FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are Malamutes easy to train? Yes. Malamutes are highly intelligent and will pick up on clues and queues very quickly. Due to their level of intelligence, they are also able to understand, pick and choose what they want to do. This is sometimes interpreted by people as being "stubborn" but we simply see it as a sign of intelligence and critial thinking. They are certainly not a naturally "obedient breed." What one must understand is that this sense of independence was crucial to their survival as working dogs and a trait we Malamute lovers absolutely adore.
Are Malamutes good with children? Yes. Malamutes adore children. A well-socialized Malamute will learn to be patient and gentle with younger children. They make great companions to grow up with for a child of any age. However, as with any pet, play sessions should always be supervised to ensure the safety of both the child and the dog.
Can I get two puppies at the same time? No. We will not sell two puppies to the same household at the same time. Unless you are an experienced breeder or musher, raising two puppies correctly at the same time is very challenging, especially with a breed like ours. Training and socializing a puppy takes a lot of time and effort, and trying to do it for two at the same time more than twice the effort. If you already have an older puppy at home, we recommend waiting till at least they are 2 years old and trained (and you're happy with the training and learning you have accomplished together), before adding another one to the family. This will ensure a smoother transition and more success for the whole family.
Can Malamutes have blue eyes? No. Purebred Malamutes can never have blue eyes, as they do not carry the gene for it. Their eyes are always a shade of brown, and a darker brown is preferred. A red or mahogany coloured Malamute, will often have hazel eyes.
Do Malamutes get along with cats and other dogs? Malamutes can be naturally same-sex agressive. One must keep this in mind when choosing to commit to this breed. Having two dogs (especially Malamutes) of the same sex in a home is not recommended. If raised from puppyhood with other well-mannered dogs or cats, a Malamute can learn to accept other predatory animals as a part of their family.
Do Malamutes shed a lot? Malamutes shed their entire undercoat twice seasonally, usually. During which the undercoat will come out in big chunks. You can easily pull them out with your fingers or use a rake to brush them out. However, we recommend giving them a warm bath, and using a high velocity blow dryer to blow out the shedding coat couple of times get it all out. This can be done at home or at a groomer. Long-coated Malamutes are not able to shed out their undercoat naturally, one of the reasons that make them more high maintenance compared to those with a correct coat. Please check out our "grooming" section fore more information.
How big do Malamutes get? The correct and the most ideal size for a male Malamute is 25" in height at the shoulders and about 85lbs in weight, while a female should be at around 23' in height at the shoulders and about 75lbs in weight. While a slight variation in size is possible, reputable breeders will strive to breed as close to the ideal freighting size explained in the breed standard as much as possible.
What is the difference between an Alaskan Malamute and a Siberian Husky? They are two different breeds, built to do slightly different jobs. Alaskan Malamutes originate from Alaska, US and Siberian Huskies originate from Siberia. While they both belong in the Working Group / Group 3 (AKC, CKC) or Northern Breeds (FCI, UKC), Malamutes and Siberians perform slightly different tasks and have different dispositions. Think of Malamutes as Clydesdales and Siberians as Thoroughbreds. For more information, visit the "Malamutes Vs. Huskies" page under the "Education" tab (coming soon).
What is the life expectancy of a Malamute? A well bred, well exercised, well fed and overall well loved Malamute can generally live up to 12-14 years. They have one of the longest life expectancy rates for large breeds. But please keep in mind that like with people, diseases such as cancer and unexpected accidents may hinder the quality of life.
Will you have long-coated puppies like Sylar available? Possibly. We do not breed for the long-coat, nor do we plan on purposely breeding the gene out of our dogs. The long-coat is a result of a recessive gene that may show up in a litter between two carriers once in awhile. Being a long-coat himself, Sylar does have a much higher chance of producing pups like himself. However, this is not guaranteed and the length of the coat is also unpredictable. Any long-coated puppies that become available will only be approved to homes that are able to make the commitment of keeping them groomed correctly and regularly.
* Please note that a long coat is not correct for the breed. In the practical working world, it makes the Malamute weaker and unable to survive in harsh weather conditions. We do not believe it to be ethical practice for a breeder to purposely breed for the long coat and promote/sell them as "rare."
Are Malamutes good with children? Yes. Malamutes adore children. A well-socialized Malamute will learn to be patient and gentle with younger children. They make great companions to grow up with for a child of any age. However, as with any pet, play sessions should always be supervised to ensure the safety of both the child and the dog.
Can I get two puppies at the same time? No. We will not sell two puppies to the same household at the same time. Unless you are an experienced breeder or musher, raising two puppies correctly at the same time is very challenging, especially with a breed like ours. Training and socializing a puppy takes a lot of time and effort, and trying to do it for two at the same time more than twice the effort. If you already have an older puppy at home, we recommend waiting till at least they are 2 years old and trained (and you're happy with the training and learning you have accomplished together), before adding another one to the family. This will ensure a smoother transition and more success for the whole family.
Can Malamutes have blue eyes? No. Purebred Malamutes can never have blue eyes, as they do not carry the gene for it. Their eyes are always a shade of brown, and a darker brown is preferred. A red or mahogany coloured Malamute, will often have hazel eyes.
Do Malamutes get along with cats and other dogs? Malamutes can be naturally same-sex agressive. One must keep this in mind when choosing to commit to this breed. Having two dogs (especially Malamutes) of the same sex in a home is not recommended. If raised from puppyhood with other well-mannered dogs or cats, a Malamute can learn to accept other predatory animals as a part of their family.
Do Malamutes shed a lot? Malamutes shed their entire undercoat twice seasonally, usually. During which the undercoat will come out in big chunks. You can easily pull them out with your fingers or use a rake to brush them out. However, we recommend giving them a warm bath, and using a high velocity blow dryer to blow out the shedding coat couple of times get it all out. This can be done at home or at a groomer. Long-coated Malamutes are not able to shed out their undercoat naturally, one of the reasons that make them more high maintenance compared to those with a correct coat. Please check out our "grooming" section fore more information.
How big do Malamutes get? The correct and the most ideal size for a male Malamute is 25" in height at the shoulders and about 85lbs in weight, while a female should be at around 23' in height at the shoulders and about 75lbs in weight. While a slight variation in size is possible, reputable breeders will strive to breed as close to the ideal freighting size explained in the breed standard as much as possible.
What is the difference between an Alaskan Malamute and a Siberian Husky? They are two different breeds, built to do slightly different jobs. Alaskan Malamutes originate from Alaska, US and Siberian Huskies originate from Siberia. While they both belong in the Working Group / Group 3 (AKC, CKC) or Northern Breeds (FCI, UKC), Malamutes and Siberians perform slightly different tasks and have different dispositions. Think of Malamutes as Clydesdales and Siberians as Thoroughbreds. For more information, visit the "Malamutes Vs. Huskies" page under the "Education" tab (coming soon).
What is the life expectancy of a Malamute? A well bred, well exercised, well fed and overall well loved Malamute can generally live up to 12-14 years. They have one of the longest life expectancy rates for large breeds. But please keep in mind that like with people, diseases such as cancer and unexpected accidents may hinder the quality of life.
Will you have long-coated puppies like Sylar available? Possibly. We do not breed for the long-coat, nor do we plan on purposely breeding the gene out of our dogs. The long-coat is a result of a recessive gene that may show up in a litter between two carriers once in awhile. Being a long-coat himself, Sylar does have a much higher chance of producing pups like himself. However, this is not guaranteed and the length of the coat is also unpredictable. Any long-coated puppies that become available will only be approved to homes that are able to make the commitment of keeping them groomed correctly and regularly.
* Please note that a long coat is not correct for the breed. In the practical working world, it makes the Malamute weaker and unable to survive in harsh weather conditions. We do not believe it to be ethical practice for a breeder to purposely breed for the long coat and promote/sell them as "rare."