About me...

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Hi! My name is Conor Maguire. I live in Dublin (Ireland) and I want to tell you about my Alaskan Malamutes. Since first reading Jack London's "The call of the wild" when I was 10 or 11 years old, I've been fascinated by everthing outdoor and dog related. (NOTE: Conor can be contacted at IronMountain-Malamutes@hotmail.com ) So, if you wouldn't know an Alaskan Malamute from a Siberian Husky if it drooled all over your face, read on...

... and my dogs

Their names are Kodi and Buck. Kodi is the ‘lead dog’ and is three years old. Buck is a one year old and is learning his commands very fast. Both dogs are very strong and robust, but Kodi is more solid than Buck. Maybe Buck will grow into his skin and fill out as he gets older, but already he is very strong and very fast (for a Malamute). Mals are generally used for their strength and endurance, rather than speed. If you want speed get a Siberian husky ...

COMMANDS: when giving a command to a dog it is essential to be consistent and relatively firm. The dog wants to be told what to do, not asked. The following are the traditional instructions for sled dogs and they seem to work fine:

Left turn is ‘go haw’; right turn is ‘go gee’; straight on is ‘go along’; and most importantly to get them to run I say ‘let’s go’ and to stop them I say ‘whoa’.

The only people who say "mush!" are the folks who roar it at me as I pass them on the streets. They get a great laugh at this ... and I pretend it's the first time I've heard it...! Although dog-sledders are referred to as 'mushers', we never use the word as a command. The word itself is an anglicization of the French word 'marche', which the French trappers once used.

15 July 2008

Before you think of buying a Malamute...

These great dogs are beautiful to look at. As pups they are just like living teddy bears. As adult dogs they are delightful to watch, at work and at play. HOWEVER, they are a large and strong dog; they are strong willed; they need a strong leader or else they will fulfill that role themselves; they are clever and robust; they needs plenty of space; they need lots of exercise and personal attention. If you cannot give them the care and attention they need to thrive, PLEASE do not be tempted to buy one! Although they can adapt to 'apartment' living, they much prefer access to a garden. They can live indoors IF your house is big enough to accommodate and if they have constant access to the great outdoors and to plenty of exercise. They tolerate other dogs, providing it is large enough not to look like a tasty snack and, of course, provided the Mal has been properly socialized. This breed, like most other large breeds, suffers from hip displacia and from eye problems. A buyer should always check to ensure that the sire and dam of the puppy have been hip scored and eye tested and that both are healthy in that regard. Breeders should NOT breed unless they have had these checks carried out. IF YOU STILL THINK YOU'D LIKE TO BE A MAL OWNER: JOIN THE IRISH MALAMUTE CLUB. Elaine Walker is the club Secratary and she can be contacted at darrenwalker@lueldar.com I'll attach a copy of the club rules and objectives shortly.

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