This article was written by M. Serage of Texas Alaskan Malamute Rescue and used with their permission.
So You Want An Alaskan Malamute....?
Great! You've seen them on TV, in the movies, maybe you’ve been to a dog show or two.
Maybe you have just met a pair in the park or a puppy in a pet store and said to yourself...
"I want a malamute!" Ok, so now that you know what you like, you need to ask yourself
an important question: "WHY?"
...and please, be honest!
Why do I want an Alaskan malamute?
Do you just like a pretty dog? Do you want a big dog to impress the neighbors, scare the crooks,
or looks like a wolf? The kids talk you into it? Is that puppy in the window simply the cutest ball
of fluff?
If you said yes... then do yourself a favor: go to the nearest toy store and buy yourself a
stuffed toy dog! The Alaskan malamute is not the dog breed for you!
But, if you actually took the time to ask yourself "WHY" you are interested in malamutes and/or
"WHAT" attracted you to this breed, then you are off to a good start. It can be difficult to say what
first attracts a person to a malamute, but if you are unwilling to ask yourself these questions, you are
probably not willing to learn very much about this breed of dog. And you'll have a lot to learn with
malamutes to have a happy relationship!
What do I know about Alaskan malamutes?
There is a lot of history surrounding the Alaskan malamute. To understand their history is a good start
at understanding the breed itself and how to live with a mal.
Malamutes were used by the native Alaskans to pull heavy loads in harsh arctic conditions and to hunt
food. The arctic demands a "survival of the fittest" attitude, so malamutes retain much of the pack
order instinct. Intelligence and problem solving were needed for hunting and also to make independent
decisions about hazards on the trail, even to the point of disobeying orders from their human companions.
Food being scarce, it was of high importance to eat whenever the opportunity arose and to get the most
energy out of that food. mals often supplemented their diet with prey caught in the wild. Simply put,
they have been physically and mentally molded by their original arctic environment.
Ok, so what does that have to do with Alaskan malamutes and you in these modern times? PLENTY! Malamutes
have not changed their behavior to suit suburbia or anything else for that matter, only modified it somewhat...
Personality:
The Alaskan malamute is a very friendly dog with humans. Mals are not one-person or even one-family dogs.
There are very few people they will not like, which make them unsuitable to being good watch dogs or
guard dogs. Mals get along very well with children, especially when raised with them (but caution is
always advised due to their size). Although friendly and often sensitive to their owner’s moods,
malamutes are also highly independent and strong willed.
The adult malamute may have a quiet and reserved manner, or may be the perpetual child always willing
to play. Mals do love to be the center of attention and will often demand it. They are alert to their
surroundings and curious about the world around them. Mals have often been described as "cat-like" in
the way they groom themselves, body posture when relaxing, or in their attitudes.
Pack Order:
Although friendly to humans, malamutes must establish a pack order within their family, human or
canine. Remember, NO DOG should have a placement in the "family pack" that is higher than the
lowest human member is! Some mals are content with their place in the pack, while more dominant
malamutes may challenge their humans and other pets for a higher pack placement.
With humans this challenge may take the form of the mal consistently refusing commands, becoming
physically rough or even dominance growling. A grown malamute cannot be physically forced to obey
or respect you, so don’t bother using that method with a pup. Early training and a good understanding
of dog behavior can go a long way in keeping a malamute "in line". Mals will respond best to
"positive reinforcement" training methods such as "clicker" training.
Alaskan malamutes are a dog-dominant breed. This means that although a mal may not challenge
humans over pack order, they certainly will challenge another dog. Same sex challenges
(male/male, female/female) can lead to serious fights if the dogs are equally dominant or
if one is a younger animal seeking to establish itself.
Intelligence:
The Alaskan malamute is an intelligent breed. And a smart dog will become bored and destructive
long before a not-so-smart dog will! Never underestimate how much furniture, carpet, books, and
even walls (!?) that a bored malamute can damage in a small amount of time. Malamutes tend to
choose "living for the moment" and worry (or not!) about the consequences later.
Malamutes can learn commands very quickly. But if they don’t see the point of following the
command, they can just as quickly disobey them. Remember that this is part of their heritage and
learn to be creative when teaching or practicing commands. They may very well refuse to follow a
command that is well known to them, resulting in a reputation of stubbornness or "selective hearing".
Mals can be clownish at times and many often posses a sense of humor (dog humor of course!), that
sometimes results to the embarrassment of the owner. They can be quite creative at getting your
attention or adding a little "twist" to things just to see your reaction. Malamutes can be
manipulative when they want something.
Malamutes are great problem solvers and can be quite inventive if motivated. If there is something
they truly want... they will find a way to go over, under, around, or through any obstacle. Don’t
be surprised if items disappear from shelves, counters, or the top of the refrigerator without any
trace of a malamute passing through. Many learn to open doors, use mirrors, hide their "misdeeds",
and even "tattle" on each other.
Active & Working Dogs:
The Alaskan malamute is the equivalent of a long distance runner, and as such needs plenty of
exercise. Many are great "couch potatoes", which is certainly a holdover from conserving energy
in the arctic. However, when they are active they are very, very active.
A large, fenced yard is preferred for keeping a malamute in the city. Even so, they should be
walked or given some other form of exercise every day. Although they can readily adapt to apartment
living, this means the owner must be very dedicated to providing the proper amount of exercise. Mals
that are kept primarily outside the house or on larger property should be provided a sturdy run with
a covered kennel or large doghouse.
Since they were bred to run, Mals also have a tendency to roam the neighborhood or countryside. Some
are very accomplished "escape artists". Never let your malamute "off-leash" as few are consistently
trustworthy to commands (unless they wish to be) and are not particularly mindful to road traffic.
In the countryside, they may learn to chase wildlife and livestock, or may be mistaken for wolves
(or wolf-hybrids) and killed.
Alaskan malamutes are still used today to pull people, sleds and heavy loads. Today, these activities
are done as pleasure sledding and skijoring, as well as the sports of racing and weight pulling.
In warmer climates, many accompany their owners on hikes and backpacking, at carting, bike rides,
and skating/rollerblading. For the safety of you and your dog, care must be taken to have your mal
properly secured and under control when biking or skating. A very determined malamute can be hard
enough to stop without having wheels underneath you!
Malamutes have also been trained in search and rescue, agility, and therapy work. They are quite
adaptable to most activities that are presented to them, love to work, and are good with most people.
Hunting & The Prey Drive:
Alaskan malamutes possess a strong "prey drive" which is part of the hunting instinct. If it moves,
squeaks, or squeals a malamute will chase it, sometimes with dangerous consequences.
Malamutes have been known to kill rabbits, squirrels, birds, as well as neighborhood cats.
Mals only do well with cats when they have been raised with them and have also been taught to
control their natural instincts. Some mals can never be trusted around other small animals, even
when raised with them.
Malamutes should be taught caution and control around children. Besides their love of humans,
they are also attracted to children because of the quick movements and high-pitched voices
(similar to those of small hurt animals - a natural prey). No small child should be left
alone with a large dog of ANY breed. Mals tend to play rough, and due to their size and power
could easily injure a child without meaning to do so.
Denning & Digging:
Many animals will create a den for themselves to have their young and as a safe escape from the
outside weather. Another reason to dig is to catch burrowing animals such as rodents and some insects.
If you have pride in your garden and want a malamute... one of those ideas has to go! Malamutes
like to dig. They dig to lay in the cooler dirt under the surface, to catch insects deep in the
grass, and sometimes they seem to dig for the shear pleasure of watching dirt fly! Owners often
compare their malamute's "landscaping" to the lunar surface or a minefield. Malamutes can move
large amounts of earth in a very small amount of time. Some mals can be taught to dig only
in "their" area of the yard, but rarely can a malamute be taught never to dig at all.
Most malamutes crate train readily because of their denning instinct, especially when taught as
a young pup. Many often prefer sleeping in their crate to other locations. Although one exception
may be that favorite spot in the middle of your nice comfy bed!
Food For Thought:
To survive in arctic conditions, a little food must fuel the body for a long distance or time.
The malamute metabolism is highly efficient in converting food to fuel. Typically mals need
much less food to eat than most other breeds of similar weight or size. Unless heavily active,
it is very easy to overfeed a malamute to the point of being fat. Most mals do best on
an "active dog" formula of food unless they are old or very inactive.
Alaskan malamutes are highly food motivated. This behavior is a holdover from the scarcity of
food in the arctic. This also means that most malamutes cannot be trusted around food, as they
will steal it when the opportunity arises. The majority of mals cannot be "free-fed", as they
will not stop eating until no more food will fit into their stomach, which can lead to a
serious condition called bloat. Mals are very good at begging food and some have developed
quite advanced techniques of "mooching" food from their owners. Food is also a prime reason
for a dogfight!
One benefit of this fixation is that mals do well with motivational training using
food as the initial motivator. But... there is a fine line between using food as motivation
and your malamute teaching you to bribe him into obedience!
Coat & Hair:
The Alaskan malamute’s double coat of fur has evolved to insulate it from the surrounding
harsh environment. The outer guard coat is a coarse medium length, slightly oily to the touch
and is the first layer of defense to repel dirt, snow, or ice. The shorter undercoat is a thick
dense wool which blocks out the wind or cold. "woollies" are malamutes that have a long (often soft)
coat. The texture and excessive length of a woolly’s coat does not provide good insulation from the
weather, but it does not hinder them from being good pets or beautiful dogs.
Malamutes are adaptable to warm climates, but their coat will not be as thick as dogs raised in
the cold. In warmer areas it is not advised to exercise your malamute during the heat of the day
and to provide extra water at all times. Mals in very hot temperatures, or not used to the heat,
should be kept indoors during the day to avoid problems such as heat stroke. It is not recommended
to shave a mal’s coat since it provides some insulation from heat as well as the cold. Very
long coats (such as a woollies) may be cut/trimmed to a more moderate length for comfort and
personal appearance.
Twice a year the malamute will shed it’s undercoat. A more common term is "blowing coat".
The amount of hair lost in a few weeks is staggering and can fill several garbage bags. In a
full "blow" the undercoat may actually come out in many large clumps of hair. In warm climates,
Mals may shed all year long with a heavier shedding period twice a year. Warm water baths will
help speed up the process of a coat blow. If you like a very clean house or do not like dog hair,
you should definitely consider another breed.
Malamutes do not have the strong "doggie odor" which may be noticed in other breeds. A few may
develop a sour smell if the coat is not fully dried after being wet. This is due to water being
trapped within the undercoat and allowing a breeding ground for bacteria or fungus. Mals can
take a long time to dry after a bath or swim, even with a high-powered dog dryer. Malamutes
are clean dogs and will groom themselves much as a cat would. Dirt and water that does not
make it into the undercoat will usually come out under your brushing or their own grooming.
If Dogs Could Talk:
One of the most endearing (and sometimes exasperating) characteristics of the Alaskan malamute is
the fact that they talk. Their "mala-talk" is usually sounds such as "oowoo", "roowuf", etc.
Be warned, if they talk... they will also "talk back" to you, just as any arguing child would.
Many owners have often found themselves in a full conversation with their mals and both parties
understanding what is being said.
Malamutes will also howl (or sing, depending on your point of view). In a group of dogs this is a
form of communication and pack unity. Singlely, it may be a call for someone to communicate with
or to answer a passing siren. Mals will howl when they are happy as easily as other breeds howl
when they are lonely.
Most malamutes are not prone to barking. If raised around other dogs that do bark, they may pick
up this habit. Even so, their bark is more a combination of a bark/yip and rarely to the amount
of excessive barking... except of course at feeding time!
What other information on Alaskan malamutes do I need to know?
Now that you know a little more about the Alaskan malamute, you will be better able to decide if
a malamute is a breed you can live with. But, trust me... there is still much more to learn about
the Alaskan malamute and it is in your best interest to learn all you can before bringing a
malamute into your home. Living with a malamute can be quite similar to living with a large hairy child!
Remember, this is a large and physically powerful breed that has a strong will and an independent
nature. With proper care and good health, an Alaskan malamute can live well into it’s mid "teens".
This is not a breed that you can truly own in the normal sense of the word. However, it is a breed
that you can form a lasting relationship with... provided you are willing to adapt and compromise,
be creative, learn as much as possible, and work hard at that special malamute relationship.
Before you make that final decision to bring an Alaskan malamute into your family or to choose
that special mal to live with you Please research further into this breed! Whether you decide you
really want to own an Alaskan malamute, another breed of dog, or no dog at all... we sincerely hope
your choice is a happy one!
Thank you Texas Alaskan Malamute Rescue
for letting us reproduce this article!
© 1998 M.Serage of TAMR Permission expressly granted for reproduction and non-profit distribution.
