thinking of getting an alaskan malmute

[Glacier]

I strongly disagree with the suggestion to get an adult Malamute unless it is completely free of all behavior problems.

With an adult Mal, it's a crap shoot -- you may have a dog with a weird past, or simply one that hasn't been raised correctly.

At least with a puppy YOU are the one who "changes" their personality.

My malamutes have all arrived as adults--between 18 months and four years old. I'd take an adult over a puppy any day, even one with known behavior issues, but I have issues with puppies. I adore other people's puppies. No desire to ever raise one of my own again(pretty much the same way I feel about human infants! ). Earle's puppyhood completely cured me of puppy fever!

If you get a puppy from the wrong source, it's just as big of a crap shoot as an adult. A well bred malamute puppy would more predictable.

[Iilo]

Glacier,

Yes, sorry... I forgot to add a puppy from a REPUTABLE breeder, though as long as you steer away from the Giants it isn't TOO hard to find a good breeder in Mals. As a member of about every Malamute-List and Forum there is out there, I've heard one too many horror stories about first-time-Malamute (and sometimes even first time DOG) owners getting a rescue Malamute with a shady past. It's much "safer," imo, to start with a well bred puppy -- any problems it ends up with YOU'VE created and you're completely aware of its past.

As to them "talking".... yup. Rien's not a howler (police sirens only -- not firetrucks or ambulences), but he's certainly a "wooer." I find it completely endearing, but the public's reaction to it does get a little obnoxious. Yes, of course, ma'am, he wants to eat your baby. That's totally why I bring him out into public. Thankfully, even Ri's woos aren't CONSTANT... he only woos when he wants something (but he does want things often, and it could be anything, from a pet to dinner). And unfortunately, since we do have another dog in the household, he barks. He didn't until the first time he heard our CoCoa bark (she's a quiet one unless there's an INTRUDER GASP). And then he was like, "Oh, really? COOL!"