Thinking of getting an Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Husky

The husky breeds are my favorites (love that fur) but...
 
Quite honestly, I wouldn't have a dog unless I had a fenced in yard.  That was my demand to my husband when he decided to get our bulldog.   In the rain, I can just open the door and send the dog out to pee.  It is no fun dragging a dog who hates the rain out into the yard on a leash and you getting soaked.
 
I do take my dogs for walks, I try to take my golden mix every day for a short walk.  But sometimes, I just want to plop in front of the TV after a long workday plus getting dinner ready.  And I can send the dogs out to the yard with the fenced yard.
 
I had the best of intentions when I adopted the golden mix 2 years ago. Yea, he was going to be my WALKING BUDDY!  I was gonna shed all that excess weight!!  The reality is that this dog is a long haired furry dog that can't take the heat.  So, his walks have to be after sundown or at sunrise.  He is a winter lover.
 
Plus it is no fun dragging your butt out of your warm house in freezing temps for the nitely pee in the winter.  
 
FYI - the english bulldog is the lazy mans dog for the most part.  They do well in an apartment as long as you have A/C that NEVER breaks.
 
Just food for thought!  Cats are much easier for us lazy people in an apartment.

Also, my golden/gordon setter needs to run! Thank God I have a fenced in half acre yard for him to go and go hundred miles a minute, round and round about 8 laps every morning. There is no way I can give him that much exerice just by walking him.  Plus, once a month, we take him to my parents house in the country where he can run free on hundreds of acres with other dogs.
 
I'm not sure how much exercise a siberian or mal needs but I hear its alot.
 
We had a norweigan elkhound (very furry medium husky) when I was a teen.  We had a acre fenced in yard,  He prefered to be outside.  We had a cool stairwell that was his fav to lay in.  We made him sleep inside at nite in the A/C .  He suffered so every summer in Virginia.  He adored the winter and snow.  Some breeds just should not be outside of their area (Norway)  

My first dog as an adult was a samoyed.  I'm not sure how similar they are to malmutes or other huskies, but I'd own one again in a second.  The main thing I noticed (negatively) was that she was stubborn and tougher to train than some dogs.  My labs are such people pleasers, they'll do anything for food or affection. She just wasn't that way.  However, she was trainable and I wasn't half as knowledgeable then as I am now.  I live in Sacramento (not terribly cold, but very hot in the summer).  She didn't fare any worse than my labs do.  She preferred to be in the house during the day but did fine, no accidents - no damage.  In the evening I would run with her (she was a terrible puller, but I never thought to try a harness).  We played fetch in backyard and she had the same needs for exercise as my labs do now.  She was a big digger (dug up our drip irrigation system at least 8-10 times [:@]), and I'd laugh as she watched my DH put all back in...seeing the twinkle in her eye as she anticipated pulling it all up again.  My labs dig too though.  She was the absolute sweetest dog I've ever known.  Loved everyone, including any stranger we came across on our runs.  Maintenance wise, she shed horribly twice a year for a week or two.  I could brush her though and she'd be fine for awhile.  My labs....well, I think there might be 2 weeks a year where they DON'T shed [:@].
I don't think I would've gotten her if I'd lived in an apartment, but I wouldn't get the labs I have now if I didn't have a yard for them.  I just think having a place to go and play without worrying, is much nicer for me and them.  Many people talk about their "heart dogs" and for me, she was that dog.  I still think about her with a smile and a tear [].

Just one question I want you to answer truthfully.  Breeders ask this all the time before approving you for a pup.
 
Why exactly do you want a Malamute?
 
 
 

Don't let one person scare you off. Some are owned by people who knew nothing about before getting them. And they rose to the challenge. Such as myself. My dog is a mix of Siberian Husky and Lab. I always like Huskies and didn't know nearly enough. But I learned in a big hurry. Some of us walk our dogs for quite a distance. Some of us go to the park for general goofiness. When you are ready, you will get the dog suited for you. A friend of ours lives in a one room cabin near a lake and owns a Great Pyrenees. Full-grown, she will be over 30 inches tall and 140 lbs. And she managed, on retail wages, to make a fence. That and proper training keeps the dog where she belongs. True, you should have a backyard and you may have to wait, but at least you are researching ahead of time. I think that's great.
 
As for why you want a Malamute it would be the same reason someone wants a Great Pyrenees, or a Lab, or an AmStaff. Because they admire that breed. Get the dog you want, so that you will be motivated to care for him or her. You will, indeed, rise to the challenges, which are different in different breeds.

Get the dog you want, so that you will be motivated to care for him or her.

That is absolutely true and how I ended up with a Samoyed.  A friend brought his Samoyed pup over and I was napping.  It jumped up on the bed and licked me all over.  I was in love[].   I went to Germany for 4 years, but never forgot and when I got back, I started my search.  Never had I wanted a specific breed of dog so much, and I never, ever regretted my choice.

I've just got to put in another word for Norwegian Elkhounds and crosses of elkhounds. Sofia has elkhound in her, a really super dog I had was also an elkhound mix and I just think they are wonderful. They are the perfect size, big enough to be like a big dog, big enough NOT to be a little dog, but not so big they don't fit perfectly comfortably in the passenger seat of a small car. Sofia is 45 lbs and Sadie was about the same.

They are smart smart smart, very trainable, not as demanding as huskies as far as exercise go, and very clean. Good instincts as far as where to potty, they prefer to walk as far away from the house and into the bushes. I very much want to get a rescue elkhound, or elkhound mix for a second dog, as soon as my situation allows it. And they are so darned cute and have the greatest expressions, what with their forheads that wrinkle when they are perplexed.

Both Sofia and Sadie are/were quiet dogs, only barking when there was a real reason to bark. I think for a first time dog you couldn't go too wrong if you found yourself an elkhound mix. Then you'd have that northern look you like but in a smaller dog.

The Pros and Cons Of the Siberian Husky

Owning a Siberian Husky is not for everyone. I don't believe that any breed of dog is perfect for everyone. It just isn't possible. So with that, I think it is only fair to mention not only the good things about my favorite breed, but also the problems as well.
The Good

Siberians are very friendly and great with children
Siberians need less food than other dogs their size
Siberians coats do not hold odors even if you don't give them a bath very often
A Siberian's coat is non-allergenic
Siberians generally tolerate other breeds of dogs very well
Siberians are very playful with tons of energy
Siberians are very intelligent
The Bad

Siberians have A LOT of hair that they continually shed
Siberians do not make very good watch dogs
Siberians need lots of room to run
Siberians are not typically good in obedience (there are notable exceptions to this however)
If a Siberian gets out of the yard, good luck catching it ( I know this from experience)
Siberians cannot be trusted off leash (since they have limited Recall)
Siberians are not good around small animals such as cats, birds, mice, etc.
Please note that there are exceptions to all rules and these pros and cons only apply to most Siberians. There are some wonderful people out there that have taken their Siberians to high ranking Obedience titles and there are many Siberians who can get along with small animals without trying to eat them (generally only if they were raised with small animals as young puppies). I think that it is very important to really research the breed that you intend to buy before you buy it
 
 

I think it's really good that you decided to wait until you have a house before getting a Malamute. []
 
Have you considered an Alaskan Klee Kai? They're very small huskies. It seems like their small size would make them much easier to keep in an apartment and would help you get experience with handling a Husky breed.
 
[linkhttp://www.alaskankleekai.com/]http://www.alaskankleekai.com/[/link]
 
[linkhttp://www.alaskankleekai.net/]http://www.alaskankleekai.net/[/link]

I love my two huskies but at times they can be a handfull.  As a first time dog owner a Siberian wouldn't be a good choice.  They need alot of exercise and alot of love and patiences.  My two love to bark, howl and talk  the husky chatter.  The howl has become a household greeting my husband and myself even get into the fun. 

ORIGINAL: scoobychick


The Good

Siberians are very friendly and great with children

Well, I have to say that I know plenty of huskies who are definitely NOT okay with kids. Lots of people up here consider them okay with kids ONLY after you have trained them that way, but without training they consider toddler aliens and will bark, growl and snap. At least an awful lot of them will. When I say husky, though, I'm not talking purebred Siberian, I'm talking sled dog here. But I've definitely heard more than once it's a "husky thing" not to be naturally okay with kids the way, say, a golden retriever is.

I kind of think Disney really did a number on peoples' heads with their movies. [:@]

There is no kid-proof dog, and all dogs (and kids!!) need training. But of the two, I think you have to do a lot more training with a husky than with a golden or a lab to make them okay with kids.

Sofia is four now. Until this year she still considered toddlers aliens and I could not have her around small children. She seems to have gone through a maturation period and now is fine. She has never, ever been hurt by children, either. (Actually, toddlers ARE aliens, aren't they? [8|])

From what I've understood and read and some may resent me for saying it, Huskies are rank-oriented. You have to be alpha or boss or whatever euphemism, they need to follow your rank. Children, with the attention they get, can sometimes cause rank confusion. So, as with any dog and children, you have to supervise interaction. In the breed's history, they lived with the families, including children. But they were bred and trained for 1,000 years by people who never read any of the books that are popular now. And it's only been in the last few years that the alpha thing has come into question. Whatever the preferred method of training, it is important that the dog heed you when necessary. I get the best obedience, at times, from treats. And a naturally good temperment. And alpha is more atttitude than anything else.
 

I thought I might add some fencing alternatives. Currently I would have a run up for Maddi if we are ever able to get a couple of junk cars off our property (we rent : every place wants permission from the owner in writing). It's hard to buy and put up a fence considering we might up and move in 3 months (we're always on the lookout for a place outside the city that's cheaper). With a malamute, it'd definately have to be a permanent fence as well.
 
Right now, I make due with a couple different long leashed of varying lengths and a car []. I often take Maddi out places where she can run and I can enjoy the scenery without hearing people honk every five seconds ([:@]). I also take her swimming quite a bit on the hot days. Our yard is also of average size so I sometimes take her out to play there but it's hard because she just wants to sniff and eat the neighborhood cats' poo.
 

Get the dog you want, so that you will be motivated to care for him or her. 

 
I completely agree, however, you might want to consider rescuing an older Mal. After they hit about two years old, the usually "Grow Up," before that, they are like having an 80lb toddler running around the house... once they hit two it bumps them up into the 80lb five year old category[]. However, often, it's the 1 year olds that end up in shelters and rescues because, at least from my experience, that's when they are the most difficult. So an older dog might give you a chance to get your feet wet with a little more forgiving adult dog but you still get to have the breed that you really want. I've never rescued... but I hear the dog knows what you've done for them and is eternally grateful.
 
 

Well, I'm trying to gather info on the breeds you suggested.
 
Elkhound seems like a nice one, with a good character. I can say I'm impressed. Seems like a good choice for apartments. Also I read that it obeys commands better then a husky or malamute. Hmm need to make some more research.
 
Kleekai seems like another nice breed but I don't think I can find one.
 
Also when I was a kid I liked samoyed too, but my friends samoyed barked a lot . 
 
Btw I spent my childhood in a city with a very cold climate, everywhere was covered with snow about 9months a year and maybe this is another reason for me o like arctic breeds.

Also when I was a kid I liked samoyed too, but my friends samoyed barked a lot .

 
I could never, ever even teach my samoyed to bark.  I thought that was odd, and perhaps it was just her.  She did however howl like a wolf, but she'd only do that if she was left outside when we were gone, so we didn't do that once we knew.  She did whine a lot but my lab-mix does that too.  I guess each dog is different and "general characteristics" are just that, general.