Overview
Where the Siberian Husky was built for speed, the Malamute was built for power. It is a big, broad dog with a dense double coat, a plumed tail and a frame designed to pull heavy loads slowly all day. It is also one of the most affectionate of the northern breeds with people.
That warmth does not always extend to other dogs. Malamutes can be pushy and dominant, especially with the same sex, and they have a strong prey drive. Add the strength and you have a dog that needs a confident, experienced walker.
Exercise and walking needs
A couple of hours a day of real exercise keeps an adult Malamute civilised. Long hikes, hauling a tyre or pulling in harness are ideal. A short lead walk around the block will leave the dog restless and inventive at home.
Heat is the enemy. The coat that keeps it alive at minus forty makes a British July miserable, so walk early, keep to shade and watch for heavy panting.
On the walk
- Pulling: Hauling is what the breed does. On an ordinary lead and collar you will be towed. Use a strong harness, a double-ended lead and plant your feet.
- Other dogs: Confident and sometimes challenging. Avoid head-on meetings with strange dogs, particularly large males, and keep introductions slow.
- Recall: Independent and prey driven. Rabbits, cats and sheep will all be chased, and most owners never let the dog off outside a secure field.
- Digging: Malamutes dig, usually to cool down. Keep an eye on them in sandy ground or around flower beds you will be blamed for.
Tips for professional walkers
- Wear gloves and good boots; a Malamute lunging at a squirrel will take you with it.
- Give the dog something to pull or carry if the owner agrees; a weighted backpack turns a walk into a job.
- Brush the undercoat out during the twice-yearly moult or your van will never recover.
- Carry water and a collapsible bowl even in spring; the coat holds heat long after the dog stops moving.
What to ask the owner
- Has the dog ever pulled anyone over or slipped its equipment, and what set-up do you trust?
- How does it behave with other dogs of the same sex, and are there any it must not meet?
- Does it chase livestock or wildlife, and has it ever been off the lead safely?