I might be getting an Alaskan malamute and I was just wondering if they are VERY hard to care for? I no they need LOADS of exersize, and A lot of socialization, and I have a big enough yard for her to run around! 
but what I’m wondering is are they a lot harder to take care of than other dogs???
I have a dog and a cat at the moment
thank you in advance! 
Xxo
and if you have any girl alaskan malamute name ideas I would appreciate it! .)
thanks! Xxo
By the way I live in ireland so it’s cold here!
and when I say BIG ENOUGH I mean that my garden is really big!!! 
Xxo
Like I said: I LIVE IN IRELAND A FREEZING COUNTRY!!! SO TO THE PEOPLE WHO SAID I CANT OWN ONE IN IRELAND THEY ARE WRONG!!!!
AND WHEN I SAID I HAVE A BIG GARDEN I DIDNT MEAN I WOULDNT WALK IT??!??
OF COURSE I WOULD!!! I’m not an idiot…
Asked by:x_xMcFlyx_x
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I personally don’t know much about caring for a malamute. However they are similar to Siberian huskies and almost identical to them in appearance. You know huskies have to thick fur coats so you can assume Malamutes do as well so regular grooming is required. Here take a look at these
I’m not sure if this will help. Good luck.
yes basically 24/7 care
i have an alaskan malamute, first no a big yard is not enough, these dogs need to be run for km’s and km’s…. my dog pulls sleds in winter, they need alot of stimulation and exercise. also they consume alot of energy and eat sooooooooo much, cant just give them a dry food. i feed mine a mix of mince, vegatable and rice with a dry food. also sooooo much hair and it malts everywhere…. they need to be brush twice daily, and washed. they are very destructive when young, up until 1-2, because they so strong they will rip the hell out of anything. clothes hanging out to dry….my dog even chewed up wooden logs…
good luck…. this girl will now be your whole life
oh yes kiley is right the howling is crazy- they talk by making this strange sound…..and when a siren is within hearing distant he will howl so loud for 10 minutes…
p.s they are stubbon and big he will take the domanant roll in your family and the dog and cat u have will know about it… infact u will probably have a few problems there
I have a Siberian Husky, which is fairly similar. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my husky. You’ll find that most people with these breeds are slightly crazy-obssessive, and defensive about their dogs. Defensive because they ARE really hard dogs to own.
Here is a great website:
Don’t think that this site is exaggerating. Everything on it is true.
I’m glad that you’re researching this BEFORE you get the dog, because SO MANY of these beautiful breeds end up in shelters because people find out too late that they can’t handle them. If you want, you can borrow my siberian “shadow” and listen to her howl for a few days to make sure you really want to deal with this.
P.S. My husky’s name is Dolce. I wanted something that started with a ‘D’ because both of her parents’ names started with a ‘D’ (Dakota and Diamonte), and I wanted something to do with music because I play several instruments. Dolce is a musical term meaning ‘soft and sweet’. So look at your hobbies, etc–you might find a good name that way.
I have trained dogs for 20+ years and unless you (1) live in a cold climate, (2) have an extra big yard, not just the “big enough yard” you indicated, get some other breed. Additionally, the Alaskan malamute was bred as a working dog and regardless of what dog breeders and lovers will try to tell you to the contrary, they were not bred to be pets and they quickly become frustrated as pets.
Since you seem to be set on getting one of these animals, I’m sure you will ignore everything I said above, but if nothing else, remember this: The Alaskan malamute is a cold weather dog and living in a warm climate will make the dog ill, so if you do live where it is hot in the summer, please do not get one of these dogs.
They are a lot of work. A yard is NOT exercise unless your are playing fetch. Several walks for a minimum of an hour a day is exercise. The need a lot of mental and physical exercise so training classes are vital. They take a great deal of grooming, daily light brushing plus a regular long grooming session. They are not a dog for everyone. They are strong willed working dogs and require a lot of time and energy. You must be the alpha in the pack or your life will be miserable.
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I currently have Siberians and a Malamute. Mals are fine dogs but they do have some personality quirks. Mals rarely start fights with other dogs, but if another dog starts, they will not walk away. You do not want to try and separate an 80 to 100 lb Mal from a fight. I have done it, and it is not fun. Much better to avoid the situation.
You definitely want to formally train your Mal at an obedience school. They are smart, wily, and very strong.
I disagree they are hard to groom. They are a primitive breed with nice straight hair that stays pretty clean. If they roll in the mud, the mud will fall right off when it dries – probably as dust in your house! They do blow their undercoat at least once per year and it takes hours of brushing over weeks before they are done blowing. It is like a Siberian, only twice as much! Fur will be in your food for weeks.
Regular vetting, trim their claws, an occasional brushing to get out burrs and you are good to go.
And they do love to sing.
Cold is not such a requirement. People keep them well in Florida. But think carefully before you introduce a Malamute into a family that already has a dog and a cat. The new dog may not get along with the existing dog. The prey drive of Mals is not quite as high as Sibes, so they may get along with the much smaller cat, or not.
Join a Malamute group on yahoo to decide if you should really get this smart, large, active, and incredibly strong dog.
First, don’t listen to anyone who says it’s okay to own one of these dogs in Florida or other locations where it gets hot. Yes, people do own Alaskan malamutes, huskies, etc. in places like Florida, but they shouldn’t. Books and websites about various breeds even warn people about such dogs over-heating in places where it gets hot — and it never gets cool in places like Florida. Anyone who lives in a place where the weather gets very warm who decides to own an Alaskan malamute, or other cold weather dog, is thinking only of themselves and what they want, not what is best for the dog.