Am I nuts???!!

[BFeathered]

DH and I are considering adopting a Malamute. Mind you, we already have a Rhodesian Ridgeback, an Airedale and a geriatric lame Siamese. Oh, and chickens

So what on earth are we going to do with an extremely hairy, 90+lb goofball? Any Malamute fanciers out here in chicken land? Oh, BTW, we live in N Tex... can you say "It's hot already, and it's not even June yet!" Someone stop me before I adopt again....

 

[TipsyDog]

I've never had a Malamute, but I had 10 dogs

I'm down to 6 now, but all poodles

I'd have more, but I'd like to get out and travel alittle in a couple of years, so I've nixed more dogs for now.

I guess I'm not the person that should be guiding you since I think I'm alittle nuts too!

Good luck!

P.S. - I'm thinking those malamutes would LOVE our 5+ months of cold and snow up here! Wait, NO!

 

[Jenlyn9483]

Not nuts, just loving animals like the rest of us. Are you getting a puppy or an adult and are you rescuing or purchasing. There are alot of dogs that need home, im sure you can save one.

 

[MoTownChickie]

YOU ARE NUTS!

But really, if you have the space, time, patience, and can afford to introduce a new furry family member, why not.
Just be prepared to clip the fur sometimes if it gets really hot and humid.

Good luck.

 

[NancyDz]

Very high prey drive in a malamute .... just an fyi.... beautiful dogs though.


Nancy

 

[MoTownChickie]

Remember, though:

The Alaskan Malamute, a natural hunting dog, is not usually successful as a farm dog. Cats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep and occasionally larger animals are fair game to the Malamute. Constant contact with these animals from puppyhood may bury this instinct, but a Malamute owner must be prepared to cope with this aspect of the arctic heritage.

So depending on the age of the Malamute, you may have some intensive training ahead.

No, pup, chickens are NOT squeaky toys despite the fact that they do squeak when you chew them!

 

[BFeathered]

The malamute in question is a "found" dog that needs a forever home. He's between 2-3 yr old according to the foster mom's vet, no heartworms (yay!) and a real sweetie who needs more exercise and room to run than she can provide. We've got an acre, a pool (oh crud, what about the filter!?) and 2 other large dogs to play with. I do obedience training (clicker) even though you'd never know it by the Ridgeback and Airedale. And I worked for a vet for almost 5yr, so I'm not entirely clueless. My best friend keeps telling me I need another 'dale (we work in 'dale rescue together), but DH is a sucker for a dog that needs a home, and I just like the pointy-eared goobers. Besides, DD could always spin the undercoat into yarn and use it to knit, right?

 

[Jenlyn9483]

Awesome, good for you for rescuing pooches. Can't wait to see pics.

 

[Larry Waughon]

That malamute will be happy you were crazy enough to give him a home. We had one as a child and was a great dog.

 

[Goat_Walker]

I love my friend's Malamute. He is such a sweet heart! I would be extremely worrried about the heat though. They have thick coats for a reason, and he will need some grooming to thin it out.