Just adopted this guy.

As someone that has raised/rescued 11 Mals and 3 Huskies... that is no Husky. For comparison...my youngest purebred(fully documented) Malamute. Which looks very very much like yours.

---->>> Kodi

If this is your first Mal, you are in for a treat. They can be a huge furry handful, but they are amazing. Super smart, with huge personalities, and they will not hesitate to TELL YOU how they feel. LOL By far and away my favorite breed of dog.

If he has any issues with being on a leash and you are not sure how to train him... take him to a professional. I promise you, he is going to go wherever HE wants. You can not stop them, they were originally bred to pull heavy weight. Look for a trainer that has worked specifically with a Mal before. Its a bit of a different process. They are smart enough that they will not just simply obey you all the time. They take a second to think it over first. Weight their options, decide if they feel like playing your silly human game for whatever little reward you are offering. Its not because they are stupid, I've had many in my "pack" work together to play practical jokes on me.

Invest in a good quality rake for his undercoat... cheap ones will just break. When they "blow" their coats... you will fill garbage bags full of fur every few days until it is over. It seems to just materialize out of thin air like its regenerating in real time. Embrace the fur, its part of your life now... and diet. The neighborhood birds will also thank you for all the warm material for their nests.

There is a great "support group" for Malamute owners. Its an old email LISTSERV with a great community. http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-PLUTO.exe?A0=MALAMUTE-L

Kodi as a puppy

Malamutes and Huskies are both escape artists, so in time you will learn the other difference between the breeds. Huskies know the art of Ninjitsu. When they escape you will not know they are gone until you are looking for them. Malamutes... well, you typically know they are gone because there is a giant hole in your wall, or through a fence, or they have chewed through a 3" thick steel plate just because "silly human thought it would contain him."

All that being said, all dogs are unique and I have had a variety of personalities from Mals.

Just remember the mantra... "A TIRED Malamute, is a GOOD Malamute. LOL

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