ensuring the sound future of the Malamute breed.

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