The Alaskan Malamute.

Time and time again, the Malamute have proven what a loyal, intelligent breed they are. They are most affectionate and loving towards their master and for this reason, MUST have a strong, confident pack leader. Without this – troubles will arise. Providing their canine instincts are met, they will grow from a pup into a dignified and mellow adult dog. They are a great family dog and fantastic with children who are old enough to play with them safely and understand their temperament. Their natural instincts will always shine through and they are a breed who is happiest living outdoors, providing they still get enough companionship from their master and family. Living indoors is okay, providing this pack leader keeps rules and boundaries in place. The Malamute is not a breed to be thrown in the backyard to entertain themselves, they require constant mental and physical exercise daily! Without this they quickly become destructive, naughty dogs that will behave like an untrained puppy. Males especially can be dominate and although they can be hard to train for formal obedience, they are not hard to train to be well mannered. The Malamute is very much a breed that needs their humans around them to be confident, calm yet firm.
They do have a natural, strong prey instinct so should be supervised around unfamiliar, smaller animals. This is not to say they aren’t safe around smaller animals but should be introduced from a young age and well supervised during this time. Socialisation with other dogs of all sizes and temperaments is essential from a young age to avoid any issues further down the track.
Grooming is a high requirement for this breed due to their thick dense coat, designed to keep them warm and safe throughout the cold, icy winter months. They need a good brush at least twice a week and even more often whilst they are shedding as their undercoat will come out in clumps. They are a very clean dog who is generally odourless.
Due to their size, they are a breed that is prone to bloat so feeding and exercise times must be closely monitored, they are also a breed that is prone to hip dysplasia

The Alaskan Malamute is a stunning, solid breed that is the largest of the Arctic dogs, with males growing up to 66 cms and weight over 40kg! They are a Nordic sled dog that descended from the Arctic Wolf. Their name comes from the Alaskan tribe that cared for and raised them, the Mahlemuts. They were used by this tribe over 2000 years ago and were highly valuable to them, being their only form of transport. They were able to haul the heaviest of loads, their strength and endurance made them the perfect dogs for the job! Their sense of direction and excellent sense of smell has continued to prove helpful over time, packs of Malamutes have participated in a number of polar expeditions, sledding, carting and search and rescue operations.
They are relatives of the Samoyed and American Eskimo Dog and are often confused with their cousins, the Siberian Husky.

The Alaskan Malamute is a great breed of dog, providing they are well understood and constantly have a firm, calm pack leader. This will result in a best friend for life, a loyal companion that will always be at your side and will be a great addition to any family.