Alaskan Malamutes

Most of the country has some kind of pet. A dog, cat, rabbit, fish etc. I have an Alaskan Malamute, he is called demon and is now 2 years old. Having a dog isn’t easy though. They are like a child, they rely on you. You need to feed them, walk them, clean up after them and spend time with them, bond. I love my dog and in many ways he is amazing but in others he’s a little devil. I have learned a lot about having an Alaskan Malamute, the good and the bad. If you are looking at getting an Alaskan Malamute, I am going to let you in on some things I have learned from having a malamute.

Our demon is a little different ( I would just like to say, I did not call him demon). I have read a lot about how malamutes can be controlling and possessive, but my dog has never shown those features. Yes, he is a little wild, he howls and loses a lot of hair, but they are not terribly bad traits to have in a dog, or pet in general.

Reason’s to buy or adopt a Malamute:

• They are loving and friendly. I don’t think I have ever had a dog that was as friendly than this one. Alaskan Malamutes are a pack animal and want to be close to their owner/family members. They see themselves as part of the family, almost like they’re a person too. Demon spends a lot of time following me around or sleeping next to my feet and if he isn’t near me, he is near my mom or youngest brother in the house. He loves affection. While alone, he is always on guard.
• To add to their loving affection towards you, they are like friendly giants. They are big, furry and have the appearance of a wolf, just less scary.
• In my dog’s case, he does not growl if you try and take food away from him, in fact, he lets me. But I have read, most don’t like being disturbed while eating.
• Outdoor dog. They are outdoor dogs, they love being outside, walking, swimming, digging. If you live near a dog-friendly beach, this would be a great place for him to dig, instead of your backyard.
• He may howl, but my dog does not bark or growl. I think I have heard him bark about 2 times since we got him and growl at strangers that come into the house. But he calms down after he realized they are not here to harm him or us.

Reason’s an Alaskan Malamute is not for you:

• They shed A LOT. I find it is worse in spring and at the end of summer for some reason. He sheds all year around, it can be annoying. I find his hair everywhere, even if I have just brushed him outside and hovered inside. I see tufts of it hanging off his furr hours after his grooming session, and when I say session, I mean a good hour grooming him. I find it gets really bad after a bath, I guess all after all the dirt is off him, all the hair comes off too.
• Bathtime. My dog jumps into the bath all by himself and loves being bathed, just like he loves being brushed or blow dried, yes he likes being blow dried…  It’s after the bath, that is the problem. They take hours to dry and lose half their hair. I leave him in one place otherwise everywhere would be wet and hairy. He needs’s a bath regularly as he rolls around in the garden all the time, I guess it’s fun for him?
• They dig. They love to dig, we used to have a problem with demons hole digging, but then he stopped for some reason, my mum thinks it is because he was craving attention and now he is the only dog he gets it all. You have to be careful while outside they need to watch, you need to keep an eye on your dog. They are fast diggers and could be next door in about 10 minutes. Make sure you have a super secure enclosed area for him to roam and go the toilet. * Remember to microchip your dog*.
• Like wolves, they howl, so I advise not leaving them outside for a long time, or without something to do. Because they will start howling. They normally howl when they are bored or want attention, so if you are going out for the day make sure they have plenty of treats and toys to keep them happy and unbored. Make sure they aren’t alone for too long, remember, if you want this kind of dog you will have to do some things to make this dog happy. His howling can get loud, sometimes while howling, he has woken me up, granted I was sleeping in late, he was probably howling to tell me to come let him out, that he needed food or that he wanted attention. Mine  howled at night when we got him 2 years ago, but he hardly does it anymore.
• They can be destructive if left for a long time. If they are bored or seeking attention from you.
• They jump, a lot. I don’t know what this is, I guess it’s just a puppy being lively like children are.

I wouldn’t change my dog for another, but those are some things you should know about this breed of dog. The positive and the negative. Overall I think this kind of dog makes an amazing sidekick or a loving member of the family. Yes, he’s a little big and yes he’s a little wild, but his loving and friendly ways overshadow the small negatives about this breed. 24% of the UK have dogs, and I think the Alaskan Malamute would make a great pet too have in your home. These dogs may have been bred to work, but they are also great buddy to have. On a scale, I would say they rate a solid 4 out of 5 on, if they are a good household pet. They are great guard dogs and will keep you on your feet. They are very protective of their human family but are a little hard to train because they can be a little stubborn as some dogs like to be a boss. Whatever dog you choose to buy or adopt, please do your research first and be sure you can care for this animal physically and financially.