Alaskan Malamutes
- Thread starter CedarGSD
- Start date
I researched this breed in the course of my dog selection, including going to visit a few breeders, attending shows and talking with owners on message boards, on the street etc.
The general message I got was that they are extremely heavy shedders (like garbage bags full in shedding season), they can be hard to train because they are very independent, some are cuddle bugs/most aloof. Most are highly dog aggressive and I didn’t meet one owner who said they would trust them off leach. They also said they are prey driven, so no cats or small dogs etc.
I met a few that were docile and sweet, and others who were quite intimidating.
Overall I was still in awe of their size and beauty and think that in the right home they would be wonderful. They are very smart, not barky – although some do the “woo woo” or howl. The ones I met were all friendly with people.
I hope someone can address their workability. Since that’s not my forte I didn’t ask too many questions, but I’m sure they are spectacular athletes in their own right.
At the end of the day I had to accept that they weren’t the right dog for me, but I’m sure they are the perfect dog for many!
The general message I got was that they are extremely heavy shedders (like garbage bags full in shedding season), they can be hard to train because they are very independent, some are cuddle bugs/most aloof. Most are highly dog aggressive and I didn’t meet one owner who said they would trust them off leach. They also said they are prey driven, so no cats or small dogs etc.
I met a few that were docile and sweet, and others who were quite intimidating.
Overall I was still in awe of their size and beauty and think that in the right home they would be wonderful. They are very smart, not barky – although some do the “woo woo” or howl. The ones I met were all friendly with people.
I hope someone can address their workability. Since that’s not my forte I didn’t ask too many questions, but I’m sure they are spectacular athletes in their own right.
At the end of the day I had to accept that they weren’t the right dog for me, but I’m sure they are the perfect dog for many!
I don't know much of anything, so hopefully someone else will chime in. 
Truly, though, this may be my 'very favorite breed that is just not for me'! I think malamutes are awesome. A couple that I have met have had these amazing, very self-confident but not aggressive personalities. An example of a dog I met in a DP -- another dog was acting like a jerk, getting in his face and being totally obnoxious; the malamute just ignored the other dog. When the rude dog got to be too much, he snarked, but didn't get upset, and went on his way. He got along great with the other dogs (though I also noticed in the DP that the malamutes and huskies mostly played with each other -- for some reason one of the DPs we went to had a lot of the northern breeds. They were all rough players!).
They aren't for me primarily because of the tremendous amount of exercise they require and because of their prey drive. I've also heard that they can be stubborn but are very smart.
Truly, though, this may be my 'very favorite breed that is just not for me'! I think malamutes are awesome. A couple that I have met have had these amazing, very self-confident but not aggressive personalities. An example of a dog I met in a DP -- another dog was acting like a jerk, getting in his face and being totally obnoxious; the malamute just ignored the other dog. When the rude dog got to be too much, he snarked, but didn't get upset, and went on his way. He got along great with the other dogs (though I also noticed in the DP that the malamutes and huskies mostly played with each other -- for some reason one of the DPs we went to had a lot of the northern breeds. They were all rough players!).
They aren't for me primarily because of the tremendous amount of exercise they require and because of their prey drive. I've also heard that they can be stubborn but are very smart.
They shouldn't be dog aggressive...remember they
were bred to pull sheds with other malamutes.
Sounds more like bad breeding. It is true that they
can have high prey drive, but they can live with cats
and small dogs. Siberian huskies also have high prey
drive, mine lives with 4 small dogs. All of them are
under 15 pounds. He also has lived with a cat, with
no problems.
were bred to pull sheds with other malamutes.
Sounds more like bad breeding. It is true that they
can have high prey drive, but they can live with cats
and small dogs. Siberian huskies also have high prey
drive, mine lives with 4 small dogs. All of them are
under 15 pounds. He also has lived with a cat, with
no problems.
They are tight with those within their pack, but can be dog-agressive to outsiders. So yes they have no problem working in teams with their own pack members but bring a new dog in and some hair is gonna be raised.
If they are raised with small dogs/cats some can learn to live in peace with them but introduce late to an adult and there is a good chance that that prey instinct will kick in. Sometimes even after growing up with small dogs/cats, later on in life the prey instinct does kick in and Mals have been known to go after the family cat after all.
If they are raised with small dogs/cats some can learn to live in peace with them but introduce late to an adult and there is a good chance that that prey instinct will kick in. Sometimes even after growing up with small dogs/cats, later on in life the prey instinct does kick in and Mals have been known to go after the family cat after all.
I know one guy who has a Wooly Mal (or longcoated variety) from an apparently good breeder... I don't know a name or anything, so I don't know how reputable they are. The dog has been going to training since a young age, and his owner has been incredibly diligent about it. The dog is a therapy dog, and goes everywhere, all the time. He's amazing. He walks with his owner through Petsmart with the leash draped over his back. He doesn't run, he listens to every command, he's friendly with everybody, and he's extremely docile... His owner has done a TON of work with him, from day one, so he's an exceptional example of the breed... but a great ambassador, none the less.
Here's some vids on Youtube of him. His name is Avalanche! He's a doll
YouTube - Avalanche - "Leave It"
And after he started in weight pull training
YouTube - Avalanche - Malamute pulls car
Here's some vids on Youtube of him. His name is Avalanche! He's a doll
YouTube - Avalanche - "Leave It"
And after he started in weight pull training
YouTube - Avalanche - Malamute pulls car
Malamutes
We had a female for a year or so, had to give her up due to wife's allergies and new baby, so she did not get the time she deserved. Gave her to an older couple that had a house bordering a greenbelt so she had lots of room to run. He called me after a few months and invited us to go see her, which we did and she looked great and happy. Now just about the saddest thing ever happened as we were leaving. She tried to get in the car with us. I got him to take her out back out of sight as we left and we never went back but I am sure she had a full and happy life. In the time we had her she was a great dog and I am sure we would have been happy with her if we could have kept her.
We had a female for a year or so, had to give her up due to wife's allergies and new baby, so she did not get the time she deserved. Gave her to an older couple that had a house bordering a greenbelt so she had lots of room to run. He called me after a few months and invited us to go see her, which we did and she looked great and happy. Now just about the saddest thing ever happened as we were leaving. She tried to get in the car with us. I got him to take her out back out of sight as we left and we never went back but I am sure she had a full and happy life. In the time we had her she was a great dog and I am sure we would have been happy with her if we could have kept her.
