DO YOU HAVE THE QUALITIES TO BE A OWNER

The Alaskan Malamute is a special dog. An ordinary dog owner will not be suitable for him.

To have a specimen of the Alaskan Malamute you should be willing to:

	have a lot of patience
	treat him as an exceptional, noteworthy dog
	dedicate time to your dog
	learn to know your dog for what he in reality is, not for what you'd like him to be.

The Malamute is a primitive dog who has never been subjected to genetic manipulation or crossbreeding. A dog with this background has peculiarities which has to be understood and valued. That's the reason why time and patience are required. This is the only way to appreciate this breed to the fullest in getting surprising results.  

The Malamute is a pack-dog and acknowledges authority only if the leader demonstrates to deserve respect. The Malamute has been living for ages side by side with man, sharing his joys and sorrows. He will refuse to be treated like a toy and then be put aside when getting tired of him. He or she must actively be involved in your family's life. Only then will you realize how clever and faithful he is in offering you his/her unconditional loyalty.   

In order to get good results, it is important to adopt simple but effective solutions:  

As a puppy (2 - 3 months):

	Get him or her to know your family's members (parents, children, whoever belongs to your family group), to enable him/her to consider them as "his pack". He will respect them all, and hold the one he considers his Leader in high regard.
	As a puppy, it's fairly easy to teach him rules of social behaviour: you just need to scold him for any misbehaving in a higher tone of voice (without beating him) and you will soon notice how rapidly he learns.
	You must get him/her to socialize with other dogs when he or she is still very young. At an early age, play is his/her favourite past-time, and if the little Malamute is allowed to play with other dogs of different breeds, he will behave himself and show no aggressiveness. Any intolerance must meet a sound rebuke at once.
	As to obedience: the Malamute has got a strong decision-making instinct, and he doesn't feel bound to execute orders he considers futile. For example: if you keep calling him without reason, he may ignore you, not because he can't hear you, but because he can't see the purpose of your call. Therefore, always motivate him to do what you want him to. You don't have a robot in front of you ready to satisfy any sudden urge of yours, but a dog willing to help you in any creditable work.

If you follow these simple suggestions above, your Alaskan Malamute will certainly be a cause of great satisfaction to you and your family!

The role he/she likes best is being a cuddly family pet, as he/she feels above all a mate and a friend of what he sees as "slightly strange dogs, with two legs and no tail".