Dog advice?

[Ebondale]

Hey folks.

I'm really not a dog person, actually. I have two cats. Anyway, I figure that while I'm stationed in Alaska I might as well get a dog since it has been so long since I've had one. (I used to have a Basset Hound when I was a kid.)

I've been thinking about getting an Alaskan Malamute which are big damn dogs and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this breed. I've heard that they're really friendly family dogs despite their enormous wolf-like size.

Any advice? I'd hate to make the wrong decision and blow $900 on a mean dog. :)

Thanks!

[HarmNone]

I don't know anything about that particular breed, and am a cat person, myself. However, I've always heard it's a good idea to get to know the parents of the pet you're considering. That can give you some pretty good insight into what your pet will be like as an adult. :)

[Wezas]

Taking a quick glance at the AKC's info on the malamute it seems the dog's temperment is pretty good. A family dog, kind, won't stick to your leg like glue, etc.

Only downside I read about them is they tend to get into mischief when bored.

Of course my personal favorite snow dog is the newfoundland (if you have the room)

http://members.cox.net/legendwezas/pennysnow2.jpg

[SpunGirl]

A friend of mine growing up had a malamute that was the coolest dog ever.

Before buying a huge dog and agreeing to take care of it forever and ever (because that's what a pet is), make damn certain you want it. If you're not REALLY a dog person and prefer cats due to their independent nature and self-sufficiency, you may not be patient enough or have enough time to really handle the needs of a puppy - much less a huge adult dog.

-K

[Sean of the Thread]

Our family just put to sleep our basset hound.

[DCSL]

Of the large, cold climate dogs, I prefer Chow and Great Pyrenees. But I've met a few Malamutes and I like them quite well. Not as springy as Huskies.

Since you haven't had a dog in quite a while and not a dog as large as this one would be when you did, I'd recommend trying for as submissive a dog as you can find in the breed without the potential for fear-biting. You really want to be the leader of the pack with a dog like this, whose capacity for harming someone is so great. I'm not saying it will, but it can. If you're not dominant constantly and it comes down to enforcing your dominance later on, you might well lose with a dog like that.

If you don't have practice being dominant, you'll need to work up to it with a more submissive dog. It's not just "I'm bigger and stronger than you!" dominance, but more a habit of obedience that you want. Malamutes are big enough that if they are not in the habit of obeying you, and there's an occasion that they don't really feel like it, then they won't and there's not too much you could do.

Ask the breeder for help when picking out your puppy on this one, definitely. The breeder would know his/her dogs the best and can match you up to an animal about your speed.

[MangledKitty]

Alaskan Malamutes have a lot of energy. So I hope you have a lot of free time. Like someone already stated...when they are bored they can cause a whole lot of havoc. On a site I'm looking at it says "They will try to challenge the family for the top or "alpha" role." So make sure you're careful with that. They seem to be very fun and have a unique personality. Good luck with your choice and like DCSL said, make sure you ask the breeder whatever questions you have. :)

[Edited on 12-29-2005 by MangledKitty]

[Warriorbird]

$900 seems pretty high. Are they listed under the Alaskan Malamute Club of America?

[MangledKitty]

On that site it says that they are a huge investment of money...since they are racing and also rescue dogs.

[Warriorbird]

Yeah. Bug there's a fine line between "huge investment of money" and breeder overpricing/underqualitydogging.

[Kainen]

We had a malamute when I was a kid.. she was loyal, smart as hell, stubborn, and constantly making us laugh. They are good dogs.

[MangledKitty]

I would advise just to make sure the breed is right for you and that you think you're ready for it. It's not fair to the dog if you decide to get one and then find out you have no time or something. I would personally get an adult, that way you could already tell if they're ill tempered or not and also you will be knowing if the the breeder is overpricing.

[Edited on 12-29-2005 by MangledKitty]

[Ebondale]

I knew I could count on you guys for good information. :)

When I was a kid I wanted a basset hound because I thought it was a 'cute dog'. Being 25 now I figure I'd go with more of a man's best friend type of a breed. I don't think I'll have much trouble acting as a sort of Alpha role for a dog... I mean, summer will be coming in a few months here in Alaska and it would be nice to run all up and down the trails here with a big 'ol Malamute tagging along to get that exercise, too. Might even motivate me to run farther distances.

SpunGirl - If I can be patient enough to deal with my wife then I can be patient enough to handle the needs of a puppy. :lol:

About that $900.00 price tag, that was the price I was quoted by a friend who heard it somewhere else so I can't even really verify that price. I just figured that was a lot of money for a puppy. :)

[DCSL]

Hundreds of dollars can be spent on purebred puppies, even for companion animals who won't be shown. I wasn't too surprised to hear that price tag at all, actually. I've been looking for a Shiba Inu puppy, myself, and was recently quoted $1400 (and that IS too much, I don't care if they microchip the puppy for me) but I could easily pay $500 or more for a puppy with champion bloodlines.

Also, as a heads up, females generally cost more. Anywhere from $50-200 more, for their breeding potential. I dunno how much you know about buying puppies, so I thought I'd throw that in.

And make sure you ask the breeder about genetic testing for predisposition to certain diseases. All purebreds are prone to SOMETHING. I think I remember that Malamutes have problems with diabetes, eye trouble, and bloat (but any of the bigger dogs have greater potential for bloat). Look it up and ask the breeder if there's been any history of whatever in their dogs.

One more piece of advice... don't be too impressed by boasts of "AKC registered!". AKC registering is not that hard or discriminating at all. Look for a breeder that registers with a more exclusive national breed club instead. I'm not saying that AKC registration is a bad thing, just that it doesn't prove much.

[TheEschaton]

Our purebred champion labrador cost my parents $700.


He's still fat as fuck, though, and the best dog in the world.


And I especially concure on finding the weaknesses of the purebreds. We've always had this problem with our labs, being purebred.


-TheE-

[SpunGirl]

In all the dogs I had as a kid, the mutts were always the best. I know there are certain breeds and things that people want, but there are so many thousands of dogs out there no one wants, or that have been mistreated or abused... and they're waiting to be YOUR best friend.

Many of them have behavioral problems because of the mistreatment by their previous owners. Those are problems that can easily be corrected.

If $900 sounds like a lot (and it is!) you might consider checking out the humane shelter or local animal rescues for the "right" dog. They'll usually ask for a small donation, and you can spend those hundreds of dollars on the vet bills that are sure to come down the road... and you can rescue an animal ::warm fuzzies::

-K

[Caiylania]

Originally posted by SpunGirl
In all the dogs I had as a kid, the mutts were always the best. I know there are certain breeds and things that people want, but there are so many thousands of dogs out there no one wants, or that have been mistreated or abused... and they're waiting to be YOUR best friend.

Many of them have behavioral problems because of the mistreatment by their previous owners. Those are problems that can easily be corrected.

If $900 sounds like a lot (and it is!) you might consider checking out the humane shelter or local animal rescues for the "right" dog. They'll usually ask for a small donation, and you can spend those hundreds of dollars on the vet bills that are sure to come down the road... and you can rescue an animal ::warm fuzzies::

-K

What she said. And since you are in Alaska good chance you may even still find that breed or mix of that breed in a pound or shelter anyway.

[Drew]

I've always preferred male dogs myself, since I'm gonna neuter them anyway (well, I'm not gonna do it, but I'll have it done!), don't have to deal with them going into heat.

[Jennaen]

Mutts for the win! I've had numerous dogs in my lifeover the years, and I've always had the best luck with the non-purebred variety. Best two dogs I've had.. a black lab/chow mix, and my current mutt, a rottweiler/border collie/chow.

My mutt:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v151/iseabeal/Asher.jpg

[Wezas]

Definitely look into the animal rescue. We looked for a newfoundland through a few animal rescues - but had no luck.

Especially if you're not looking for a puppy, there are lots of dogs that used to be race/sled dogs that have since been retired and are available as family pets.

A neighbor of mine does Greyhound rescue for racing dogs that don't race anymore.

[Atlanteax]

You can count on puppies (especially for known "good" breeds) always being expensive.

There's a bit of a tradeoff... usually you can find an older, more mature dog, for significantly less...

... but you will miss out on "impressing" it which predominantly occurs during the puppy stage.

"Impressing" as in molding the dog's personality and behavior to your preferences, which also occurs on a subconscious level... which contributes to the perception that owners and their pets are usually very alike.

There's usually a stronger loyalty factor with puppies, but if you treat an older dog very well, it usually will bond with you regardless.

[Wezas]

And if you play with your balls in front of the dog in the front yard while still in a shirt & tie, he'll love you forever.

[ElanthianSiren]

Atlanteax's point is good about impression, but it's fairly easy to coax an adult dog to do what you want with rewards in a controlled environment.

When I first adopted Abel (retired greyhound), he refused to get on the furniture because someone had trained him not to. He avoided entirely the kitchen area or any other place where human food was being consumed. He would also not touch human food, even if you left it on the floor with him and left the room. I'm proud to say I've broken him of these terrible habits, and he now acts like a dog should.

The only thing I've been unable to break him of is not liking when men or other dogs come too close to me. We practice sometimes in a controlled setting, but he knows the men who are allright vs. strangers, so it's not a perfect setup. As he's a sight hound (greyhound), he's allright with other dogs as long as they're not running around because he then wants to chase and play, and he's quite large.

I researched for quite awhile before I adopted him, finding out the eye problems hounds are prone to and the difficulties with training them. My advice would be to see if your breeder will "loan" you a dog for a week to evaluate the breed's general temperment and if it fits your home and especially wife.

A dog isn't just a monetary investment. He or she is a 12 year committment. If you decide you want to own a dog, I'd also see about rescuing for the reasons that Spun mentioned.

-M

[SpunGirl]

I think that's awesome, ES. I used to housesit/dogsit for a lady who had a retired greyhound from a rescure... his name was Bob. He was such a sweet dog, but they'd only had him for about a year, and he had been abused, so he was still very skittish. He didn't like for you to put your face too close to his, and petting had to be on HIS terms.

It was really nice to see him warm up to me on my repeated visits to the house, and eventually he greeted me right away like a friend:)

-K

[Drew]

Originally posted by ElanthianSiren
When I first adopted Abel (retired greyhound), he refused to get on the furniture because someone had trained him not to. He avoided entirely the kitchen area or any other place where human food was being consumed. He would also not touch human food, even if you left it on the floor with him and left the room. I'm proud to say I've broken him of these terrible habits, and he now acts like a dog should.


Hah, you broke the dog of all his good habits!

[Ebondale]

One of my friends used to have a purebred Beagle that was a really sweet dog but most of them have had mutts. Mutts really are lovable dogs, I totally agree. I just love the way that Malamutes look and I can't possibly think of a better souvenir of Alaska than a really great dog. I wouldn't mind like a Malamute/Husky mix or a Malamute/Wolf mix or something like that, though...

Actually a Malamute/Wolf mix would be pretty sweet. :D

About the humane society though, I really do try to rescue animals that need homes or have been abused and the like. I've had five cats and that is how I've gotten every single one of them. I just feel that it is time for a dog and I want a very specific kind of dog...

So I gather that I should meet the puppy's parents and find out about the potential genetic problems the dog may have. The dog being registered with AKC doesn't make a big difference. Seeing the home and parents that the puppy is bred from would give me a good idea as to whether or not it has been abused but the younger I get the puppy the easier I'll have it when I 'impress' upon the dog, am I right?

[Bastard]

Why switch? You've already owned the perfect breed before. Lazy, smelly, loud as a bomb siren. Now *that's* a man's dog. Basset hounds are awesome.

IMO, $900 sounds a bit pricey for a pup. That's starting to approach mall pet store prices.

[Ebondale]

No doubt basset hounds are awesome (and friendly) dogs. Man they're stupid, though. I named my dog Puddles cuz he couldn't get house broken. :lol:

[Warriorbird]

Shouldn't be looking over $500, really. Still, if everything checks out and you're not getting taken for a ride over a dog with a troubled genetic history/from a puppy mill, it might be worth it.

[Brattt8525]

The price tag he is talking about would have to be from a reputable breeder who will stand by the dogs temperment health etc for at least 2 years.

Backyard breeders do not give any promises of any kind on their dogs. You pay them you take your chances, now a rescue group would be a great idea as they temperment check and place dogs accordingly.

I hope you find the dog who you will love for the rest of its life be it AKC or happy go lucky muttster from a pound.

[FinallyDomesticated]

This is completely not the rugged dog you're wanting; however, I just have to point out that Bichon Frise are such sweet, smart, perfect little dogs.

They are so easy to train because they thrive on their master's approval. They don't have dander and fur that irritates those with allergies. They smell good, too. I know that sounds strange, but he never smells 'like a dog.'

I was never a dog person until I owned a Bichon. The only downside is that you have to brush them, lots. But if you ever decide you want a sort of wussy best friend that is adorable and smart - go for a Bichon.

[Warriorbird]

Eh. The suggestion I got from a frequent Obedience Trial Champion completer was not to pay over $500 for a dog from a breeder. :shrugs: Your mileage may vary.

If you're open to the mutt thing, I'd check into local puppy availability. Probably a lot cheaper, and you get a dog with a lot less problems in many cases, if you don't intend to show it. My folks have a black lab/Golden cross that's a great dog that they got for free. Because it was a result of a breeding "accident" as it were, the bloodlines were known.

[SpunGirl]

Agreed, Warriorbird. My dog from the time I was 10 until she died two years ago was a black lab/golden retriever cross, and she was an amazing dog. She was smart and loyal, but she wasn't one of those dogs that bonds with just one person - she loved the whole family and was always friendly to guests, good with kids and other animals. I miss my Pepper!

-K