From a pretty reputable breeder of show Malamutes (The same breeder I looked at going to before I got my Siberian):
"Alaskan Malamutes require a long-term commitment to obedience, activity, exercise and entertainment... their unique character, intelligence and energy level can frustrate you, will undoubtedly entertain you, and can bring you great joy (when they're happy!) or great grief (when they're not!)."
"They absolutely need a securely fenced yard! Alaskan Malamutes will roam due to their hunting instincts.... even if left in an unsecured for a few minutes! Alaskan Malamutes are commonly known to injure or kill other small pets, such as cats, birds, rabbits, mice, rats, etc., simply due to their strong natural hunting instinct."
"Alaskan Malamutes can be very destructive if left unattended . They are NOT recommended as apartment or condo dogs. "
"They need exercise and outdoor activity, and are usually too loud for such high-density living. They need room to run; leash walking does not satisfy their energy. Unless your schedule permits many hours at home and a lot of outdoor activity this is not the dog for you. MANY rescues come from apartments, condos, or homes where the owners work away from the home for long periods of time. Please remember... Rescue is very busy with displaced mals because MANY PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE LIFE WITH A Alaskan Malamutes."
(And you were wondering where we say they require so much exercise and are so high energy?)
"A sunny disposition. Their activity level is high and they demand daily both a physical & mental workout. A Malamute will insist on having a part in all family activities demanding a lot of attention.They can be dog aggressive and extremely predatory. Pack oriented, try to establish and test the pack order. Do best when included in the family rather than shut outside away from the rest of the "pack. "Virtually always extend a tail-wagging, face-licking welcome to strangers. "
Just in case they didn't mention it - Malamutes are a high energy breed.
Also;
"Most mals love kids. They are not, however, a child’s pet. Mals are just “too much dog” for a child to handle. Start early, and have your children do as many different training exercises with the dog as possible, being sure to choose only exercises which the child can complete successfully. Young children must never be left unsupervised with any puppy or dog — yours or anyone else’s! In spite of the child’s and dog’s affection for each other, it still takes a lot of learning on both sides for them to understand how to behave towards each other. The vast majority of problems involving children and dogs are a result of children behaving like children, dogs behaving like dogs, and parents or other responsible adults failing to provide proper supervision and education."
"Since they are pack oriented, Malamutes are generally not "one-man" dogs. They are an extremely intelligent breed that can be very stubborn and easily bored. They are not typically recommended to a first-time dog owner as mistakes are easy to make and sometimes hard to correct unless you really know what you are doing. They can be a challenge to train, due to their stubbornness. It is said that to teach a Malamute to do something once or twice is very easy, because they are quite intelligent and quickly learn new tasks. To get them to repeatedly do something over and over again is much more challenging, due to their stubbornness and the fact that they become easily bored. This trait is quite common in all of the northern breeds. Many Malamutes end up in the pound and even destroyed because an owner fell in love with the cute puppy but could not control the large, stubborn, powerful adult.
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Also, Zoopie, some things to pass onto your friend.
(And before I get flack for posting something about "pack" animals - sled dog breeds ARE pack animals.)