I've owned two male Malamutes and they have both been fantastic pets.
When fully grown, they are BIG! My first Mal was taller than me when he stood on his back legs!!! It's important that you start puppy training as soon as possible, as getting them under control when they're fully grown and stubborn can be a nightmare. Having said that, they do respond reasonably well to training, but will sometimes just do whatever the hell they feel like.
They have been bred with a determined independence. This was a particularly useful trait for the Induit Indians who came to trust the dogs sense of danger and direction when pulling sleds in abysmal conditions.
They are full of character and their personalities are as varied as the markings on their faces.
What do they like to do?
a) Dig
b) Run
c) Play
d) Escape any yard or enclosure you put them in
Are they high maintenance?
To be honest, I don't think so. They like to exercise. At least an hour a day. If you can make it twice a day, even better. But, they are equally happy to laze around doing sweet f&#k all - just not every day!!
They only shed hair a couple of times a year. There's two ways to deal with this. 1) Brush them every day. They love being brushed. or 2) Deal with it over a one week period come shedding time. Be prepared to fill a dozen or so plastic shopping bags with dog hair!!
Their hair does end up in a lot of unwanted places. Behind the bbq, on the bbq, around door and window crevices etc. Buy a gerni.
They are fiercely loyal. Some say they are only loyal to one person in a family unit. I believe it all depends on where they think they fit within the pack. Make sure the two of you never, ever back down. Always feed them after you've eaten and never feed them from the table.
My second Mal didn't particularly take a liking to my wife. But she rarely walked him or fed him. He thought he was above her in the pack. Oddly, he would not leave her side when she was pregnant with our first born. When Casey was born, he would always sit by the back door so he could see him and they used to play in the back yard with no problems.
Neither of my dogs were aggressive towards people. Like all dogs though, they do have a limit when it comes to being tormented by kids and they'll let you know when they've had enough. Oddly, neither liked Labradors and any chance they had to bark or growl at one was taken up.
Do they eat much? Sure. They love chicken necks and marrow bones. Mine used to also like weetbix and milk. For dinner I'd feed them a good serve of kibble and half a can of quality canned food, or alternatively, I'd mix up a big pot of rice, roo mince, pees and carrots.
Are they destructive?
They can be. If they're bored they'll dig or chew. When they are puppies they love to chew! Just make sure they don't get bored.
As for the howling? Mine used to howl when there were sirens blaring in the distance somewhere. You can't make them stop, so don't bother.
If you want to know anything else, just PM me.
)
both the Jonno one and the Strika one 
