Hello - Thinking about husky or malamute

DurangoDogs · 05-07-2007, 03:25 PM

I have an 8 year old Malamute named Molly and have had her since she was 10 weeks old. We live in SW Colorado and are very active, our house is on a lake & we go for walks every night & on the weekends we go for 8-10 mile hikes. Now before I get started, let me say Molly is now the most wonderful dog you could ask for, but it has taken a lot of patience. She is NOW very sweet, mellow, quiet (Malamute & Huskies are not barkers-they howl), obedient, just an overall good dog. However, she was beyond bad until about 4 years ago. Let's start with chewing - she chewed EVERYTHING - pillows, 5 comforters, books, shoes, clothes, the seat belts, emergency brake & visors in my car, etc... Molly also had a terrible habit of running away, she would pop the screens out of the windows in our house and jump! Once Molly was out she would lay in our yard for days but refused to come in the house. We thought she might be deaf because she would not listen to her name or respond when we called her, but that was only outside. She would chase any small animal, once we waited for 4 hours at a trailhead because she decided to chase a rabbit. Malamutes also get VERY hot! In the winter Molly lays on our deck in the snow & that is the only time she is comfortable. In the summer she can barely function, and it only gets in to the mid 90's with little humidity. I love Molly greatly & wouldn't trade her for the world, but I would never own another Malamute. Please before you get a Husky or a Malamute research the breed thoroughly -they are a handful. Good luck!

Hailey · 05-07-2007, 07:54 PM

Snowshoe, I'm curious as to what post you are speaking of?? Also what point are you trying to make? I've never had issues with any of my dogs, so I'm not misleading anyone.

Booga · 05-07-2007, 08:15 PM

and it should be watched very carefully around smaller dogs and animals and this is why it should never, ever, be off-lead in public or around smaller animals.

YES! I strongly agree with this. You can't let my Husky around a small dog. He WILL kill it. He's tried but was caught in time (previous owner, not me).
A cat, on the otherhand, he loves because he was raised with cats.
My dog has killed every small animal there is. I do live in a rural area. It's not that he's hungry, it's just his instinct. BUT, on the otherhand, he seems to know puppies are different. I totally don't understand that!

Hailey · 05-07-2007, 08:22 PM

Booga, yes your dog should be watched, as you adopted him at an older age, but when brought up with other animals at a younger age sibes can adapt, mine have always been able to live with other animals no problem.

Snowshoe · 05-07-2007, 08:29 PM

I got my information on wikipedia. If you don't like it, change it, lol.

PS- but not only that. I've always heard that about northern breeds in general.

Malamutes and huskies are not known as obedience dogs. They are independent minded and prey driven. They are some of the most primitive of breeds.

When I researched them (and I did, I love the way they look) and I called breeders and went to dog shows, most of the breeders told me exactly what I'm posting here: that they are independent and that most aren't good with other dogs of the same sex, and that more then likely they will try to kill small animals and dogs that are around them.

I feel like if your dogs are not small animal aggressive and if they do have excellent recall, then you have dogs that are the exception to the rule, rather then the norm.

I think it's important for any one asking a question to get an accurate idea when choosing a breed.

Oh, and one person said that she chose a malamute rather then a husky, because she had learned somewhere that malamutes had better recall, which isn't true. Both have poor recall.

Hailey · 05-07-2007, 08:59 PM

Snowshoe, I have been with the sibe club for along time, yes maybe mine are the acception to the rule because I do train with them all the time, and they are also house dogs brought up with other pets, yes I've heard all the talk at the dog show' s as well, I know the breed from alot of experience, so I speak only from what I know.

Snowshoe · 05-07-2007, 11:20 PM

Honestly, I'm not trying to get into a pi$$ing contest with you. I'm not sure where the disconnect is, because I didn't give bad, or inaccurate information.

I don't even know if it was your post that I was responding to, or if it was another one.

I think it's great that you're in the Sibe club. Since you are, you must know that my info was correct.

If you go to dog shows, you know how busy they are, and how little time most breeders have to talk.

They were probably trying to talk me out of their breeds, because they know that most people can't handle the intensity of them.

Maybe they only gave me the negative aspects of the breed. However, when I had a chance to call people, the information stayed the same.

If your dogs aren't like that, then great! I don't really know what else to say, to this thread or this post.

north runner · 05-08-2007, 02:06 AM

I cant speak for the breeds but can give my experiences with owning both breeds at one point.Both dogs that i owned were very affectionate and great with kids.They both loved their exercise but were not as active as some other breeds.When their run was over they would curl up at your feet and sleep.We learned that the husky especially if given the chance would escape and would not respond to any commands on his getaway.It was very frustating to see a dog that was given lots of love run away at first chance.Although we did have some fond memories with the husky, the bolting out the door put me off owning one again.On the other hand thee husky was great with cats and other dogs.The Malamute was socialized from a young age but hated other dogs and looked at cats like they were going to be his next meal.They were probably the worse watchdog ever,they never let out a peep when strangers came in our gate,so we never worried about people aggression.Like most said already they are not really a beginner breed.If I only had a choice between the two,I would pick the Malamute.

Booga · 05-08-2007, 01:23 PM

Hailey,
You're right. I do have to watch him very carefully. I don't know all of his previous 8 years, but I know some-his owner was an alcoholic for a while, plus he was homeless so he and his two dogs lived in his car eating God knows what. The previous owner got him as a puppy.
When I got him, he was on his way to a Husky rescue and I grabbed him, only knowing that I loved Huskies but never knowing what was involved. I learned everything AFTER I adopted him.

It's been a great experience. He'll listen to me when he wants to. He is a great dog. He does love kids. He is a terrible watch dog. He never peeps when strangers approach he only talks, yells and barks when he wants food and wants to go for a walk or when he's getting a rub down and is happy.
I would agree that a Husky is not a good option for a first time dog owner, unless you have tons of time and tons more patience.
They are great dogs though, and I would love to have another one.
Good luck.

philosopherking · 05-08-2007, 01:25 PM

I would like to thank everyone for sharing their advice and experience. I will still continue researching before I make my decision and I would like a breed where I would be able to have it off the leash on occasion.

icepaws20 · 05-08-2007, 02:10 PM

Snowshoe- I believe it was my post you were referring to, so in my defense i would just like say we visited several breeders in the uk,all of whom breed sibes and mals, we were told by all of them that in there personal experience the mals were easier to train to a recall than the sibes,i was only stating what i had experienced and what other breeders told me i have also spoken to other mal/sibe owners of the same opinion. Koda has been with us since a pup and i have never had any trouble with him off the lead,with our children,other children and smaller dogs or animals.
EVERY DOG IS DIFFERENT,THEY ARE NOT ALL TEXT BOOK CLONES!!!!!

Oh and can i just add koda is best mates with a GSD, both males, no problems go walking for miles every weekend!!

and before anyone gets on there soapbox im not saying thats the same for all mals, but its my personal experience.

SunSiberians · 05-10-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philosopherking

I run at least 2 miles every morning and I believe I could spend multiple hours with the dog if need be.

I have 2 acres of land and also a field near my house, so prob 4 acres or more of open area.

I had no idea about the chewing of the furniture. If I get the dog as a pup, could I train it not to do that??

This is good to hear. At first of course, I was thinking uh-oh! Huskies aren't good for the unexperienced and more over they NEED exercise, which unfortunately a lot of husky owners don't give. But I'm really happy to hear that you already run and have a large amount of land. That is great husky material. In my experience (I've lived with 4 siberian huskies in my life and currently own two) huskies are only destructive when they're not getting enough attention or exercise. As a general rule - if your couch has been destroyed then that's a good way of saying "MORE exercise!" They also love to dig - which increases with boredom, but in general, they still have the desire to do so when the weather is good. Maryland has great winters for huskies and you'll notice when the weather gets cooler they become 10x's more energetic. The humidity in the summer is a problem however, so just be careful to only exercise the dog during the coolest part of the day. Right now I'm waking up at 5am to take them out for their morning walk and leaving the house at 6:30pm for their evening walk (in total we walk about 4 hours per day or we bikejorn). In the summer time having a pool is very helpful. I also would recomend a dog door - it's important that they can come in and out as they please. They're very strong willed, stubborn and like to do what they want, when they want. However they are also very family oriented and NEED human or dog contact. They hate being left alone for too long. Even with another dog in the house, they still get anxious when their human..."alpha dog" isn't at home. 5 hours is my max that I'm out of the house before they start going bonkers. I love them and there worth it. They were bred to pull so don't be surprised when your arm is practically ripped off on walks. >.< That's were good training comes in hand or a faster pace.
They also learn VERY quickly, but just because they know it doesn't mean they want to do it. lol They'd make great obedience trial dogs if they were a little less stubborn. They have this mentallity "if I don't think of it, then I don't want to do it." haahaha

One more thing. Although they have strong instincs that are a part of their breed - every individual is different. My Lakota is very stubborn, But oddly enough he is an amazing off leash dog! He's not good with little dogs though - very aggressive. But he's great with my ferret and has been great with the rats I've had in the past. He's also a very dominant dog, so I have to make sure I continue to be the alpha. Kapu is also great with my little ferrets and is good with cats, and small dogs. He's a very enthusiastic little guy that loves to please - but I will not trust him off leash. He loves to run too much and I'm afraid he'd just run and run and never turn around.
Lakota is big for a husky - 86lbs, where as Kapu is more the average size at 59lbs. They're complete opposites. All huskies I've ever known or had have been VERY friendly to both people and dogs (of course with the exception of Lakota who is small dog aggressive). In general they don't make good watch dogs because of this - howeve with their strong pack mentality I believe they would be willing to protect our little pack.

OH one more thing - I can't believe I forgot this one - They SHED! LIKE CRAZY! haha. If you don't mind your close always being furry, your bed always being furry, your entire house always being furry, then you can handle the husky.