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NOT EVERY MALAMUTE OWNER NEEDS TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL MUSHER. HOWEVER, MALAMUTES DO BEST IN HOUSEHOLDS WHERE THE OWNER ENGAGES WITH THEIR MALAMUTE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE SUITED TO IT. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A DOG TO RETRIEVE A BALL AND ENJOY OFF LEAD WALKS THEN GENERALLY SPEAKING THIS IS THE WRONG BREED FOR YOU.

 

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND ATTENDING OBEDIENCE CLASSES WITH YOUR MALAMUTE FROM AS SOON AS THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR VACCINATIONS, FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN STICK AT IT. OBEDIENCE CLASSES HELP TO SOCIALISE YOUR MALAMUTE WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR THIS BREED AND IT WILL ALSO HELP TO CEMENT YOUR LEADERSHIP, AS YOUR DOG LEARNS TO RESPECT YOU THROUGH POSITIVE PRAISE. MANY AVERAGE DOG TRAINERS BELIEVE MALAMUTES TO BE HARD TO TRAIN BECAUSE THEY ARE STUPID. THIS IS DUE TO INEXPERIENCE! THE LATTER IS FALSE, THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO TRAIN AS THEY BECOME BORED EASILY SO IT IS DOWN TO YOU AS THE HANDLER TO PERSIST, BE PATIENT AND CONSISTENT.

A C T I V I T I E S   T O   T R Y 

W I T H   Y O U R   A L A S K A N   M A L A M U T E

MALAMUTES COMPETE TO SEE WHICH DOG CAN PULL THE MOST WEIGHT OVER A VERY SHORT DISTANCE (16 FEET). COMPETITIONS START WITH LOW WEIGHTS OF AROUND 500LBS AND SOME DOGS CAN CONTINUE TO PULL PHENOMENAL WEIGHTS TOWARDS 2600LBS. DOGS OF 1 YEAR AND OLDER CAN COMPETE, YOUNGER DOGS CAN ENTER INTO NOVICE CLASSES TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUE. THERE ARE TWO VENUES IN THE UK FOR ALASKAN MALAMUTES, CHECK OUT THE LINKS BELOW.

W E I G H T

P U L L 

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PUT QUITE SIMPLY, YOUR MALAMUTE IS TRAINED TO PULL YOU  ON A MOTORLESS WHEELED VEHICLE. THIS CAN BE A FOUR WHEELED CART (USUALLY FOR LARGER TEAMS), A RIG (3 WHEELED TRIKE), A SCOOTER OR A BICYCLE (KNOWN AS BIKEJORING) MORE SUITABLE FOR JUST ONE DOG. YOU CAN UNLOCK A YOUNG MALAMUTE'S DESIRE TO PULL IN HARNESS IF YOU TRAIN THEM FROM A YOUNG AGE TO PULL OBJECTS SUCH AS TYRES, CHAINS OR EVEN BOTTLES FILLED WITH WATER. THE SECRET IS TO ALWAYS REWARD THEM FOR PULLING.

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THERE ARE SEVERAL CLUBS THAT OFFER DRYLAND MUSHING EVENTS UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY. SOME OF THESE EVENTS ARE SHORT SPRINT RACES (3-5 MILES), OTHER EVENTS MAY FOCUS ON COVERING LONGER DISTANCES (UPWARDS OF 10 MILES) AT STEADIER PACES. THE BEAUTY OF OWNING A MALAMUTE IS THEY CAN HAPPILY TAKE PART IN ALL OF THESE EVENTS, JUST DON'T BE TEMPTED TO RUN BEHIND YOUR RIG TO KEEP PACE WITH THE HUSKIES. STICK TO THE BREED STANDARD AND REMEMBER THE ORIGINAL FUNCTION OF A MALAMUTE WAS TO PULL. CLUBS SUCH AS AMCUK AND AMWA RUN A CHAMPIONSHIP EACH WORKING SEASON FOR THEIR COMPETITORS. ATTENDING THESE EVENTS IS A GREAT WAY TO LEARN AND LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MALAMUTES IN THE UK. YOU CAN GAUGE THE TEMPERAMENT OF THE DOGS YOU SEE BY WATCHING HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THEIR TEAM MEMBERS.

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ALTERNATIVELY DRYLAND MUSHING IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO WITHOUT HAVING TO SIGN UP TO EVENTS, WE DO THIS REGULARLY TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO TRAIN AT YOUR NEAREST FORESTRY COMMISSION GROUND AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN A MAP OF THE AREA AND PERMISSION TO USE THE LAND. YOU WILL NEED TO OBTAIN PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE IN ORDER TO DO THIS.  

D R Y L A N D   M U S H I N G

                          

B A C K P A C K I N G 

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BACKPACKING IS A GREAT WAY TO SATISFY THE ENERGY  LEVEL NEEDS OF YOUR ALASKAN MALAMUTE. IT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT CAN BE EASILY ADDED TO YOUR DAILY WALK, OR YOU CAN BE MORE ADVENTUROUS AND GO HIKING TOGETHER IN MORE PICTURESQUE LOCATIONS. MALAMUTES CAN CARRY A VARIETY OF SUPPLIES, WHETHER IT IS JUST DRINKS AND SNACKS FOR A DAY, TO CAMPING EQUIPMENT FOR LONGER TRIPS - JUST REMEMBER TO BUILD THE WEIGHT UP OVER SEVERAL PRACTICE WALKS. DON'T EXPECT THEM TO CARRY IT ALL THE FIRST TIME YOU TAKE THEM. IN OUR EXPERIENCE BACKPACKING HELPS TO BUILD A STRONG BONG WITH YOUR DOG, THEY ENJOY THE QUALITY TIME WITH YOU, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SITTING DOWN FOR A DRINK, A BISCUIT AND A CUDDLE. JUST DON'T FORGET TO PACK THEIR WATER SUPPLIES TOO! PICTURED LEFT IS OUR DOGS CLIMBING BEN NEVIS IN SCOTLAND.

H O W   D O   I   G E T   S T A R T E D ?

W O R K I N G   W I T H   M Y   M A L A M U T E    

THERE ARE SEVERAL CLUBS UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY THAT OFFER DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. 

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SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO FIND OUT MORE IS TO VISIT AN ACTUAL KENNEL, PICK UP THE PHONE OR EMAIL TO ASK QUESTIONS, OR BETTER STILL ARRANGE TO MEET AN EXPERIENCED OWNER AT AN EVENT. MALAMUTE BREEDERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER SENSIBLE ADVICE ABOUT THEIR WORKING BREED. WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US AND WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 

O U R   T I P S   T O   T A K E   C A R E   O F   Y O U R   D O G   O N   T H E   T R A I L

  • Hydrate dogs well before exercising and offer fluids a little and often during exercise

  • Check feet regularly for debris in between pads and sores/ cuts

  • Dogs use fat not carbs for energy - take a fatty treat on the trail with you or save it for the end

  • Check the humidity and the temperature before exercising

  • Never let your equipment run into the back of your dog

THE ALASKAN MALAMUTE CLUB OF AMERICA (AMCA) OFFER A SERIES OF WORKING INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE OWNERS TO WORK THEIR DOGS IN PURSUITS FOR WHICH THEY WERE INTENDED. YOUR CAN EARN A TITLE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINES; TEAM DOG, LEAD DOG, WEIGHT PULL AND BACKPACKING. EACH TITLE HAS THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS, BASIC, ADVANCED AND EXCELLENT WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO CHALLENGE THE DOGS (AND HUMANS) AND OFFER SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO ACHIEVE. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS VISIT THE AMCA WEBSITE, SELECT THE WORKING TAB AND READ THROUGH THE RULES, MAKE SURE YOU THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT ANY EQUIPMENT YOU MIGHT NEED BEFOREHAND. YOU WILL NEED TO PRINT OF THE APPLICATION FORM FOR EACH TITLE AND ENSURE YOU HAVE AN IMPARTIAL WITNESS SIGN YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE SENDING IT OFF.

W O R K I N G   T I T L E S 

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