Alaskan Malamute

That thick double coat needs TLC—so brushing once or twice a week during non-shedding seasons (summer and winter) is a must to keep your dog’s coat healthy and free of mats. Get a firm bristle brush, but avoid using a Furminator; these de-shedding tools cut a Malamute’s top coat hairs, causing them to grow back bent or discolored.

Their shedding abilities are no joke—it happens twice a year, and even daily brushing doesn’t help as much as taking a high-powered pet-grooming dryer and blowing all that hair away once or twice a week as needed. If you think you can get away with shaving your Mal, forget it. Shaving won’t keep your Malamute cooler in the summer; their double coat actually helps keep them cool. Plus, their coat protects them from sunburn and bug bites, and you will probably ruin that gorgeous coat forever.

Malamutes aren’t overly dirty dogs, so they won’t need a bath very often. Their top coat repels rain and mud, so aim for a bath every two months or so. Be sure to dry your Mal thoroughly after a bath (or a swim) to prevent hot spots (inflamed skin lesions).

Brush their teeth at least a few times a week to keep your pup’s teeth healthy. You can brush them with your finger or a brush made for dogs, using a dog-appropriate toothpaste. Once a year, have your vet give them a professional cleaning. All this dental hygiene helps prevent dental disease down the road.

Your Malamute will need to have their nails trimmed about every two months. If you can hear your dog’s nails click on the floor, cut them. You can use doggy nail clippers (and this how-to) or take your Mal to a groomer or vet to get them trimmed.

Alaskan Malamutes are smart and surprisingly easy to train, but they also get distracted easily and have a reputation for being stubborn. You can work around their independent nature with clever ways to motivate your Alaskan Malamute dog. The key is to use plenty of tasty treats as rewards and quick, 5-minute sessions instead of long, repetitive drills. If you’re attending a dog training class, take breaks when your Malamute starts acting up.

But don’t skimp on or skip obedience training. It’s super important. Your pup will learn the basics like sit, stay and come, plus they’ll learn how to walk nicely on a leash. Mals are big dogs and will run wild if you let them. Luckily, Malamutes will do anything for food, but they’re easily distracted, so remember to keep those training sessions short.

You may dig your dog, but your Mal will dig up your yard. Alaskan Malamutes are born diggers, and while no amount of training will completely erase that habit, you can minimize their digging instincts through training and exercise. (A tired Mal is a content Mal.)

Training is a great way to keep your Malamute’s brain engaged, too—this breed loves to learn tricks, and well-trained ones can even excel as therapy dogs, thanks to their affectionate, people-loving natures.

There’s no one-size-fits-all recommendation for feeding your Alaskan Malamute—your vet can give you the best advice for their diet based on your dog’s activity level, age and weight. It’s important to know that Malamutes tend to put on weight—their ancestors were designed to work hard on very little food, and their metabolism is such that they don’t need as much food as other large dogs. Plus, their thick coat can hide their ribs and waist, so you need to feel through the coat to their skin to make sure your Mal isn’t packing on the pounds.

To keep your dog healthy and lean, look for high-quality, mid-fat and mid-to-high-protein dog food like Farmina N&D. You might want to give your Mal fatty acid supplements to keep that coat shiny and healthy, too. Be sure to watch those treats—they count as calories, yet they’re essential for motivating your Malamute during training sessions.

The Alaskan Malamute’s exercise needs are pretty high—Mals were bred to be active dogs, so they need a couple of hours of exercise every day. Their exercise can include a few good walks—brisk ones and slower ones—to give them the chance to explore with their nose. Did we mention they love to run? If you’re craving a jogging buddy, leash up your Alaskan Malamute. After you’re done, play chase with your pup in the backyard to ensure they’re tired out. If you live in warmer weather, make sure you keep your outdoor activity to the cooler parts of the day; these dogs thrive in colder temperatures.

And since they’re sled dogs, they’ll love pulling you places. You can harness them to a small sled in the winter or a kick bike (or regular one) on dry terrain and have a ball. This breed also excels at dog sports like agility and weight pulling, so reach out to your local Malamute club (most states have them) to find events that your Mal will enjoy.

Malamutes can do fine in smaller homes—as long as you’re ready to spend lots of time outdoors to provide for their daily exercise needs. A fenced-in backyard or access to a fenced-in public space is a must as this breed will chase cats and squirrels. And because they dig, make sure the fence is secure (and potentially extends into the ground) and consider giving them a place where they’re allowed to make holes if you have space in your yard.

The Alaskan Malamute breed isn’t suited to apartment living; these dogs are noisy. They don’t bark much, but they do howl and yelp. Mals can also be destructive when they’re bored, which is why they require experienced and active pet parents. And while they can romp outside for hours in zero temps, you’ll need to keep your Alaskan Malamute dog cool in the summer (fans and kiddie pools help).

This breed makes for a good family dog, though they’re capable of knocking down the youngest kids without meaning to. They thrive on attention, so if you’re having a party, your Mal will definitely want to mingle!