I I'm new to this Forum, I've met today a couple of malamute owners that advised me this forum... I've been wanting to get an alaskan malamute for some time now, and I'm looking for all the advise I can get... We have a 5 year old daughter and we are thinking about having another one soon... should I wait till they are older, I was told that the malamute I very good with children but to be carfull if they are young than 5 years old ... so I'm looking for all the advise you can give about this breed and anything I should know... I have a big garden and have always someone at home so the dog will never be alone, I have a small female dog terrier (wifes dog) and 3 cats... and I want to make sure I know everything I need before getting one, so all the advise and help is very welcome...
thanks in advance...

AB

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place...

I think the main question would be with a young child and another planned would you have the time and space for an active demanding breed of dog.

the breed is large so care would need to be taken to ensure the safety of both children and pup to avoid them accidentally hurting each other.

I will leave the details to Mal owners.

I think Malamutes are wonderful dogs and have 4 to prove it.However they are not always easy dogs and you will need to do plenty of research.They are not a breed that can be left alone for hours while you go off to work,so much so I have just gone part time so I can be at home with my Mal.O.H works opposite to me.Males in particular can be strong minded especially when they hit 9 months old.Thats when you see so many in Rescue or need rehoming due to'NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN'.They needed plenty of exercise - I am up at this ungodly hour to take mine out for a run!But they repay this in triplicate.All dogs need careful monitoring with children and should never be left alone with kids.However the Malhemut people used to leave their dogs to watch over  their children.They are not good with livestock,if after all this only get a puppy from a reputable breeder.Avoid people who are only having odd litters  to make a bit of money and have none health checked and chage silly prices..Only buy health checked K.C reg pups-all Mals will have ' Many champions in their pedigree' at some stage.Its hear and now you need to look at.Contact the AMCUK to start with,look at all their advise.Always buy a puppy with a contract with their owners eg will have the Malamute back if you have problems.They will always give lifetime support and advice.Go to a few shows or working meetings and talk to owners,most are only willing to talk for hours about this wonderful breed.Look up the breed standard,if you follow this you shouldn't go far wrong.Good luck.

I own 5 Malamonsters :-) Whether you should wait for your children to be older is a matter of personal choice. I waited until my youngest was going to High School as this suited me. Before then I was busy running around to various clubs, brownies, cubs, choir, band, swimming.... I really felt I didn't have time for a large, energetic breed. I do know people with young families who successfully own Malamutes and it works for them ;-) So, you have to be honest and decide whether you can give everyone enough time.

Malamutes are good with all people, or should be. Certainly I would suggest researching breeders very carefully as it's a minefield out there. Dogs with unsuitable temperaments or health issues are being bred from regularly and it's important to ask questions, check paperwork and ask around for personal recommendations. Mals are of course large, heavy dogs and this is where the danger is with small children as they can easily be knocked out of the way by an excited dog :-o You will be aware of the high prey drive, although they tend to get on with cats if they are brought in as puppies - any other cat is generally fair game though! Again, you "can" have problems with same sex dogs and so it is often easier to keep a dog with a bitch.

Check out the breed club www.alaskanmalamute.org.uk for information. There is a fun day on Sunday 25th May in Leicestershire, details are on the website, so come along, meet lots of dogs and owners and ask questions :-)

I just love that nickname you use for them 'Malamonsters ' lol :)

lol we were set upon by malamonsters several times at crufts- they wouldn't let us pass till we'd cuddled them lol beautiful, lovely breed and my bf would love one but running several miles a day not our thing, so sadly no mals for us :(

I can see you have been given some excellent advice by owners of this breed.  But I think there comments highlight the importance of reseraching any breed you are thinking of having.  All breeds are just wonderful but not always for the same thing.  If you haven't done already then perhaps it would help your decision to consider what you can give a dog e.g. in terms of exercise etc and what you want from a dog - but the first being the most important.  Then see how that matches with the comments here for a malamute and if the fit isn't great why not ask some advice here on breeds that might suit you better.  But of course you may already have gone through this process.

Good luck.

Louise

Thanks for all the advice... I've been talking with Mal owners, and been looking on the net aswell, I love them... but the more I learn more I'm convincing myself that Its not the right time :(  ( or the right dog) for me to have one yet seeing that I havent got the time they need and that we are Thinking of having another baby soon... My wife want me to get a short hair dog insted, because she doesnt like dog hair allover the house, so I dont know if I should take her advise, she wants me to get a Jack russel or pinsher, but I already got a small dog and was looking after a bigger dog, and I was thinking about a dog that would be easyer to look after and that would be good with kids, I like the boxer, labrador... but dont realy know much about them...
So what would be Your advise on other dogs mid size and good with kid

If your wife doesn't like hair over the house, PLEASE don't get a Malamute! As a double coated breed, when they blow their coats we're talking HUGE amounts. You learn to wear it, eat it and sleep with it ;-) Certainly NOT a breed for the house proud :-p

Some short haired breeds are just as bad as the long or double coated breeds . I have husky's and do not mind the hair ( twice a yea it is bad for us ,,, well the hubby not me ..lol),,, but my brother has a short haired dog and his hair is everywhere all year round ....

i agree shusky1 i have a long coat gsd and i long coat chi,my MIL has a Jack russel and her hair(the dogs not MIL,lol) is everywhere even though she gets brushed daily and hovers everyday where as my house is "generaly" (i say generaly lightly as we do still have 2dogs and only a tiny cottage)not very hairy at all.:-)

>  My wife want me to get a short hair dog insted, because she doesnt like dog hair allover the house

Just thought I would metnion that short haired breeds also moult, jsut the hair is shorter whcih can be even worse as ti gets into instead of staying on furnishings and carpets.

You coudl go for a non shedding breed, but tehn you woudl need to learn to groom and/or have the proffesionally trimmed regularly, not to mention spend a lot fo tiem in coat maintenance.

As you already have a dog I would hold off getting anotehr until after yoru baby arives and life is a bit more settled.

Size of the breed is not as relevant as their reactivity and energy levels etc.

have owned two breeds of dogs and with both I have had toddlers, with the first my daughter was 14 months and then I had a baby when dog was two and a half.  the second I had when my son was 14 months and daughter pre school.

both were great with my kids but very different in how they coped, and how I learnt to handle them.

The first breed high energy, quite highly strung, herding breed.  This breed needs a lot of socialisation and forms very intense relationship with owner, needs a lot of input. I found her easily aroused and reactive as a puppy therefore rules were made about not being allowed to run about with children (so as not to herd), she also needed time out when there was a lot of excitement, and I got very good at learning to read her.  I have a friend with this breed who has brought up a large family and now grandchildren, but they understand the breed and it's limitations and needs.

My current breed is somewhat different, but still large enough to knock children around and when Young would be too rough in play for a child, so the chill out when kids play rule still applies (AND I WOULD APPLY TO ALL YOUNG DOGS).  This breed though seem to be able to stay a lot calmer in stressful noisy situations, and have never needed time out from family life, but are the kind who will take themselves off to get peace.  They do not react to me stepping over them, dropping things, running the vacuum etc etc, so I find them easier than the former breed to live with as a family dog, but that's me.

On the other hand my present breed is more independent, and need a lot more training off lead, as they are not Velcro dogs like the first breedI had, and will follow their noses and go selectively deaf, but they are calmer when off lead, especially aroudn other dogs and people too, so there are trade offs.

Also there is a huge difference between owning a dog with Young children and bringing up a puppy with young children, which takes around two years.

My Friend and neighbour owns a Doberman and has two children a three 1/2 year old and a baby, yet the little boy was frightened by my puppy, and still would not cope with her at 15 months, because she kept trying to jump up and put her paws on his shoulders.  I have to stand constant guard over her to tell her not to jump up onto small people as other well meaning big people have encouraged her to jump up (albeit she does it gently).  I suppose if I still had small children living with me she would not do it as I would have been much more intent on preventing the habit.

Labradors are horrific shedders (not as bad as my Malamutes LOL ) but the hair is a real pain and gets stuck in fibres of carpets, chairs and curtains etc

Border Terriers are good small big dogs ;)

[iJust thought I would metnion that short haired breeds also moult, jsut the hair is shorter whcih can be even worse as ti gets into instead of staying on furnishings and carpets]

Yes, in total agreement here, my grandfathers JR's only really visit my home at Christmas time, and their hairs are like needles they stick into everything. Much harder to clean up.

eek those typos, must not hit send and get distracted before I can edit :(

Most of us do it, (guilty) the fingers work quicker than the brain. :-)

>> If your wife doesn't like hair over the house, PLEASE don't get a Malamute!

I can only second this, I have one just finished blowing and another that has just started. It gets everywhere :)

Maybe go to your local rescue centre. You'll be surprised what you can find and as you have another dog & young child they always match you up so as to having a great addition. I have a lab x terrier and she is the most adorable living thing ever LOVES EVERYONE !!. People who meet her think she is a puppy still  even though she is 4 years now she is like a miniature labrador !!

Thanks for all Your advise... I will get a AM some day, but got to agree with many people here, this is not the right time for me to Have one... I Have a Farm in Portugal (I'm portuguese)And I might just wait till I go back before getting one, That way I will Have plenty of Time to learn about the bread... I was thinking of getting a diferent bread now but I'm starting to chage my mind, I always wanted a AM so I'm thinking of waiting for the right time for me to get one...
So again many Thanks for all your advise...

I nearly rehomed one (a mal) as i have always wanted one , but turned out he was a bit too much of a liabilty for me to take on ...and it was all thanks to a member on here that made me see sense ...( i ususally just go for it and think later ..) so i have decided, like you to wait till the time is right and then i am going to go to the mal rescue to see if i am right for one... 

dont we have a resident malamute expert on here that can help?

> The first breed high energy, quite highly strung, herding breed

Barbara - what was your first breed?

Hopefully Malaki and myself helped a little with our advice.As I said too many Malamutes are ending up in rescue or being readvertised due to a few people not fully researching and being fully aware of their needs unfortunately like many other breeds.They are not any easy breed for the novice.

>> dont we have a resident malamute expert on here that can help?

Malakai has already posted, although she probably wouldn't class herself an expert she has had Mals for longer than most on this board and has also dealt with Rescue :)

Me neither - I don't think we ever stop learning.Just growing in the world of knowledge.

> dont we have a resident malamute expert on here that can help?

There are a lot of people on here who have Malamutes and I can't think of too many who would consider themselves experts ;) Malamutes are a learning process in every sense of the words :D :D

Just to say well done on taking everyone's advise and waiting. :)  I know it's hard, and kind of understand your situation (I've wanted a toller since I was 11, however due to me being a school, then planning on uni, with then an 18 month waiting list etc etc etc, I never did get a toller. I'm now active in the breed, although don't own one, and I one day will get one when the time is right.)  There is nothing like waiting, but it's also a great time to do as much research as possible, over the next few years, if you can, go to malamute events, talk to breeders, become friends with them, and when the time is right for you, you will have the contacts to enable you to know you make the right choice.

Contine researching, Good things come to those who wait! ;)

Thats what I'm planing of doing, I've already met a couple of Mal owners, and they're dogs and that is why I want to whait till the time is right for me to get one... they are a beutiful dogs and is the dog that I ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE... But before that I will want to learn all I can about them, go to shows ...