The Alaskan malamute is an affectionate and friendly dog for a family. He is a faithful and devoted companion.
It requires constant education from a young age to become a balanced dog. Because of his affectionate nature, a malamute is not suitable to be a guard dog.
An Alaskan malamute was originally a working dog and therefore loves movement. The sled is his favorite sport.
Temperament
The Alaskan malamute is not suitable for everyone. It has an average life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. An Alaska malamute is a long-term commitment.
The Alaskan malamute does not like living in an apartment. It needs a lot of space and movement to grow! A large garden makes him happy (yet is not enough).
He is happy with his family. He likes to play, especially when being a puppy. He can listen to different owners when the hierarchy is well established. He loves children, as long as they are respectful with the dog. He is a faithful and devoted companion. It is very welcoming for visitors.
Alaskan malamutes have a strong pack mentality and therefore most of the time they can create problems with strange dogs. Because of its history, the Alaskan malamute has a high predatory instinct. Other small animals can be seen as easy prey.
An Alaskan malamute that does not get enough exercise and just rest for a long time will be unhappy and develop destructive behavior. It also tends to escape and flee!
Health
Alaskan malamutes have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. In general, the Alaskan malamute has few hereditary diseases. The most common diseases are hip and elbow dysplasia and cataracts. However, there are other less frequent disorders such as: polyneuropathy, epilepsy, “coat funk” and chondrodysplasia. The club requires its breeders to test the dogs they use for breeding on hip and elbow dysplasia and on eye cataracts. No breeding with affected dogs is allowed (see ethical code). Therefore, always choose a responsible breeder who can present the results of these tests.
It is also important to perform regular veterinarian checks to detect diseases at an early stage and monitor its general health.
Like all dogs with deep chest, an Alaskan malamute is prone to stomach twisting (or bloating), a very serious and often fatal disease. Given the severity and consequences of bloating, we strongly recommend you learn to recognize the symptoms. A dog with stomach twist is a medical emergency and must be immediately handled by a veterinarian (even at night). Any delay in the treatment of this condition by a veterinarian, reduces the survival of your dog considerably.
Feeding
After giving birth, the mother nourishes her pups approximately every two hours. From about 3 weeks you can avoid breastfeeding by starting to feed stronger foods, for about 3 times a day. Give them a broccoli, because they can not eat stews at the moment. From the age of about 3 months, you give the puppy only 2 meals a day. The digestion of a dog is very long, it is necessary to allow the stomach to rest between meals.
The Malamute’s growth is not completed by the age of 12 months. He must have a nutrition, adapted to his growth, rich in vitamins, minerals, etc., to avoid shortcomings in growth. Some dogs prefer dry grains, others prefer water with it. In any event, ensure that fresh water is always available. There are different types of food available for the Alaskan Malamute. Choose high-end products:
- Dry food (s)
- Raw / fresh meat (BARF).
If you prepare your food yourself, make sure that it contains all the necessary nutrients. If for any reason you are required to help the mother by giving the puppies milk, then goat milk is best known as the milk that matches the dog’s milk (found in all department stores). To prevent the dog from bidding at the table, do not give him anything about your meal.
The vet and the breeder can help you determine the right amount of food for your Alaskan Malamute. Always give him the correct amount of feed to avoid overweight. Overweight can lead to a variety of joint diseases, which may be a nuisance to his long-term health.
The risk of stomach twist (or bloating) can be limited by the way of feeding:
- Spread one meal between two feeding times
- Limit physical activity at least for one hour before and after meals
- Avoid the dog gobbles while eating