The Alaskan Malamute is a stunningly beautiful large breed of dog. The Alaskan Malamute is often used as a sled dog. They can grow up to weigh between seventy five and one hundred pounds, so be sure that you want a big dog before you commit to owning one as a pet.

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The Alaskan Malamute, as its name suggests, is best suited for northern climates. This is mainly due to its very thick coat and undercoat. Their coats can be a variety of main colors, such as grey, black, red and sable. The main color is always paired with white in these dogs. If you are looking for a pure bred Alaskan Malamute, it should always have brown eyes. The tail should plume up over the back and have a lot of fur to keep the dog’s face warm in freezing weather while sleeping.

If you are considering an Alaskan Malamute as a house pet, there are a few things to be aware of. They can be great with children, but may not take well to a small child that hurts or teases. Older children in the home are preferred. Alaskan Malamutes are very active as puppies and need a lot of room to run and play. You will need a big yard with a good fence. Alaskan Malamutes can be destructive if ignored or not properly socialized. With some obedience training and proper handling, they usually grow into gentle mild-mannered dogs.

It is important to exercise your dog. Overheating is the main concern and you should be careful about exercising your dog in hot weather. Alaskan Malamutes can easily get too hot in warm climates. Their dense undercoat sheds for warmer weather. Make sure that your dog has plenty of shade and fresh water during warmer months.

Alaskan Malamutes are generally healthy dogs with little health issues to worry about. They eat as much as you give them and can get rather bloated and overweight. They only need a surprisingly small amount of food, so be careful about overfeeding.

Alaskan Malamutes have historically been prized sledding dogs. They were originally bred for sledding and are very powerful animals. They usually have a very sweet disposition as adults and may not make the best guard dogs. They are loyal companions and loved for their friendly mild manners by many owners. They do like to dig, so make sure that your fence is equipped to handle some deep digs and keep your dog in. They are territorial and may not get along well with other dogs. This is especially true with same sex or same breed dogs. They can be raised to accept other pets in the home, even small animals. You will need to properly introduce your dog to smaller pets so that your dog does not see them as prey.

Having an Alaskan Malamute in your life can be a real blessing and add a lot of love to your family. Choose wisely and avoid puppy mills when choosing your dog. Puppy mill dogs tend to have a lot more health and temperament problems.

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About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of purebred puppies for sale. For more information, please visit http://www.MyDreamPuppy.com