So You Want to Adopt an Alaskan Malamute?

By: Gary Wynn Kelly

The Alaskan Malamute is a large and physically powerful breed, with
high intelligence, and an independent nature.  One does not truly
“own” a Malamute.  A Malamute may consent to live with you in a
rewarding relationship provided that an owner is willing to adapt,
compromise, become ingeniously creative, constantly learn as much as possible, and always work hard at the relationship.

Since the reader may not yet own an Alaskan Malamute, it is likely that the family dictionary lacks a term coined years ago, at the Central Coast Northern Dog Rescue, that describes one aspect of this marvelous dog’s  activities.  It should be added to the vocabulary of any
would-be owner.

malamutilate, verb, to malamutilate.  The act of a malamute
destroying, devastating, or otherwise laying waste to an object or
entire environment in which said malamute may, or may not still be
present.  Results are comparable  to building demolition, landscape
eradication, or strip mining.   Other forms of this word: verb.
malamutilating, malamutilated. Noun: malamutilated, malamutilation.
Usage: The sprinkler was badly malamutilated. She entered the room,
and gasped at the malamutilation of her couch.

The Alaskan Malamute has been working for many years pulling sleds
loaded with freight for the Inuit people, who    inhabited the
shores  of Kotzebu Sound.  The Alaskan Malamute is an adaptable and
 intelligent  canine companion.  Malamutes are a  heavy-boned dog
with a bulky muzzle,    a broad head, wide-set ears, and a thickly
furred tail carried    plume-like over the back, the Malamute is one
of the most attractive     dogs around, and, pound for pound,
almost certainly the strongest.

One of the many interesting features of the breed is the natural
range    in size, color, and markings.  The average male may have
a weight ranging from 85-125    pounds.  The average female may
have a weight ranging from 75-100  pounds.   Most Malamutes have
coats that are     gray with white trim or black and white, but
coats of silver, sable,    red, and all white sometimes occur.

This arctic breed is blessed with a sunny disposition and is
happiest when    treated as an intelligent partner.  The Alaskan
Malamute often has a well developed sense of humor.

A degree of aggression toward other dogs is fairly common in the
 breed. Many malamutes are friendly with dogs of the opposite sex,
but    aggressive with same sex dogs. A few malamutes simply like
other dogs,    including small dogs. There are, however, no
pacifist malamutes. If    challenged by an aggressive dog, even the
most peaceable member of the    breed will usually administer a
swift lesson in who rules the earth, and who must show respect.

If a Malamute is permitted to run loose in rural areas, it will
reliably slaughter livestock and wild animals. In urban and
suburban areas, a loose Malamute is a menace to cats and other furry
creatures. Swift, fearless, and powerful, Malamutes have been know
to catch songbirds on the wing.  Very few adult rescue Malamutes
 get along well with cats.

Malamutes are universally friendly to humans.As the dogs of a
peaceful, nomadic people, Malamutes do not guard property and
virtually always extend a tail-wagging, face-licking welcome to
strangers.  These dogs develop deep, complex attachments, and
readily bond to their adoptive owners.