PERSONALITY OF THE ALASKAN MALAMUTE [in progress]

[For a FANTASTIC SITE on MALAMUTES, GO HERE! ]

By nature, the Malamute is a good-natured, fun loving and loving canine, very highly intelligent, with an amazing memory, often humorous, attacking any project with enthusiasm

Human loved ones must prove themselves worthy of faithfulness and obedience. The Malamute can be stubborn and independent. Respect is the key. They are perfect with children and adult humans – rarely even possible of agression toward them.In fact, in the Malamute tribe of NW Alaska the babies and puppies were put to sleep together and not uncommonly breast-fed together by either the mother Malamute or the mother human.

Malamutes are not overly successful as guard dogs because of their trusting, friendly nature. However, they have no fear and have been known to be worthy opponents if their family is threatened and can react aggressively out of loyalty and love. My Crazybear fought off a real Bear sucessfully who had gone after her food! Another time when someone threatened me she stood on her hind legs and put her huge paws on his shoulders - stared at him full facc-to-face and she was as tall as he that way [6'/183cm]. He wilted. Their main value as watch dogs lies in their size and formidable appearance. They are not often challenged.

The working dogs of the North were often mistreated and neglected, left to survive by their own wiles. Native mushers did not encourage a great deal of affection or trust. The dogs grew up half wild, with codes of their own, competing as equals with humans for food and developing their independent nature to compensate for the lack of personal attention

Like a child, the Malamute goes through a "teenage stage", testing his family to see just how far he can go.

The Malamute's friendly, gentle attitude toward humans does not often extend to other dogs - especially those of the same sex. Malamutes constantly strive to prove their superiority to strange dogs. Malamutes can be raised to respect the rights of some other dogs - if properly brought up from puppyhood. They do get along better with other Spitz dogs and smaller dogs, than medium to large hunting breeds, usually...it varies by breed and their experiences with them.

Malamutes do not always fight to prove superiority. They also sometimes do battle for the sheer joy of it, tails wagging happily the entire time. This does not make the fight any less violent, for Malamutes attack any project with enthusiasm! Most owners take the necessary precautions to protect the innocent canine public rather than battle their dogs to change this natural compulsion to fight dogs their Malamute doesn't like.

The Alaskan Malamute, a natural hunting dog, is not usually successful as a farm dog. Cats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep and occasionally larger animals are fair game to the Malamute. Constant contact with these animals from puppyhood may bury this instinct, but a Malamute owner must be prepared to cope with this aspect of the arctic heritage.Crazybear knew I respected all life and never killed nor harmed anything larger than a fly.

Try to understand the natural instincts you are dealing with when coping with the Malamute personality. Their pride, independence, aggressiveness, and high spirits were all necessary to survive the life in the far North for which nature created them. Realise that they dig huge holes in the yard not to annoy but to provide a cool den in the summer and a warm home in the winter.

The more an animal is trained, the more his intelligence is developed. This can work to both good and strange results with the Malamute. His reasoning power and versatility can enable him to excel in many fields. His independence and stubbornness can cause disagreements. And his amazing memory can cause embarrassment.

They have a huge vocabulary of sounds, unlike those of most other breeds of canine. They like to talk and do often about many things on their mind and many like to sing to any melodious sounds.

They are NOT the dog for most people and NOT for those who can't give them enourmous time and love...and treat them as one of the family.