Alaskan Malamute

Houdini's favorite pastime is digging and finding a way out of our yard. We've had to resort to making sure our fence goes below yard grade. We've had Houdini for about six years and he still acts like a big puppy. Sometimes he just isn't aware of his own strength. In his friskiness and eagerness for play the kids can get knocked down pretty easily. He means no harm and is just about the most loveable and affectionate dog a family can own. The kids simply adore him.

Houdini would never make a good guard dog. He's simply much too friendly. And not just with people. More than once, Houdini has taken a stray kitten under his wings to protect and care for. He'll act like a doting father and not let the little one get too far from eyesight. It's then that Houdini seems to suddenly outgrow the puppy-like games. He becomes a mature, responsible dog. It's truly a remarkable transformation to watch as this behavior is normally only seen in the female breed.

Another nice aspect of the Malamute is their cleanliness. They actually clean themselves much as a cat does. So other than the shedding, which can really add up to a lot in warmer climates, they are easy on house cleaning. So, I'm glad that we live in a cold climate and Houdini's shedding is only seasonal and not really all that bad. We just make sure we keep him regularly brushed. He loves the attention although he can become impatient to play if we take too long.

The best thing about Houdini is that at the end of the day, after all the playing is done, he settles down and is content with just chilling with the family.