Alaskan Malamute - any tips?

[Mouseface]

Hello

We've just got a Malamute. He's 12 weeks old (and gorgeous)

I wondered if anyone had any tips on care/feed/walking/sleep/training etc?

We are crating him but only got him today so tonight should be interesting.

Oh, I meant DS has complex special needs, not DH

Ahhhh I see - sorry I did wonder

No, don't be, I worded it poorly. When I read it back I thought too!

Good luck,
quite jealous of your ignorance, Knowing what i know now(we have onw Siberian Husky) I could never have a mal despite wanting one soooooo muuuuchhh!!!!!!!
Sounds like you have lots of local support and time so sure he will make a lovely pet and great companion for your DS.
I use skinners food for my sibe which is cheap but not full of crap.

Thank you raindrop

Care to elaborate? I promise not to dump him. It's weird but it's like we've always had him. He's so settled.

Crate training starts tomorrow, now that he's found his feet.

So, tell me why you wouldn't get one?

they are hard work.
We are dog people and i was left in tears with our sibe lots and lots in the first 18 months. He destroyed stuff, managed to escape from our garden despite the 7 ft fence many many times. Was just endless.
but he is lovely now he is nearly 4.
Mals are notoriuously worse can be very territorial, impossible to tire out if you have done your research you will know this?

Thanks Rain and Lara

He seems to be developing his own routine.

Out for food and a drink 7am, then he'll eliminate a couple of times.

Lunch around 1pm, same re the elimination.

Dinner at 7pm.

In between those times, he goes out to run around the yard area and either myself or DH will play with him, balls, ropes, etc....

He is very easy to tire out at this stage but I'm sure, once he is bigger, all that will change.

One thing I need to ask please from those of you with a Mal or have had them, I said about feed, Bakers, and the vet said to keep him on it a bit longer.

TMI ALERT

However, his poos are greeny brown and runny. They are not firm and dark brown as they are supposed to be. I'm guessing that he doesn't like the Bakers?

Could it be anything else? Nerves? Change of home?

There is nothing outside for him to eat so it's not that.

Should I wean him off it now?

TIA for any help

Food intolerances are really common in the 'primitive' breeds, wheat and wheat gluten especially, though mine between them have sensitivities to pretty much everything. One in particular cannot have wheat or maize in any form as it manifests in terrible diarrhoea.

Be careful with taking a vet's advice on diet; most of it seems geared to selling you expensive prescription diets that are full of terrible ingredients and they are most often not aware that these dogs are 'different' and can't tolerate grains at all.

My vet suggested that my dog was allergic to chicken and beef and prescribed a maize-based diet - two days of uncontrollable liquid faeces later, I switched to a BARF diet based mainly on raw chicken and haven't looked back. I normally have a great deal of respect for my vet but will always do my own research on diet these days.

Bakers is basically an allergic nightmare - less than 4% meat (from an unknown source), grains, artificial colours, added sugar, known carcinogens - bin it!

Vets do a fantastic job at what they're trained to do, but most of them don't have a clue about diet or training/behaviour. The rubbish you hear of them coming out with is breathtaking sometimes.

Thank you so much. I do think it's the stuff in Bakers. I've looked at the label.

DH is going out later so I'll get him to get some JWB

Is it worth me mixing the two to start? Like weaning him off it?

Congratulations!

I recommend royal canin maxi junior, but don't change food suddenly, start by mixing the new food in the old bakers and increase amounts until your fully feeding the new one. I'd also start a.s.a.p. Mals have very sensitive tummy's so watch out for 'bad' treats too, no pedigree!

Mals are dominant and will try to be top dog so you need to let him know who's boss right from the start. I agree with the poster that said carry him everywhere you go, he needs to be well socialised from an early age. Mals will not back down with other dogs so be careful, if he meets another dominant dog you'll need strong arms! Given how strong they are, I would start training him to walk to heel now, he;s too young yet to go out on walks but while you're in the garden try it out.

Be prepared for the reactions you will get from other people. You'd be amazed by the amount of people that will cross the road to avoid you and your wolf! Don't take it personally, it's ignorance because they are such a rare breed.

I don't think mals can be compared to huskies, they are so different in nearly every way. Mals are not as high energy as huskies, they are much more laid back and chilled out. Mals are bigger and stronger where huskies are faster and lighter which is why huskies are better suited to racing and mals heavy pulling. A mal shouldn't destroy your home as long as he's not allowed to get bored, you need plenty of tough toys.

I'm pleased you are ingoring toilet accidents in the house and seem to be so patient with him, I think that's exactly the right thing to do.

The poster who said you need to hoover twice a day and replace in annually made me laugh lol Most of the year they are fine, but that blow out needs to be seen to be believed. Best budget for one of those super dysons now lol

What else can I think of? You do need high fences, and you need to make sure they are dug low into the ground. It's amazing the holes mals can dig in such a short amount of time!

It's great you have mal people near by and your vet knows about them, you seem to be lucky there! Look forward to the snow coming because he will love it!

Wow - Thanks!

He already understands bed (his crate) although to be honest, he is happy to go in there to sleep all the time.

He destroyed a teddy that the breeder gave him so he's on ropes and rubber now.

7ft, cemmented in fences and a 7ft gate. Walled patio area which is 10ft high and lots of thickets/hedgrows with wire growing in them.

Already!

'so he's on ropes and rubber now'

I've just realised how that sounds!

mouseface

To be honest if he already has an upset tummy I would change straight to the better food - you change slowly to prevent loose stools but as he has that already not a lot of point in worrying about that

Bakers is the food of the devil the quicker he is off that the better

agree with mini your pup has an upset tummy change the food now. I use Royal Canin Maxi Junior for my GSD puppy and she is looking fabulous on it.

I have never used JWB before, but assume it is pretty decent stuff.

mouseface you seem to be doing everything really well so far. Your puppy is lucky to have you.

oooh so cute, I wouldnt be able to stop snuggling with him.

Thanks for all the kind words, that's not been the case with some

Anyway, I have to say, now that I have been told just how bad Bakers is, I am really ed that the breeder feeds his Mals such shite.

Thank God I asked.

He doesn't have any solid poos at all so as soon as the new feed arrives, he's on it!

He's getting better at 'heel' and 'sit'.

When can you walk them? He has his second set of jabs next Saturday, he'll be 11.5 weeks then.

The area he has now is about 15ft square. He tires easily and is very playful.

Another thing, do they get 'spring fever'?

He's a bit, well, odd at times and our cat, who is finally okay with him and him her, gets a bit 'sctty' at this time of year.

I'm asking all of you because you have owned/know much more about Malamutes than I've been able to find on the internet.

Well, certainly in more simple terms for a first timer

Sorry, I should add that the vet at the place we go, the one with 3 Mals has said that Fish4Dogs is better than JWB at this age so we are going with that.

After I've sold a kidney

My only tip would be to be consistent and stubborn.

Northern dogs are not for the faint hearted but when well-trained, they are a delight.

Good luck!

Arrrrrrgh!

So many mixed reports and suggestions.

Can I/should I bath the wolfcub?

He is really grubby, not as wiffy no he's dry but all dusty (we've got a lot of building work going on) and brushing alone doesn't really get it all out.

So, can I and if so, what should I use please?

use puppy shampoo and yes you can bath him. Just avoid the eyes/head area.

I'm going to be different lol I think he's too young to be bathed and he can't be that dirty because he's not been anywhere to get dirty yet. Pups need the natural oils in the coats and mals coats don't appreciate being washed too often. If he gets into the mud I'd rinse him in the shower but that's about it. It's dependent on your activities but I'd say mals shouldn't be bathed more than every 6 months and annually is meant to be best. Unless of course you are going to show, in which case get him socialized with the shower and dryer. Dirt should brush out a mals coat though as that's the way the coat is designed so maybe try a different brush if the one you have isn't working.

Thanks you

I've brushed him every other day, we've had work out the back so it's dusty/muddy/cement dust in some areas.

Much better for a good brush though!

Right, DH has asked me to ask you about a 'halty'? Like a muzzle to go over his nose (the dogs, not DH's.... hmm, but then again...) ready for walks in a few weeks.

Also, why does he nip? He's doesn't do it so much with me, but he nips DH all the time. He's quite fearce with it too.

Is it a) because he sees DH as a threat (Alpha male) or b) Dh is being too weak with him or something else?

Sorry to keep posting, just want to get this right.