Alaskan Malamutes: drawbacks? General Chat

My mum and I absolutely love Alaskan Malamutes but we've never seen one in real life before. I've spent a lot of time reading and researching up on them, but I'm afraid I might have blinded myself to any flaws they might have and then realise what they are if/when we ever get one.

What bad points does this breed have? I know they're high maintenance with grooming and exersize, are prone to hip problems and can be aggressive with others dogs, but is there anything else I should be warned and advised about?

The can't be let offlead usually as their instinct is to just ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun and run.

I first heard about that on these boards that certain breeds can't be let off-lead and I'm a little confused about it...Does this mean that you can't even let them off the lead in a public field to play fetch etc? Or is it just while walking down the street? Do they have no ability to learn recall at all?

I have two

I don't think they are at all high maintenance grooming wise - you just have to like hair .... in your dinner, on your clothes, in the bath etc etc - I groom mine less than my Collie or Lab and hoover them daily during shedding.

They are not all dog aggressive - some breeders work hard to find tolerant dogs - mine are both fine and so are many that I know.

They are great fun - what makes you fancy one?

They are very strong dogs - pulling wise and even when well trained can catch you out .... LOL

Some are not good with small pets - mine are OK and I know of a few who live happily with cats

Do you plan to do anything with the dog - they are capable of so much - mine compete in obedience and agility and love every minute of their training - contary to all I read before getting a Mal I have found them to be very trainable dogs.

Worst things about them I can think of are ...

The hair ....
The fact that lots of other dogs DO NOT like them and this can cause problems
Mine are kleptomaniacs


SOME are very very noisy - mine are quiet but some we meet are dreadful for howling and wailing and screaming ... there are more than a couple of owners who have had issues with neighbours because of noise ...

Why not google and find a Malamute forum - you could arrange to meet some in real life - or come along top a rally or show

Have you had dogs before? I don't think they are suited well to first timers...

Some are Ok some aren't - I let my two Malamutes off lead and they will play nicely and come when called.

A lot of it is training but also some comes down to the individual dog and the owners knowledge of the dog ...... some dogs are stubborn and would prefer to sniff and run than return to woner for treats - I am lucky mine are food obsessed and ball obsessed and no matter what else is on offer they will always want my treats that I always carry or the toy.

Every owner knows his/her dog best .... when I got mine I acceoted that I may not be able to allow them off lead and was prepared for that to be the case.
You have to be able to accept the fact that off lead may never happen .

Hi - I met one in the park which played very nicely with my 4 month old puppy. It was off lead - it did go back to the owner eventually, but seemed fine with other dogs.

I've been researching dogs to the point of obsession for the past year. We had a cat for almost 21 years (and I'm almost 22!) and although I loved her to bits I always considered myself to be more of a dog person and I've always wanted to train one.

I find myself drawn to masculine-looking dogs like boxers, great danes, GSDs and others, and dogs with wolf-like appearances appeal to me also. It's just that my mum happens to like malamutes too and when I leave home in a couple of years this will be her dog and I'm just helping her find one, although I'll be taking care of it just as much as her up until I get a house of my own.

I definately feel a good owner makes a good dog, so I'm learning all I can so we have minimal future problems.

I'm afraid the fur thing may put my mum off though, as she found the CAT'S fur annoying, and she wasn't even completely white.

Oh not good then .... with Mals it is like a blizzard when they are shedding!
Maybe wait till you have your own place LOL ... I had to!

Hmm I doubt I'll even be able to get one then as my boyfriend is allergic to most things with fur. He's not allergic to dogs at the moment, but I'm thinking that amount of fur might cause him to be somewhere along the line. Fur only bothers me if i'm wearing a black top lol! But mum's worried about the furniture *sigh*

My boyfriend is very allergic to lots of things and lots of dogs ... but not Mals

seriously? why do you think that is? what are his usual symptoms? my boyfriend gets itchy, red eyes if he gets fur near his face.

The same ... I don't know ... I am allergic to cats but not most dogs ... although I am allergic to Beardies .... I guess it's texture - or maybe just getting used to it?
No idea ....

I take PIRITEZE tablets to help

I have four mals as stated the downside IS hair, recently all four were blowing their coats and it was awful I hoovered at least 4 times a day and still found balls of hair wafting about, my lot are "fairly" well behaved but I dont trust any of them off lead being honest, unless it is in an enclosed area, they just plain and simply throw a deaf un on me, they KNOW they should come back but they JUST dont it dosnt help that they are not very food orientated. mine get on to a degree with other dogs, it depends on the other dogs lol normally if its the same sex they dont get along, but they are great with people and children, we have a cat and they get on OK with her, but I never leave her with them if I am not there (just in case) to me Malamutes are the best breed in the world, they constantly have you laughing with their antics, and in awe of their dignity and beauty. be prepared to be embarrassed by them if you get one as they will always find a way of catching you off guard, especially when out walking them.

Mo

Oh God!!

Synchronised!!!! LOL

Drawbacks??? are there??? where??? when did that happen???

I am not awake unless I have paw prints on my shoulders and a splatttering of fur across me!!!!


Seriously.. I wanted a mal for 18 years.. got a samoyed 7 years ago.. still wanted a mal.. waited nearly 3 years on a list so that I made sure I got a fantastic temprement..and I picked him up in July this year..He is fantastic.. laid back, not chewed anything YET.. he pulls a little on the lead but stops when told..would NEVER let him off the lead though..just me.. I dont trust me not him..He is hairy..he is huge.. he gets muddy black paws on everything.. worktops, washing machine, dishwasher.. he loves cuddles.. loves attention.. thinks the cat is weird...and talks to her..But it is all part and parcel of having a mal..

I also picked up a rescue girly somewhere along the way.. she is also very hairy.. rather vocal.. hugely playful and has to talk to you on your level.. with her paws on your shoulders.. she pulls like a train.. in competition with the others.. the me first, no me, no me first attitude.. but she is also so loving and sweet.. when she isn't noising up the staffies next door.. or when she is chewing the Sky remote or my son's socks or trousers or whatever else is lying around...

They are all different and there is nothign better than meeting them in the flesh.. I had everyone and their aunty try to talk me out of getting a Mal.. but I was sooo determined that I was having one.. and here I am.. still smiling.. still living being a mal owner.. (ask me that question again when the teenage tantrums start??)

Sorry, can't help with the Mal question but on the subject of allergies...

I have a million allergies and develop new ones all the time I can't be in the same room as a cat and even sitting next to someone who has cat fur on their clothes can set me off. I react badly to some dogs too. That said, I live very happily and symptom free with a Newfie and a Chow X. I found when I first got the Chow X, my allergy symptoms flared mildly for the first few weeks (easily controlled with anti-histamine tablets) and then settled down completely. The addition of the Newfie didn't affect me at all

Now, learning to live with hair in every meal is a whole other matter altogether!!

I think Mals are fabulous dogs too but not for me as I couldn't have a breed that can't be let off lead. Good luck with your research

"thinks the cat is weird...and talks to her.." LOL!

Thanks for all your help guys. I'm prepared to cope with all the fluff, but I'll have to wait and see what my mum thinks when she gets back from America soon and we continue our search for our perfect dog. She's the one who introduced me to an advert for a mal in the first place! I found one for £400 just 2 and a half hours away and that's the closest I can find.

At £400 I would guess this is not a well bred dog and in the poorly bred dogs there are bad hips and some iffy temperaments creeping in.

I'm not sure, it sounds like a change of situation on the part of the owner:
http://www.looking4dogs.co.uk/viewad.asp?id=50279839536100175#

Personally this is the last place I'd look in search of my next pup or adult dog. The history can be completely false and you have to take the owner at their word on how the dog behaves etc.

If you're considering taking on a rescue/older dog I'd go straight to the breed rescue - may take longer but it'll probably save heartache in the future! :-(

http://www.malamuterescue.co.uk/

If it's pup you're after I'd start here:
http://www.thealaskanmalamuteclub.co.uk/
(Once in, click on "Information Pack" and then scroll down to "Breeders List")

Good luck in your search, I've got a bit of a passion for Northern Breeds too!


(Sorry about the gaps in the links, can't see to remove them. Unless it's been done on purpose?)