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 Owning
an Alaskan Malamute
The Alaskan Malamute is an
arctic sledding and hunting dog. They are very attractive but can be a
challenge to own and are not suitable for everyone. They require an owner who
has a very good understanding and respect for the origins, traits and needs of
the breed.
The Malamute's strongly
entrenched survival instincts include hunting, digging, being competitive with
other dogs, eating just about anything and pulling very hard on lead.
Being a large, strong and
sometimes exuberant breed, they are not suitable as a children’s dog or for the
elderly. The Malamute is by no means the ideal family pet, there are many other
breeds of dog much more suited for that.
They are useless as a guard
dog as they love all people, but their friendliness often does not extend to
other animals.
Before you get an Alaskan
Malamute
When choosing a dog you need
to consider if the breed is going to suit your lifestyle, and if your family is
going to be able to cope with the needs and traits typical of that breed.
Owning an Alaskan Malamute is
a decision that must not be made without a great deal of consideration, research
and objectivity. If you are a fit active person and love plenty of outdoor
activities in which a dog can participate, you may find it very rewarding to own
an Alaskan Malamute.
Be realistic: if you are not
going to be able to provide a caring and suitable long-term home, please don't
get a Malamute just because it “looks good”.
 What
to expect from the Alaskan Malamute
Be
aware that the Alaskan Malamute is quite likely to:
· dig
up your lawn and garden
· not
be friendly towards other pets
· require
very good fencing and strong gates
· be
very intelligent, but not necessarily obedient
· be
difficult to train
· pull
on lead
· run
away if let off lead, not come when called
· be
too strong for children or the elderly to walk
· hunt
other animals
· not
be friendly to other dogs, particularly those of the same sex
· require
a lot of exercise, obedience training and mental stimulus
· do
just about anything for food
· shed
massive amounts of hair at certain times
· need
a lot of brushing but not much washing
· be
friendly and happy to greet all people
·
not be a good guard dog
·
not bark, but occasionally howl
·
require an owner that
understands the breed and is firm but fair.
Of course each dog is
different - not all Malamutes will display all of the above behaviours and there
can always be the odd exception to the rule. However, if you are not prepared
to have a dog that does any of the above, then the Alaskan Malamute might not be
the breed for you.
Be aware that young puppies
may not display these behaviours or traits, however as the Malamute matures it
is very likely that most of these behaviours will develop.
Things you need
to consider:
· Are
you going to be able to provide a permanent home for the Malamute?
· Are
you financially able to support a large dog? Take into account feeding,
worming, registering, vet bills etc.
· Do
you have time to exercise a Malamute every day?
· Are
you fit enough to cope with a large, strong dog and will you be able to walk it?
· Are
you confident with large dogs? The Malamute needs a firm owner they can
respect.
· If
you have another dog, are the two going to get along?
· Do
you own your own home, have a reasonably big yard with excellent fencing and
good gates?
· Are
you prepared to always walk your dog on lead?
· Are
you prepared to put up with a dog that may do some extensive “garden
remodelling”?
Purchasing a Puppy
It is important that any pet
dog is healthy, has a good temperament and is at minimal risk of hereditary
defects.
Any purebred puppy should
only be purchased from a reputable and responsible breeder, even if it is just
to be a family pet. These breeders will keep the mother and litter mates
together until at least 8 weeks old, be very discerning about where their
puppies go, will have done the necessary hereditary disease testing and will
have pedigree papers and other documentation about the puppy and its background.
Paying a bit extra for a
puppy from a reputable breeder is money well spent and could save you from
costly health and temperament problems later on. Read the articles on health
problems, selecting a breeder and puppy in the AMCV information pack for more
details.
If you already have a dog
or other animals
Dogs:
Be aware that Malamutes are not always friendly towards other dogs. If you
already have a dog, we strongly recommend you get a Malamute of the opposite
sex. The Malamute may well need to be separated from your other dog(s) at
feeding times to avoid fights.
Cats & Other
Animals:
Malamutes and cats can co-exist quite happily in many cases, and
most often do when the Malamute is brought up with the cat from puppyhood.
However be cautious if you are adopting an older Malamute it may well think the
family puss is something to be hunted.
Malamutes cannot be trusted
around livestock or wildlife, and will not always come when called. If you have
caged animals make sure the cages are strong and in a confined area away from
the Malamute.
Activities for the
Malamute
Being a working dog, owners
must be prepared to spend plenty of time exercising their Malamute. Malamutes
love to satisfy their natural heritage and working instincts with activities
such as sledding, weight-pulling and backpacking.
Malamutes are not suited to
guard work or any activity that involves being off-lead. The Malamute enjoys
and needs obedience training, however they may well not achieve high standards
in this activity.
Further Information
If you would like
more information about the Alaskan Malamute, purchasing a puppy or adopting a
dog please phone Sandy or Ralph on (03) 9714 8540, or contact us by email to
amcv@bigpond.com.
Written for the AMCV Inc.
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ALASKAN
MALAMUTE CLUB