Malamutes are lovely dogs, but they take alot of work and patience. They were bred to think for themselves, and so they are hard-headed and stubborn, and often find destructive ways to amuse themselves. They need alot of mental and physical stimulation to keep their minds and bodies busy. They are often dog-aggressive (especially males), though they are usually good with people (they make horrible guard dogs). They are escape artists and need a solid fenced yard, and they may dig underneath the fence. One shouldn't be loose in a dangerous area as their recall is often not very good. In other words, these are strong dogs that need strong owners -- you have to make sure you are able to care for this type of dog. They are sweet, affectionate dogs, but they are high maitenenance and the majority of people can't deal with them.