The Things You Have To Put Up With
- Malamutes are explorers. Some are also very skilled escape-artists. When they are not in the company of people (and sometimes even when they are)
they get wanderlust and will happily wander off adventuring and exploring. They will also happily link up with any people they meet. Malamutes are
very curious dogs and usually must meet every dog and person, check out every other animal, and inspect every nook and cranny.
- Malamutes take a lot of time and attention. They will absolutely insist on having a deep, meaningful relationship with you. Malamutes also require a lot
of exercise. Malamutes that are ignored and not given an outlet for their tremendous reserves of energy, will become bored, frustrated, and eventually destructive.
- They shed fur. Although they are supposed to shed twice a year, many I know (like mine) shed constantly. Although Malamutes are basically outdoor
dogs, they love to be inside the house too - basically wherever you go, they will follow. Prepare to vacuum - a lot. Also, there is a lot of grooming.
- Some Malamutes will randomly landscape your garden even if you didn't ask for it. Mine don't do this although they did do it a bit as pups. I believe it is important
to burn off excess energy with activities. Apparently some Malamutes like to dig holes to lie in them in summer as it keeps them cool.
- Some Malamutes are loud and noisy but usually only when there is a reason to be. They talk a lot - they actually rarely bark although they can.
The more of them you have, the worse it can get because when one starts, they tend to all sing together like a choir - sometimes in harmony but more often not.
It is a wonderful sound the first few times but your neighbours may not appreciate it at all. Note that this doesn't make them good guard dogs. In fact they are
hopeless guard dogs - see Malamute Myths.
- Malamutes can be extremely stubborn and headstrong. Some Malamutes with very strong alpha tendencies can also be a real handful if you do not show
authority - they will constantly challenge you and must be continually put in their place. Malamutes tend to be independently minded.
- Malamutes have a strong instinct to kill livestock and small animals that are not dogs. This can include cats if they are not brought up with them.
- Malamutes can be a real handful to walk when in the company of other dogs. What makes them good sled dogs - their competitiveness - also makes them
prone to pull on the leash to maintain a lead over all other dogs. They are usually fine to walk alone.
- Malamutes are big, and physically powerful dogs. This means that if you need to manhandle them, you need to know what to do and have the strength to do it.
One example is if your Malamute is attacked by another big and powerful dog. Although Malamutes will rarely provoke a fight (most are just too damn friendly),
if attacked, they will usually defend themselves. Malamutes tend to ignore attacks by small dogs although they will sit on them if they are particularly aggressive and do
something stupid like bite your Malamute's nose. If you cannot restrain your dogs when they are attacked, it might get messy. For a bit of fun, try restraining two...
- Malamutes can be a bit overbearing to some people and other dogs. For example, visitors to your house can expect to be licked all over, sniffed long and hard in the
crotch and up their bum, and possibly jumped on if your dog is very excited and not well trained (a big Malamute jumping up and putting its paws on a small or elderly
person's shoulders could bowl that person over). Some small dogs also do not like Malamutes because they look big and scary. Furthermore, these dogs sometimes get fearfully aggressive
when surrounded by two or more inquisitive Malamutes even though the Malamutes might just want to play. As Malamutes somewhat resemble wolves and are big dogs, some people
get plain scared when they see them. One, two, three or more Malamutes barrelling towards you at full speed can also be a little intimidating.
What Makes It All Worthwhile
- Malamutes absolutely love people. They will follow people everywhere and are extremely affectionate, cute,
and also often very amusing. They also like to physically express their affection by pawing you, rolling
over for tummy-rubs, and licking you. They are also very alert and responsive to hugs and kisses.
- Malamutes are smart - when they want to be. When properly trained they can even excel in obedience.
- Malamutes have personality - lots of it. They are very individual dogs with sometimes almost human-like personalities.
- Malamutes love the outdoors. If you are an outdoor person, they will happily partake in whatever activities you do.
Although Malamutes love to walk, backpack, pull sleds, etc., they will also happily canoe, fish, or do just about anything else as
long as it involves you.
- Malamutes love to be part of the family. In fact if there is one thing that will really upset a Malamute, it is being left
out of the fun. They like to join in and go wherever you go, do whatever you do.
- Malamutes are great for picking up members of the opposite sex - especially girls. They are very attractive animals with
lovely faces and charming personalities and will usually draw people over for a chat.
- Malamutes are great with children. Although some alpha Malamutes need to learn that children are also humans and hence still above them
in the pack hierarchy, they are generally very fond and tolerant of children, even when those children innocently poke them, annoy them, pull their
fur etc. For these reasons however, you should still always supervise children and Malamutes (any dogs really) together. If you have more than one dog
and your Malamute is wrestling with another dog, it may knock a small child over unintentionally. Malamutes truly do not know their own strength.
They will paw you affectionately and in doing so, rip a hole in your clothing. I know one person whose Malamute gave him a bleeding nose by
unintentionally headbutting him in the face!
- Malamutes make great house dogs and apart from their shedding which can't be helped, they are exceptionally clean dogs. They lick themselves
clean in a manner similar to cats, are usually housetrained in half the time taken by other breeds, and their coats have an amazing ability to
self-clean. A Malamute covered in mud, can be clean the next day. Once the mud dries, it usually falls off with a shake. There is no substitute for
grooming however.
- Although Malamutes can be noisy when they want to be, they are usually very quiet. In particular, unlike some other dogs, they do not incessantly
bark for no reason. I personally also find their talking to be a pleasing sound to the ear. The howling can be pretty loud though. Malamutes will
usually only howl when particularly excited, frustrated, or when another dog howls. Some Malamutes also howl at the sound of sirens.
- Like a lot of big dogs, Malamutes are usually pretty mellow. Although they can get excited, they are usually happy to lie around. As long as they
have a chance to burn off excess energy, they make contented and peaceful companions. Unlike a lot of the herding breeds, Malamutes are happy to laze
around after their daily doses of activity - they are not hyperactive like some breeds.
