Frequently Asked Questions
Q: HOW LARGE DO MALAMUTES GET ?
A: MALAMUTES HAVE A NATURAL RANGE IN SIZE, BUT THE DESIRED FREIGHTING SIZE IS 25" IN A MALE AND 23" IN A FEMALE. THIS SIZE IS AT THE SHOULDER. IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE MALAMUTES AS LARGE AS 27" OR AS SMALL AS 23". AVERAGE WEIGHT IS APPROXIMATELY 70-110 LBS.
Q: ARE MALAMUTES GOOD WITH PEOPLE ?
A: MALAMUTES WERE BRED TO WORK FOR MAN. THEY WERE EVEN USED AS A MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE IN THE ARCTIC REGION. THE LOVING TEMPERAMENT OF THE MALAMUTE TOWARDS MAN IS A MUST. MALAMUTES DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH OTHER ANIMALS AND OWNERS MUST USE SUPERVISION WHEN ALLOWING A MALAMUTE TO GET TO KNOW ANOTHER ANIMAL.
Q: DO MALAMUTES EAT A LOT OF FOOD ?
A: THEY DO NOT REQUIRE AS MUCH FOOD AS OTHER DOGS THEIR SIZE. THEY ARE BRED TO BE A FREIGHTING DOG CARRYING HEAVY AMOUNTS OF WEIGHT. THE MORE THEY EAT, THE MORE FOOD WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDED TO THEIR ALREADY HEAVY LOADS. THE AVERAGE MALAMUTE WILL DO FINE ON 3-4 CUPS OF FOOD A DAY.
Q: DO MALAMUTES SHED THEIR COATS DURING THE SUMMER ?
A: THE MALES NORMALLY SHED ONCE A YEAR, BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THE SUMMER. THEY SHED AS REQUIRED. IF THEY SHED IN THE WINTER MONTHS THEY WILL BE BACK IN FULL COAT MUCH QUICKER THAN IF THEY SHED IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. FEMALES NORMALLY HAVE A LIGHT SHED TWICE A YEAR AND IS BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THEIR HEAT CYCLES. FEMALES WILL SHED TO THE SKIN AFTER HAVING A LITTER OF PUPPIES.
Q: WHICH MAKES A BETTER PET, MALE OR FEMALE ?
A: I FEEL THEY BOTH MAKE VERY NICE PETS AS WELL AS HOUSE DOGS. THE SEX IS REALLY UP TO WHAT YOU WANT. THEY ARE BOTH VERY EASILY HOUSE TRAINED. MALES DO TEND TO MARK THEIR TERRITORY. FEMALES, (WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN SPAYED), WILL HAVE 2 SEASONS A YEAR WHICH CAN BE A PROBLEM AS A HOUSE DOG.
Q: DO MALAMUTES MAKE GOOD WATCH/GUARD DOGS?
A. NO. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT MALAMUTES WERE BREED TO GET ALONG WITH MAN AND NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE FROM OWNER TO OWNER. MALAMUTES WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE A GUARD DOG. BY TRYING TO MAKE A MALAMUTE BECOME A GUARD DOG, YOU LITERALLY TEAR OUT HIS HEART. HE ONLY WANTS TO LOVE MAN, NOT HURT HIM. HOWEVER, I MUST ADMIT, HE WILL GUARD HIS FOOD BOWL.
Q: DO MALAMUTES HAVE BLUE EYES ?
A: NO. AS A MATTER OF FACT BLUE EYES ARE THE ONLY DISQUALIFICATION IN THE ALASKAN MALAMUTE BREED STANDARD.
Q: ARE MALAMUTES EASILY TRAINED FOR OBEDIENCE ?
A: YES THEY ARE, IF YOU HAVE THE PATIENCE TO WORK WITH THEM. AS A RULE MALAMUTES ARE MUCH SMARTER THAN THEIR OWNERS WHEN IT COMES TO TRAINING.
Q: ARE MALAMUTES GOOD WITH SMALL CHILDREN ?
A: YES, BUT CAUTION AND CLOSE SUPERVISION SHOULD BE USED WHEN ANY ANIMAL IS ALLOWED TO BE IN CONTACT WITH A SMALL CHILD. BE SAFE, NOT SORRY.
Q: DO MALAMUTES LIKE TO CHEW ON THINGS ?
A: EVERYTHING A BUYER HAS TO BE AWARE THAT A MALAMUTES, PARTICULARLY A PUPPY, WILL CHEW ON ANYTHING HE FINDS FROM ELECTRIC CORDS, ROCKS, TO ROSE BUSHES. ONE HAS TO TAKE GREAT CARE TO ENSURE THE NEW HOME, INCLUDING YARD, IS PREPARED FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.
Q: HOW DO MALAMUTES HANDLE THE HEAT OF WARMER CLIMATES ?
A: MALAMUTES CAN ADJUST VERY WELL TO MOST CLIMATES AND HEAT. AREAS OF HIGH HUMIDITY SHOULD BE AVOIDED. SHADE AND WATER IS A MUST IN THE WARMER AREAS. A MISTER SYSTEM IS VERY NICE TO AID IN KEEPING HIM COOL IN VERY HOT AREAS. A MISTER IS NOTHING MORE THAT A SECTION OF PVC CONNECTED TO A WATER SOURCE WHICH APPLIES A SMALL AMOUNT OF SPRAY TO THE AREA WHERE THE DOG CAN BENEFIT FROM IT.
Q. HOW LONG DO MALAMUTES LIVE ?
A . A HEALTHY MALAMUTE CAN BE EXPECTED TO LIVE 12-14 YEARS.
Q: HOW MUCH EXERCISE DOES A MALAMUTE REQUIRE ?
A: MALAMUTES ARE DOGS OF WORKING INSTINCT. THEY REQUIRE AN AREA TO RUN IN TO TONE, DEVELOP, AND MAINTAIN MUSCLES, BUT MORE, THEY DEMAND THE HUMAN COMPANIONSHIP THAT A OWNER MUST ACCEPT WHEN THINKING ABOUT A MALAMUTE AS A DOG OF CHOICE. A MALAMUTE IS A LIFE LONG FRIEND AND DESERVES THE RETURN OF LOVE HE GIVES. LOVE, ATTENTION, FOOD, WATER AND A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IS ALL HE WILL EVER ASK OF YOU. YOU WILL GET SO MUCH BACK IN RETURN.