Hello - Thinking about husky or malamute

philosopherking

I am thinking about getting a puppy very soon. I was thinking about maybe a husky, more specifically a malamute. I live in Maryland, United States and I am unsure if that would be a comfortable climate conditions for the dog.

My other question is, since this will be my first dog, what kind of items will I need to prepare for it coming and stuff I will need for basic care.

Thanks in advance

RonE

Don't be alarmed. I edited your topic title so that maybe more people would see it and respond.

Those are challenging breeds for a first-time owner. If you don't have the time, experience and training to deal with them, they will run you ragged.

May I ask what appeals to you about them? I like them myself, but I also like Siberian tigers. I know my limitations and probably won't be keeping one around the house any time soon.

philosopherking

My aunt used to have one and I really liked that dog a lot. Also, i read up on them and if i remember correctly they are usually really friendly and active which I am pretty active myself and I think it would be a good fit for me.

Snowshoe

Well, there is active, and then there is Husky active.

Do you run at least two miles per day?

Are you able to spend multiple hours per day with your dog?

Do you have a HUGE back yard enclosure, as huskies need room to run.

Plus, ask yourself: how much do I like my furniture?

I'm not talking like $100 worth of damage, I'm talking like thousands of dollars in damage done in less then a half hour.

Huskies, when bored, can chew through whole mattresses, carpet, walls, doors, crates, cages, chairs, sofas, TV sets, etc.

Huskies can dig holes three feet deep in a two hour span.

I would really reconsider my decision to get a husky if I were you.

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??

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Snowshoe

Well...depends on the husky.

They can destroy a mattress in 15 minutes. There's not a whole lot you can do to keep them from it if you leave them alone.

They are a breed that you MUST crate train (or at least attempt to) if you are to have peace in your home.

Oh, and you must have an in ground fence that's well over 6 feet high if you plan to let your husky loose in your yard. They are master escape artists.

philosopherking

are there any reprucussions to crate training?

Snowshoe

Welll, at first it sucks.

But after they get used to it, it's awesome.

My dog thinks of her crate as her own room. She goes in it willingly to escape noise or annoyances in the home.

If you train your dog right, it will feel the same way.

NEVER use the crate as punishment. Stick with positive reinforcement, and make the crate a happy place.

RonE

That four acres of open area? Is it fenced? (I guess not or it wouldn't be open)

The reason I ask is because even the best trained huskies I've seen can be in the next county in the blink of an eye.

Please don't think we're picking on you. They are lovely, magnificent dogs but require a very special owner. If you buy from a good breeder, he'll be asking the same questions and many more.

philosopherking

The fence could be a problem since i have 2 acres of land.

How else could I punish the dog, if not putting it in its crate?

As I stated this would be my first dog ever.

I dont think you are picking on me at all, I really appreciate the advice.

Snowshoe

Easy, don't punish your dog.

Reward the good behaviors with food and treats, and "be a tree" as Carla would say (ie IGNORE THEM) when they're bad.

As a good pet owner, you'll never allow your dog to be unsupervised. With a husky, that means any time he's outside, he'll have to be leashed.

sillylilykitty

My cat is crate trained and if something annoys her or a scary person (kids) come around she hides in her crate. It shouldnt ever be used as a punishment, other wise it will be very difficult to get the dog in the crate.

allaman

husky was my first choice for a dog, but became discouraged after looking into breed habits.

i must have been one of the lucky few with regards to crate training because boss never whined, yelped, barked or anything. when it comes time for a punishment (which is rare), i take him to the utility room where there isn't anything he can chew on or break. the crate is his sanctuary where he will go when he gets tuckered out, even without me leading him to it.

Haidden

I myself was looking to get a malamute when i was out dog shopping but i started looking into them and there would be no way i coudl have one at the moment. Im a college student and live in an apartment, he would have it destroyed. So i bought a smaller dog instead, a shih-tzu, and its a great dog. When i get out and about though i do plan on getting a malamute.

zms325i

I have a 5 month old Malamute. He is the sweetest, smartest dog I have ever met. He is also incredible maniplautive. He can be taught anything, but he has to think there is something in it for him for him to perform. he was bumped from his begining puppy class to the advanced puppy class this week, which means he was good enough to bypass 12 weeks of training. Mals are much more laid back than huskies, and much less prone to agression towards people. Sonny is happy to sleep 16-18 hours a day, but the rest of the time he has a lot of energy. Mals don't eat nearly as much as other large dogs, and have an incredibly slow metabolism. Also, at 5 months, he weighs 65 lbs, which is the size of a full grown husky. In regards to exercise, Sonny gets about 1.5 hours a day, and now is just starting to learn to Bikejor, with no tension on the lead line, just running slowly in front of the bike, and learing the commands.

icepaws20

I have a Malamute too!! He is 9 months now and as daft as a brush,we couldn't have wished for a better dog especially as we have two small children 22 months and 3 years.
We also looked into getting a husky but even though i am a stay at home mum i do not believe i would have been able to devote enough time to one.
Not only that huskys are known to have really bad recall, and i wanted a dog i could let off the lead and i easily walk 6 miles with koda off the lead now.
Which ever one you decide ensure all necessary testing has been performed on mum and dad, hip scores etc.

Good luck, they are both wonderful breeds.

Kirsty and Koda xxx

Hailey

I myself have had 5 sibes, 3 now due to 2 of my girls passing from illness in their old age. They are the most incredible dogs I have ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with. I would never own another breed, as far as the furniture eating, and all that other distructive stuff, I have never witnessed it ever in the 25 yrs I've had my dogs. I think if you are willing to put the time in for exercise, and training you will have an exceptional dog. Mariya was fun in training she picked up on the verbal commands very quickly, by 16 weeks I had her trained with hand signals, as far as recalls I only had to use it once on Hailey as my friends daughter let her out by accident when we were visiting them. She stopped on a dime, and came right back as soon as I called her. Also I don't think sibes have a higher tendency to be aggressive towards people then mals, I was actually bitten pretty badly by a mal when I was 4 yrs old. I have 2 acres for the 3 dogs, there is about an acre fenced for the dogs to play in, the dogs come in, and out as they please. I have tennis balls, a wading pool, and other various toys out in the yard for them. My dogs are all calm, and quiet, I guess you could say I have a very peaceful home, we have 2 cats as well, and all of the animals get along wonderfully. Here are pics of our sibes:

Mariya
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/308711

Jonah
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/308753

Luna
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/309455

Hailey
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/323955

Olympia
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/324927

Good luck with your new pup what ever breed you decide on.

Booga

I have a male Siberian Husky. I adopted him last September. He's 8.
I have completely fallen in love with him. I agree with everyone else who's commented on the breed. I'm home because I have a chronic illness so he gets attention everyday. We walk everyday for at least an hour. I don't dare walk him without a leash. He does have a mind of his own, but does listen to me.
He's my first dog ever. Just know what you're getting into. I really didn't but I'd never be without him now.

Snowshoe

I think that some of the information in these later posts is not accurate. I found this on wikipedia, and its in regards to Malamutes.

Characteristics
While a few Malamutes are still in use as sled dogs for personal travel, hauling freight, or helping move heavy objects, some are used for the rapidly disappearing recreational pursuit of sledding also known as mushing. However, most Malamutes today are kept as family pets or show dogs. They are unable to compete successfully in long-distance dogsled racing against smaller and faster breeds, and their working usefulness is limited to freighting or traveling over long distances at a far slower rate than that required for racing. They can also help move heavy objects over shorter distances.

The Malamute is one of the most "unaltered" of breeds, retaining its original form and function. Their affectionate nature does not make them useful as watch or guard dogs. The Malamute is also noted for independence of thought, and many a 'musher' has had their life saved by a Malamute refusing to obey a command. If a dog owner cannot cope with a dog that will not comply with the owners every wish and command, no matter how beautiful, magnificent, or noble the dog looks, a more compliant breed should be selected. This dog has a long genetic foundation of living in the wilderness with man surrounded by other domesticated animals of approximately the same size, 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. The instincts of this breed are very strong and until another animal is accepted as part of its 'family' group, it is better to be safe than sorry. This dog also needs a great deal of exercise to be happy.
While a Malamute is, as a strong rule, extremely gentle with people and very loyal to every member of its human family, especially after it has reached adulthood and settled down, until one knows the exact nature and disposition of a specific individual dog, it must always be watched around smaller animals, even those in the same household. Only time and experience will show if a specific dog can be left unwatched with other household pets. It is never safe to assume that because a given dog is comfortable with your other pets it will be comfortable with the other animals in the neighborhood or with pets of friends in your house or in their house.

I just think it's important to give the OP good information. Almost all northern type spitz breeds should never be allowed off lead because most ALL of them have terrible recall, my own breed included.

xoxluvablexox

My dad owned a husky and we have a mini poodle now. He said he's never had a dog as hyper as the poodle we have. So either his husky was a lot camler then most or they really aren't that bad. Then again they're bigger then a mini poodle so if you did get a hyper one then it would probably be harder to handle then it is for me to handle my poodle. I guess it just depends on the dog you get, some are more hyper then other. So if you did decide to get a husky just make sure you don't pick the puppy thats running around in circles and jumping up and down like a mad dog.

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