Choosing the right dog breed for you and your family is no easy feat, especially if you have little kids. Although dogs are considered man’s best friend, this saying varies by breed. It’s crucial your new pup will not only get along with you and yours, but also your children, as well as guests and neighbors. Although all dogs can be trained, not all breeds can be trained to like and cohabit with kids. Believe it or not, but owning certain breeds may even cause your homeowners insurance to hike! These are the dog breeds families should be wary of letting their little ones around
Alaskan Malamute
Alaskan Malamutes were made for the harshest of harsh conditions. They are bred for isolated, as well as freezing cold environments. Survival skills often kick in with this breed, as they are known to attack small animals, as well as children. The Malamute is another breed difficult to train, even worse if they sense a weak owner. If anyone in your family suffers from asthma, you’ll also want to stay away from this breed as they shed a whole lot.
An Alaskan Malamute will do well with an experienced pet parent, lots of open space to roam and burn off energy, and a cooler climate. If you can meet this breed’s needs, you’ll have an intelligent, highly-trainable, loving companion for life.
Amount Of Shedding
5
Drooling Potential
1
Easy To Groom
1
General Health
4
Potential For Weight Gain
3
Size
Trainability
A description of the ideal dog of each recognized breed, to serve as an ideal against which dogs are judged at shows, originally laid down by a parent breed club and accepted officially by national or international bodies.
About the Breed
An immensely strong, heavy-duty worker of spitz type, the Alaskan Malamute is an affectionate, loyal, and playful but dignified dog recognizable by his well-furred plumed tail carried over the back, erect ears, and substantial bone. The Alaskan Malamute stands 23 to 25 inches at the shoulder and weighs 75 to 85 pounds. Everything about Mals suggests their origin as an arctic sled dog: The heavy bone, deep chest, powerful shoulders, and dense, weatherproof coat all scream, ‘I work hard for a living!’ But their almond-shaped brown eyes have an affectionate sparkle, suggesting Mals enjoy snuggling with their humans when the workday is done. Malls are pack animals. And in your family ‘pack,’ the leader must be you. If a Mal doesn’t respect you, he will wind up owning you instead of the other way around. Firm but loving training should begin in early puppyhood. That said, a well-behaved Mal is a joy to be with ‘¿playful, gentle, friendly, and great with kids.
Want to connect with other people who love the same breed as much as you do? We have plenty of opportunities to get involved in your local community, thanks to AKC Breed Clubs located in every state, and more than 450 AKC Rescue Network groups across the country. The Alaskan Malamute Club of America, Inc. is the official AKC Parent Club for the Alaskan Malamute. For interest in rescuing a Malamute, contact the Alaskan Malamute Assistance League.
Novice pet parents, beware. Dogs of this breed are sensitive and need plenty of companionship and open space. They are not well-suited to apartment life, and they are certainly high-shedding pooches who need plenty of grooming to keep their coats healthy. Expect to clean up dog hair all year long, and especially during shedding season.
Although chihuahuas are small and cute, they may not be the best fit for you and your family, especially if you have young kids. Chihuahuas are known to display their dominance over younger members of the pack. They apparently view kids as members of the pack, often becoming jealous and aggressive of children of the family. Chihuahuas are quite the stubborn breed, often very strong-willed, making them difficult to train.
Physical Needs
Vital Stats:
Dog Breed Group:
Working Dogs
Height:
1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 1 inch tall at the shoulder
Weight:
75 to 100 pounds
Life Span:
12 to 15 years
When you first see an Alaskan Malamute, it’s easy to be impressed by their large stature, wolf-like facial markings, and huge plumed tail waving at you. It’s often believed that Malamutes are part wolf. They might play a wolf on TV or in the movies, but in truth they’re all domestic dog.
The Alaskan Malamute possesses tremendous strength, energy, endurance, independence, and intelligence. They were originally sought to pull heavy sleds over long distances as well as to hunt seals and polar bears. Now chosen primarily for companionship, Alaskan Malamutes succeed in several dog sports, including conformation, obedience competition, weight pulling, skijoring, backpacking, and recreational sledding.
When they’re not “woo wooing” or pulling you on your inline skates or watching TV with you, they’re probably raiding the trash, surfing your kitchen counters for something good to eat, or digging a nice cool hole in the backyard.
Highlights
- Not recommended for the first time dog owner as their intelligence combined with stubbornness can make them a challenge for someone not savvy in dog behavior.
- Malamutes will challenge for top position in the household. Everyone who lives with the dog must be able to properly deal with this and clearly establish all family members are not to be pushed around.
- Alaskan Malamutes are notorious diggers. Any fencing should be buried so they cannot dig out of their yard.
- Alaskan Malamutes are a powerful, independent dogs who, if not properly trained or exercised, can become destructive or bored.
- With early socialization and training, Malamutes can learn to get along with other dogs and indoor cats. They’ll view outdoor cats and other small animals as fair game.
- Their high prey drive can cause a Malamute to stalk and kill small animals, including birds, squirrels, cats and even smaller dogs. They need to be properly socialized and introduced to other companion animals.
- History
- One of the oldest Arctic sled dogs, the Alaskan Malamute’s forebears crossed the land bridge from Siberia to Alaska with native peoples thousands of years ago. One tribe, known as the Mahlemuts, settled in the northeastern area of the Seward Peninsula and it’s there that the Alaskan Malamute was developed. The dogs were used to hunt seals, chase away polar bears, and pull heavy sledges loaded with food or camp supplies.
- The native people treated their dogs well and valued them highly. The gold rush of 1896 brough a great influx to Alaska of dogs of many sizes and breeds who could survive the weather. Many native dogs were interbred with these dogs and pure type was lost. The Mahlemuts were a relatively isolated tribe, so the Alaskan Malamute survived the incursion better than other breeds.
- Arthur T. Walden established his Chinook Kennel in New Hampshire and began breeding Alaskan Malamutes. He and his successors, Milton and All AKC-registered Malamutes today can trace their ancestry back to the original Kotzebue’s or to dogs registered during the open period in the late 1940s.
- Personality
- Alaskan Malamutes will win you over with their playful, outgoing dispositions. They greet everyone as a friend—even strangers and first-time house guests—so they don’t make good watchdogs, but they are extremely loyal to their family and friends. Malamutes are pack animals, and they enjoy spending time with their human pack, insisting on being included in all activities that their family undertakes. They’re not big-time barkers, but they do howl and they’re known for making a characteristic “woo woo” sound.
- hypothyroidism: This condition is often misdiagnosed because tests to evaluate the condition are not specific and can be inaccurate. Hypothyroidism is the result of abnormally low production of the thyroid hormones. Clinical signs vary depending on the severity of each case, but can include dry, coarse, and/or sparse coat, eye discharge, pale mucous membranes, and mental dullness. Hypothyroidism can be managed well with a thyroid replacement pill daily. Medication must continue throughout the dog’s life.
