Puppy Advice / Help
What you need to know BEFORE you buy an Alaskan Malamute puppy.
I have written this quick, direct, no frills guide due receiving 6 enquiries for 'puppies available today' during lock down boredom. No training clubs are open and it is essential your malamute goes to training, this present time is not the right time to buy a malamute puppy. I have nearly twenty years of malamute experience of different breeding's, temperaments, health conditions, racing teams, exploration and dog showing. This is all written from what I have learnt over these years mixing with people from all over the world with malamutes, Siberian huskies & Greenland dogs with equal or more experience than ourselves.
I have written this quick, direct, no frills guide due receiving 6 enquiries for 'puppies available today' during lock down boredom. No training clubs are open and it is essential your malamute goes to training, this present time is not the right time to buy a malamute puppy. I have nearly twenty years of malamute experience of different breeding's, temperaments, health conditions, racing teams, exploration and dog showing. This is all written from what I have learnt over these years mixing with people from all over the world with malamutes, Siberian huskies & Greenland dogs with equal or more experience than ourselves.
Alaskan Malamutes are one of the the hardest to control dogs on this planet. They were bred to work and survive in the harshest of environments this makes them very strong willed in personality and physical strength.
* They are hard to train unless you are happy to do at least 1-2 hours a week at dog training clubs for ideally 18 Months to 2 years of age. Training at home is NOT enough. This amount of quality time of bonding and learning respect gives you 8+ years of easy pleasure ownership. This regular exposure to other dogs of all shapes and sizes helps socialise them to happy in their company and stops them reacting by barking at other dogs if they see them in the street. I have seen these behaviours in rescue Malamutes and one's that have had no exposure to other dogs and can be changed with controlled exposure and positive reinforcement training methods.
* They make lots of noise. Solo or in a pack. How many neighbours do you have?
* They need company they are a pack animal. Separation anxiety risk is very high in Malamutes. Someone must be at home all day and leave them no more than 2 hours. ^ See above on neighbours and hours of persistent howling. Dedicate at least a ,month of gradual build up 'alone' time when you get a puppy, using baby gates and limited access techniques for success that really work. Leaving puppy 6 hours a day the week after buying it could cause alot of hassles as puppy will not understand why it is alone. Build 'alone time' up gradually.
* They dig massive holes in your garden, and they enjoy it, so I let mine dig as much as they like.
Your garden must be secured with 6 ft high quality fencing and flag stoned around the whole perimeter, ^ see above.
* They moult hair all year round. It's not just every six months or seasonal. They have two major ones, but it is EVERY day. Buy the best vacuum cleaner available. Then again every 6 months.
* They are heat sensitive. They need cold floors and fans on 24/7 in Summer. Your heating cannot go on high in Winter, Malamute's cannot cope with that. Ours stays at 14 degrees or below even when there is snow outside. Be adaptable so they can sleep outside should they struggle with Spring/Summer. A cold concrete floor wins over a fluffy bed or even their favorite crate in heat.
* They should not be exercised when the temperature is in high degrees unless a slow walk in cloud cover etc. Think 6am or 11pm, and when the paths/roads are cool. Running or being next to a bicycle where they will start to pant and drool is TOO much. They will not make a good running partner in Summer or in a day where we are wearing shorts and T'shirts. Their coat is double thickness built for -50 and has not evolved over time for British weather. Shaving them is NOT an option, it does not stop moulting and grows back TWICE as thick and looses its ability to trap cold air next to their skin which is essential for their survival.
* In Winter their energy intensifies. They love the cold and will happily wake you up at 4am when they get a sniff of the cool air. You can't tell them off - this is what they are built for and have not lost this natural drive. That's like stopping a fish from swimming. It's the norm....... Can you cope with high energy when its freezing and dark outside? Yes? Great. lets get you a sled and meeting up with us!
* They should not have barely any exercise for the first 18 Months due to their bone and spine development. 10 minutes per month of road walking is more than enough if you have fulfilled their training and activities at home. Too much exercise too soon can damage them for life. 5 hours hiking on a mountain at 1 year old is too much. Wait till they are over 18 Months and you have years and years of many miles together. An easy solution is to play lots of mental stimulation games and attend puppy class for social interaction. They tire quicker and you don't accidently build desire for longer and further exercise. THINK.. the more you give, the more they want & need - use their brain instead!
* They are big dogs so expect BIG food bills & vet bills. Cheap food can give them the runs. Good food is £45-65 a sack and contains vital nutrients these Northern spitz need like zinc. Raw meat on the 80/10/10 diet works well. About £1.50 a day per dog. Insurance is around £25 a Month for a gold policy. Tesco is our recommendation for speed of paying out and their Gold policy covers generously.
* They carry genetic diseases which cost a fortune to fix IF they are fixable like a lot of pedigree dogs you can eliminate them by buying from health tested dogs.
What is a 'Health tested puppy'???
* They are hard to train unless you are happy to do at least 1-2 hours a week at dog training clubs for ideally 18 Months to 2 years of age. Training at home is NOT enough. This amount of quality time of bonding and learning respect gives you 8+ years of easy pleasure ownership. This regular exposure to other dogs of all shapes and sizes helps socialise them to happy in their company and stops them reacting by barking at other dogs if they see them in the street. I have seen these behaviours in rescue Malamutes and one's that have had no exposure to other dogs and can be changed with controlled exposure and positive reinforcement training methods.
* They can easily hate other dogs. Dogs or Bitches can hate Dogs or Bitches, there is no rule book if the dog is smaller and fair game.
This dislike can happen at any age with any breed of dog it encounters. See above about 'crucial' socialisation.
Any dislike of dogs in ANY breed can lead to severe dog fights needing urgent Veterinary care for both dogs.
* They do not mix well with livestock, feathers or fur, hooves or not. Malamutes MUST be socialised and trained when tiny to get them used to seeing them. Spend hours walking them close by regularly for the dogs first 2 years in your training schedule. Should your Malamute ever get loose or off lead near a sheep/cow field please ring the police for help. The farmer is allowed to shot his gun if the sheep are in distress. Malamutes love a chase of promoted freedom. There's lots of photo evidence of sheep incidents available online and malamutes and huskies have been killed by farmers.
* They CANNOT and MUST NOT be let off their lead unless in a 6 foot fenced area. They can jump 5 foot with no effort. Even with 2 years of constant clicker training they will still decide at some point not to return should their breed specific tendancy kick in. Being free is a privilege. You need a massive garden or regular access to a paddock to keep them happy. Off lead at a park, beach or forest is highly disapproved by majority of responsible breeders due to other loose uncontrolled dogs. The breeders that say is fine to do, are the breeders to avoid! Loosing a dog to a medical condition is painful enough, there is no way by choice we will put our dogs in a dangerous position. If you don't mind loosing them, take the risk... (but please don't ask for one of our precious puppies). Even well bred, health tested dogs have had scraps with other dogs when the owner chose to let them free. It doesn't matter how socialised your dog is, not all dogs get on, and you'll get the blame as the Malamute is so big and capable of the most damage. Please accept responsibly for being the one who unclicked the dogs lead and don't blame the dogs breeding or breed itself.
* They need space at home to play and stretch out and a room for their own crate to sleep in. They should never be in your bed. Dedicate 6 or so weeks gradually getting them used to their crate when you bring your puppy home. Small houses and flats don't work unless you have a huge outside space for them. Start out how you mean to carry on.
* They go through an adolescence stage where all your training is forgotten to test you. This is normally around 18 mths up to 3 years old and can last weeks to months. If you stick to the 2 years at weekly training club you can avoid it entirely. If not start training again and don't give an inch and they'll trust you forever. This is the make or break period. You need LOTS of patience. How you handle it is how the dog will remain. Screw it up and you could have a nightmare dog.
* A Malamute or any dog that has not been respected or trained properly can easily turn into an aggressive animal.. FACT.
We have had hundreds of Malamutes in the UK in rescue centers that growl and have bitten adults and children. I have seen them and transported them myself across the U.K. With a lot of hard work they can be turned around. If brought up right at the beginning all this stress could of been avoided. Fear is the biggest reason for growling, from harsh or incorrect handling. They are not toys to grab and pull, they are a dignified stunning being. Please buy a toy if you want the kids to pull and poke and push.
* Malamutes can see a child as a small adult and expect the same respect which they don't get due to children not having an adult brain (which makes them an easier target to push around). Therefore it is not fair on the malamute to be around uneducated children under 12. ^- get this wrong and I don't want to print here what could happen.
* They are not suitable as a 'my first dog'. They are too complex and raw. An understanding of dog pack intelligence & respect is needed. Read books, lots of books. A weekend of googling is not enough. Training of 'sit', 'stay' & 'down' is not enough either for this intelligent breed.
* They can be food aggressive unless you have trained them correct food boundaries from puppyhood like any dog breed.
* They can guard things. Sofas, crates, door ways, rooms, beds, toys, bones. ANYTHING that's a prize can be guarded by growling and defending. Training BEFORE it happens as a puppy at training clubs STOP's this from ever happening in the first place.
* They will NOT tolerate being smacked, pulled, prodded or screamed at. ^See above.
* They need daily brushing for their fur to work efficiently, trapping the cold air in Summer to cool them and expelling heat when needed. An un-brushed undercoat clogs their skin and makes the next days brushing harder for you both. 30 minutes a day works well.
* They ALL pull on a lead unless you devote time to training. <- try that with a push chair......... They have not lost this natural, built in ability, you have to train it to your advantage.
This dislike can happen at any age with any breed of dog it encounters. See above about 'crucial' socialisation.
Any dislike of dogs in ANY breed can lead to severe dog fights needing urgent Veterinary care for both dogs.
* They do not mix well with livestock, feathers or fur, hooves or not. Malamutes MUST be socialised and trained when tiny to get them used to seeing them. Spend hours walking them close by regularly for the dogs first 2 years in your training schedule. Should your Malamute ever get loose or off lead near a sheep/cow field please ring the police for help. The farmer is allowed to shot his gun if the sheep are in distress. Malamutes love a chase of promoted freedom. There's lots of photo evidence of sheep incidents available online and malamutes and huskies have been killed by farmers.
* They CANNOT and MUST NOT be let off their lead unless in a 6 foot fenced area. They can jump 5 foot with no effort. Even with 2 years of constant clicker training they will still decide at some point not to return should their breed specific tendancy kick in. Being free is a privilege. You need a massive garden or regular access to a paddock to keep them happy. Off lead at a park, beach or forest is highly disapproved by majority of responsible breeders due to other loose uncontrolled dogs. The breeders that say is fine to do, are the breeders to avoid! Loosing a dog to a medical condition is painful enough, there is no way by choice we will put our dogs in a dangerous position. If you don't mind loosing them, take the risk... (but please don't ask for one of our precious puppies). Even well bred, health tested dogs have had scraps with other dogs when the owner chose to let them free. It doesn't matter how socialised your dog is, not all dogs get on, and you'll get the blame as the Malamute is so big and capable of the most damage. Please accept responsibly for being the one who unclicked the dogs lead and don't blame the dogs breeding or breed itself.
* They need space at home to play and stretch out and a room for their own crate to sleep in. They should never be in your bed. Dedicate 6 or so weeks gradually getting them used to their crate when you bring your puppy home. Small houses and flats don't work unless you have a huge outside space for them. Start out how you mean to carry on.
* They go through an adolescence stage where all your training is forgotten to test you. This is normally around 18 mths up to 3 years old and can last weeks to months. If you stick to the 2 years at weekly training club you can avoid it entirely. If not start training again and don't give an inch and they'll trust you forever. This is the make or break period. You need LOTS of patience. How you handle it is how the dog will remain. Screw it up and you could have a nightmare dog.
* A Malamute or any dog that has not been respected or trained properly can easily turn into an aggressive animal.. FACT.
We have had hundreds of Malamutes in the UK in rescue centers that growl and have bitten adults and children. I have seen them and transported them myself across the U.K. With a lot of hard work they can be turned around. If brought up right at the beginning all this stress could of been avoided. Fear is the biggest reason for growling, from harsh or incorrect handling. They are not toys to grab and pull, they are a dignified stunning being. Please buy a toy if you want the kids to pull and poke and push.
* Malamutes can see a child as a small adult and expect the same respect which they don't get due to children not having an adult brain (which makes them an easier target to push around). Therefore it is not fair on the malamute to be around uneducated children under 12. ^- get this wrong and I don't want to print here what could happen.
* They are not suitable as a 'my first dog'. They are too complex and raw. An understanding of dog pack intelligence & respect is needed. Read books, lots of books. A weekend of googling is not enough. Training of 'sit', 'stay' & 'down' is not enough either for this intelligent breed.
* They can be food aggressive unless you have trained them correct food boundaries from puppyhood like any dog breed.
* They can guard things. Sofas, crates, door ways, rooms, beds, toys, bones. ANYTHING that's a prize can be guarded by growling and defending. Training BEFORE it happens as a puppy at training clubs STOP's this from ever happening in the first place.
* They will NOT tolerate being smacked, pulled, prodded or screamed at. ^See above.
* They need daily brushing for their fur to work efficiently, trapping the cold air in Summer to cool them and expelling heat when needed. An un-brushed undercoat clogs their skin and makes the next days brushing harder for you both. 30 minutes a day works well.
* They ALL pull on a lead unless you devote time to training. <- try that with a push chair......... They have not lost this natural, built in ability, you have to train it to your advantage.
* They make lots of noise. Solo or in a pack. How many neighbours do you have?
* They need company they are a pack animal. Separation anxiety risk is very high in Malamutes. Someone must be at home all day and leave them no more than 2 hours. ^ See above on neighbours and hours of persistent howling. Dedicate at least a ,month of gradual build up 'alone' time when you get a puppy, using baby gates and limited access techniques for success that really work. Leaving puppy 6 hours a day the week after buying it could cause alot of hassles as puppy will not understand why it is alone. Build 'alone time' up gradually.
* They dig massive holes in your garden, and they enjoy it, so I let mine dig as much as they like.
Your garden must be secured with 6 ft high quality fencing and flag stoned around the whole perimeter, ^ see above.
* They moult hair all year round. It's not just every six months or seasonal. They have two major ones, but it is EVERY day. Buy the best vacuum cleaner available. Then again every 6 months.
* They are heat sensitive. They need cold floors and fans on 24/7 in Summer. Your heating cannot go on high in Winter, Malamute's cannot cope with that. Ours stays at 14 degrees or below even when there is snow outside. Be adaptable so they can sleep outside should they struggle with Spring/Summer. A cold concrete floor wins over a fluffy bed or even their favorite crate in heat.
* They should not be exercised when the temperature is in high degrees unless a slow walk in cloud cover etc. Think 6am or 11pm, and when the paths/roads are cool. Running or being next to a bicycle where they will start to pant and drool is TOO much. They will not make a good running partner in Summer or in a day where we are wearing shorts and T'shirts. Their coat is double thickness built for -50 and has not evolved over time for British weather. Shaving them is NOT an option, it does not stop moulting and grows back TWICE as thick and looses its ability to trap cold air next to their skin which is essential for their survival.
* In Winter their energy intensifies. They love the cold and will happily wake you up at 4am when they get a sniff of the cool air. You can't tell them off - this is what they are built for and have not lost this natural drive. That's like stopping a fish from swimming. It's the norm....... Can you cope with high energy when its freezing and dark outside? Yes? Great. lets get you a sled and meeting up with us!
* They should not have barely any exercise for the first 18 Months due to their bone and spine development. 10 minutes per month of road walking is more than enough if you have fulfilled their training and activities at home. Too much exercise too soon can damage them for life. 5 hours hiking on a mountain at 1 year old is too much. Wait till they are over 18 Months and you have years and years of many miles together. An easy solution is to play lots of mental stimulation games and attend puppy class for social interaction. They tire quicker and you don't accidently build desire for longer and further exercise. THINK.. the more you give, the more they want & need - use their brain instead!
* They are big dogs so expect BIG food bills & vet bills. Cheap food can give them the runs. Good food is £45-65 a sack and contains vital nutrients these Northern spitz need like zinc. Raw meat on the 80/10/10 diet works well. About £1.50 a day per dog. Insurance is around £25 a Month for a gold policy. Tesco is our recommendation for speed of paying out and their Gold policy covers generously.
* They carry genetic diseases which cost a fortune to fix IF they are fixable like a lot of pedigree dogs you can eliminate them by buying from health tested dogs.
What is a 'Health tested puppy'???
DO NOT buy unless you see BOTH Kennel Club pedigree certificates. AMPN Certificates, HC Certificates (in date, annually) Hip scores certificate and CD certificate of parents. If not, you're buying a time bomb that could cost thousands to fix.
* You need to insure them. ^See above
Being aware of these issues and understanding them and seeing how and why the dog may do them BEFORE they happen makes for the most happy well adjusted malamute that is a pleasure to own. Waiting for it to happen or being blasé because you know more and are 'too clued up' that it won't happen, is a disaster in the making. Correcting the unwanted behavior takes twice as long to put right then actually understanding it in puppy hood and teaching right from wrong at the beginning. Think toddler verses teenager. Which ones easier? Teach the toddler from a baby so it knows no different? or challenge a teenager that knows more than you now, to change their behavour?
Why do mine all walk nicely on a lead? Can mix with any dog? Quiet at home? Can be left with strangers? Never growled at me once? Never guarded anything? Can stand like a statue for 5 minutes ignoring its surroundings or pull a 140 KG sled for 28 miles? Can travel 3 months on road and not demand anything of me? Because I have dedicated so much TIME to my dogs I have mastered it through commitment to making them the best I can, what ever they do. YOU CAN DO THIS TOO :D.
* You need to insure them. ^See above
Being aware of these issues and understanding them and seeing how and why the dog may do them BEFORE they happen makes for the most happy well adjusted malamute that is a pleasure to own. Waiting for it to happen or being blasé because you know more and are 'too clued up' that it won't happen, is a disaster in the making. Correcting the unwanted behavior takes twice as long to put right then actually understanding it in puppy hood and teaching right from wrong at the beginning. Think toddler verses teenager. Which ones easier? Teach the toddler from a baby so it knows no different? or challenge a teenager that knows more than you now, to change their behavour?
Why do mine all walk nicely on a lead? Can mix with any dog? Quiet at home? Can be left with strangers? Never growled at me once? Never guarded anything? Can stand like a statue for 5 minutes ignoring its surroundings or pull a 140 KG sled for 28 miles? Can travel 3 months on road and not demand anything of me? Because I have dedicated so much TIME to my dogs I have mastered it through commitment to making them the best I can, what ever they do. YOU CAN DO THIS TOO :D.
Taking time to learn how to communicate and understand them and taking time to put those learned skills into practice with patience, love and lots of praise & reward. It has taken hours every day.
This involved changing jobs twice (work only 3 days) so I didn't leave them long, changed vehicles twice to fit them comfortably on trips with fans and other expensive gadgets to keep them comfortable in Summer. They have all been to obedience training of 2 hours of EVERY week and 2 hours of socialisation of mixing with ALL breeds of dogs at show training, EVERY week for the first 2 years of their life.
They all still attend clubs weekly whatever their age or go to dog shows. They are trained in every discipline so that their active minds and bodies are always fulfilled. They are a hobby dog that gets at least 6 hours every single day of devoted attention in some form just like any human child would. They are not just a dog that sits and waits home for you after an 8 hour shift, then be happy with a bowl of biscuit and a 30 minute walk around the block and then go back to bed. Nor will a house full of kids running riot treating the dog like a toy all day fulfill its exercise, social and mental needs.
They can and will make your life hard work if YOU get it wrong. They are a true hobby dog that takes over and takes you all over Britain.
This huge list above is the minimum of what the Alaskan Malamute needs to be happy and live with you and you family in harmony.
If you do not have the time and commitment to the above points please do not ask around for a cheap puppy 'available now for your 5 kids to play with because they are bored'. You are not suitable for this majestic breed. Your selfish 'want' with no regard to their needs is why hundreds end up being dumped in rescue centers every Month.
Unfortunately it could make a mess of your house and garden before you realise your error and then the dog that wanted nothing more but your time and commitment, ends up paying the price, for one of us knowledgeable experience folk (who tried to tell you first) then has to try and put it all right!
Please just get a softer breed like a well bred Labrador or spaniel that fits into your life straight away, can be let off its lead at the park, plays happily with the kids and then you can avoid all this heart ache.
Thank you for reading and please get in touch if you need any more information.
Photo credit from google: aggressive husky
This involved changing jobs twice (work only 3 days) so I didn't leave them long, changed vehicles twice to fit them comfortably on trips with fans and other expensive gadgets to keep them comfortable in Summer. They have all been to obedience training of 2 hours of EVERY week and 2 hours of socialisation of mixing with ALL breeds of dogs at show training, EVERY week for the first 2 years of their life.
They all still attend clubs weekly whatever their age or go to dog shows. They are trained in every discipline so that their active minds and bodies are always fulfilled. They are a hobby dog that gets at least 6 hours every single day of devoted attention in some form just like any human child would. They are not just a dog that sits and waits home for you after an 8 hour shift, then be happy with a bowl of biscuit and a 30 minute walk around the block and then go back to bed. Nor will a house full of kids running riot treating the dog like a toy all day fulfill its exercise, social and mental needs.
They can and will make your life hard work if YOU get it wrong. They are a true hobby dog that takes over and takes you all over Britain.
This huge list above is the minimum of what the Alaskan Malamute needs to be happy and live with you and you family in harmony.
If you do not have the time and commitment to the above points please do not ask around for a cheap puppy 'available now for your 5 kids to play with because they are bored'. You are not suitable for this majestic breed. Your selfish 'want' with no regard to their needs is why hundreds end up being dumped in rescue centers every Month.
Unfortunately it could make a mess of your house and garden before you realise your error and then the dog that wanted nothing more but your time and commitment, ends up paying the price, for one of us knowledgeable experience folk (who tried to tell you first) then has to try and put it all right!
Please just get a softer breed like a well bred Labrador or spaniel that fits into your life straight away, can be let off its lead at the park, plays happily with the kids and then you can avoid all this heart ache.
Thank you for reading and please get in touch if you need any more information.
Here are some fantastic training books essential reading before puppy purchases:
Positive Dog Training by Pamela Dennison. ISBN 978-1-61564-066-9 Published by Alpha. Very direct and easy to follow.
Photo credit from google: aggressive husky
