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Alaskan Malamute Anonymous
I want to buy an Alaskan malamute. I live in Florida. I would leave it in the house during the day. It's usually 75-80 inside during the summer. I would only exercise it early in the morning or after dark when it was cooler. Could the dog handle the temperature? I also have a cat. Would that be a problem? I've looked for answers on the internet but I can't find much. I really want one. They look so bad ass. Any info is appreciated. Thanks.
>> Anonymous
Anything?
>> Anonymous
They're awesome dogs. If you go to www.petfinder.com and search for them and read through the descriptions, you can get a general idea of that. Also, try going here http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselectorindex.do. It gives general stats for breeds of dogs. Malamutes are on there.
>> Anonymous
www.alaskanmalamute.org/

... I don't think they're good with cats though
>> Anonymous
don't buy a pet because it looks "bad ass"
>> Anonymous
I own a female malamute and live in Sydney Australia. She seems to handle the heat fine, I just leave out plenty of water and if it gets too hot, she stays inside with the aircon on. Other than that she digs herself a hole in the cool dirt in the shade of one of our trees and just sleeps for most of the day. Walking in the afternoon/night is a best thing to do. I've found that other dog owners in the area who do not understand malamutes are terrified of getting close due to her size. She would never attack another dog needlessly but they wouldn't know.

My malamute is extremely placid for the breed but even she HATES cats. She doesn't mind birds or other small critters (they even eat out of her bowl and she doesn't care) but she'll probably kill a cat if she caught one. If you get the malamute as a puppy, it might get along with your cat as long as your cat had no objection to it.

They are not 'bad ass'. This is one of the closest dogs you can get to a teddy bear. They're headstrong, stubborn as a mule and can be extremely lazy. If you ask them to do something and they don't see a reason to do it, they won't. They're very independent dogs and only get along with similar breeds (such as the Husky)because they're more 'pack' orientated. Some malamutes dig or jump(up to 6ft) so you'll have to have a secure fence. Most malamutes are extremely curious so one they're let out, there's little chance of it coming back on it's own.

They are wonderful dogs to own. I've already decided that I will always own at least one malamute. But keep in mind they are hard work to keep, extremely strong, grow very large, eat a lot and due to their size, vet bills and the cost of the dog is fairly expensive.

Good luck. Trust me, you'll need it.
>> Anonymous
>>69474
...and the walks you give would be a kilometer long at max AMIRITE? Shutting him indoors (alone?) is enough punishment for arctic outdoor dogs. If you can't provide an ideal environment in which the _DOG_ thrives, don't get one. Also malamutes have kept more of their predatory instinct than your average pooch and are known to attack smaller animals (including cats), but I doubt it would be a problem provided that the dog is introduced to a variety of animals and people early on.
>> Anonymous
>>69637

IAWTC

Get a dog that requires less exercise and that can thrive under those temperatures. Or better yet, don't get a dog since you don't seem to have the time to dedicate to it.
>> Anonymous
>>69556
Thanks for the links.

>>69589
That's where I got most of my information before I came here. The cat thing would be an issue.

>>69590
I don't mean bad ass like big and mean. I mean like an all around cool do.

>>69628
I really want one and the heat is the one thing that is really making me wonder if I should. I run almost every night anyway so exercising it wouldn't be a problem. I figure if I get a puppy and raise it around the cat I have it shouldn't be a problem. I want a friendly dog. I just want to teach it the basics, sit, stay, lay down, just a few things. I have a fence but I learned I need to dig it a few feet into the ground a raise it up a few more feet. Thanks for the info.

>>69637
I'd let it go outside from when it got dark and cool until I go to bed. I run 2 miles a day that should be enough for the dog, right?
>> Anonymous
I took a dog breed selector quiz at the Animal Planet website, it says the best dog for me is the Australian Shephard at 98%. The Golden Retriever I have now got a 95%. And the Malamute got a 90%.
>> Anonymous
>>69722
I did the selector test as well and it doesn't seem to be very reliable (not a surprise really). For example, I got plenty of breeds with long fur that I know to require at least moderate amounts of grooming despite the fact that I chose the option "little or no grooming".
>> Anonymous
It doesn't seem very reasonable to keep an animal that is perfect for ALASKAN temperatures in Florida. There's one living in my neghborhood, here in Finland, and the dog just loves to sleep in the snow at winters. At summers it seems fine, but not at it's element (and finnish summers aren't anything like floridan summers, I bet). Their fur is incredibly thick and it doesn't fall off on itself. There's plenty of other "bad ass"-lookin dogs, that can cope better with the heat.
>> Anonymous
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>>69474
how about a japanese akita inu (not american akitas/great japanese dogs)? they look similar to malamutes, are big and can handle the heat better, because their fur isn't as thick as a malamute's. they also don't need to run 10 miles a day or have to be kept in a pack of at least 5 dogs.
Also, they can get along with cats.
>> Anonymous
>>69943
"They get along with cats"? I call BS. If you happen to have or know opne that does, it's a rare exception -and most likely a veeery familiar cat.
The akita response to cats and other smaller animals usually is "MY TURF, GTFO, I EAT YOU NOW!"
>> Anonymous
malamutes aren't like any other dogs.
same goes with huskies and other northern breeds.
they are more difficult to handle, harder to train, need a lot of exercise(not just one walk a night) and if the dog is bored, it could tear your house apart.
plus, malamutes are big. so even if you have a large house, they still need space.
also, they aren't very good with smaller animals.

don't get one.
>> Anonymous
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>>69944
I know of at least 8 Akitas that like cats. I would say, they get along with cats like any normal dog breed.
>> Anonymous
My guess would be that if you're careful, you could bring the dog up to be tolerant of your cat, so long as you got him or her as a puppy. However, I'm not very familiar with the malamutes, so I can't give much advise beyond that.

>>69958
That should be macroed.
>> Anonymous
>>69958
Yeah, well, to unfamiliar cats that response is pretty much the norm by my experience. :D At least among the hunting breeds and other not-small-as-a-rat-or-inbred-to-hell breeds. Exceptions -surprise- are usually cats the dog has been familiar with since infancy, but that's again pretty much the norm.
Awesome pic, btw.
>> Anonymous
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>>69959>>69967
I found it here http://waruidesu.bravejourn
al.com/entry/22140 cute!
>> Anonymous
>>69958
Living scratching post
>> Anonymous
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>>69959
done if not well.
>> Anonymous
I had a Malamute, and a cat. No problems, but it may have been due to the order in which I got them.

1) Get cat first.
2) Let cat grow a bit.
3) Get malamute as puppy.
4) Cat beats the tar out of the malamute puppy a couple of times.
5) Malamute develops respect for claws. Cats too, but mostly claws.
6) Eventually cat and malamute sleep beside each other.
>> Elf
I have an Alaskan Malamute and I wouldn't trade him for the world. However, as said, Malamutes are SMART dogs and not in the trainable sense. They reason, because they're closer to wolf than your average dog. In fact, most good Malamutes will be about 15 % wolf.

I live in Southern Indiana and the humidity and heat is much like Florida in the summer. Mine is an outside dog. He HATES being inside but he's fine if he has plenty of water and a lot of shade. He's more active in the night anyway.

Yes, as other people have said they are excellent jumpers and diggers. Also, they can open gates. And they're curious and like to run. If they get away, chances are they won't come home.

And they don't like cats.

(Even though my Malamute tries ot make friends with every other dog we come across.)

Also, Malamutes love children. They know how to act around children. They're affectionate and protective around kids.

Malamutes are QUIET. They are HORRID guard dogs for they don't make a sound if someone enters the yard. Mine only makes noise if its us and he's saying hello.

Malamutes need a lot of commitment. I love em, but I wuoldn't recomend them to everyone.
>> Anonymous
Summer time in Florida is a killer for a person. For a malamute? I don't wanna know. Damn the humidity to hell.

When I'm out of college and I move back to Colorado and I feel like having a dog, the malamute is a likely candidate for me.
The summer sun is really the only killer around there. Once your in the shades, everything is fine. Colorado is also a great place to exercise too. I hate running miles but walking them I'm fine. Hell this dog can even force me to run. I won't like it but it won't kill me.
>> Anonymous
Keep in mind the coat also insulates them from heat, not only cold. If you invest in a kids paddling pool and put it under some shade I'm sure that'll do fine if your not willing to leave the dog inside with air con. Just teach the puppy to swim and teach him to lie in the pool on hot days.

Also with many long-haired dogs there are two kind of coats you can get with malamutes. 'Woolly' coats are extremely thick and long, and the regular coats.
>> Anonymous
I always wanted a malamute. I've learned that they have a stubborn temperament usually need training, and lots of care to get, I don't suggest as a first dog. And they are a working dog, they'll pretty much always be needing a "task" to do.
>> Anonymous
Is it really about if the dog can handle the heat somehow? I mean, sure if it has shade and a swimming pool and you only walk it at nights or early mornings, but wouldn't it just be better for the animals, if they were only kept where is best for them? I bet a malamute can handle the Floridan heat, but I think it isn't very wise. Animal loving people should know better, and chose the animal that is best for the climate. And here is plenty of breeds that do well in Florida. It's the same thing as people keeping those hairles mexican dogs in scandinavia or so.
>> "small-minded little prat"
>>70091
Quiet guard dogs? Hmm. Do they keep quiet even when they make a statement or are angry? 'Cos that's brickshit-scary, you know. I've practically grown up with dogs and handled a few familiar dogs when they're bullying some other dog like a gang member on his own turf, separated fighting dogs, etc. Usually "noisy angry" dogs are more bark than bite. The usual "I'MMA FUCK YOU UP, FOO!" crap. I've even managed to calm down strange dogs snarling at me, but one time this dog just stood there, all tense and only the front teeth (w/ canines) showing, all tense. I slooowly backed away and called the owner. That dog meant business.
Heh, btw, I've deduced that you have quite good taste, Elf.
>> Anonymous
When you said you wanted an Alaskan Malamute I thought I had posted without knowing it lol. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/alaskanmalamute.htm Here you go man, lot of info there. PS. the males can look sooo cool with decorations around the eyes http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/alaskanmalamutephotos.htm
>> Elf
>>70125

Well, considering if the Malamute likes water. Mine hates it. He WHINES when he's near a body of water and goes out of his way to avoid it. He also cries when he rains.

I mean, yours might love it. Just mine hates it. He gets all emo and cries when he's got to come in contact with it.

>>70143
Nah, it's more like, "Eh, I know you're there but I really don't give a fuck unless you're fucking with my shit." Now if someone approached me or my father with Bliz near by he gets this DEEP growl, like something from the very pits of Hell. (The nose is terrifying and awesome at the same time.)

Also, Malamutes don't live very long 10 years is old for a Mal. They're called the Peter Pan dog though. They act like a puppy up until the day they die and just go with no warning. Which, in someways can be a good thing.

But one has to have a LOT of patence with a Malamute. Also, they pull like FUCK when you're walking them.
>> Anonymous
>>70267
A dog bred for pulling stuff pulls? I am amazed by your observation.