| Tail chaser extraordinaire |
| I failed to put my hat high enough out of reach. She has always had a thing for hats. I've lost track of how many have ended up like this. This was one of my favorites. 2/1/11 |
| Normal patio of a Malamute owner (hair, hair and more hair) |
| Whew you have the urge to chew, a stick will have to do |
| Alosia, as Dorothy, looking more like the wolf that ate Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother. Oh boy.... |
| Pruning the shrubbery |
| We had what sounded like a good plan. For Halloween, Alosia and the 3 Shilohs would dress as Wizard of Oz characters. I ordered the X-Large costumes, but when they arrived, the only costume that fit Midas was the Cowardly Lion, which was supposed to be Alosia's outfit. (Note to self: X-Large doesn't mean my dogs.) So, not to be outdone, the next plan was to have Alosia be Dorothy, as the other 2 costumes were way too small for her. After over an hour, I got the dress on her, but she looks disgusted. The wig was even more disastrous; she finally decided to chew it up, so she became Glenda the Good Witch instead. How fitting... |
| "I dare you." #1 favorite toy - squeaky blue elephant ball, personally selected at the pet store |
My, what big teeth you have.
| I'm not blinking. |
| Alosia must be feeling better (see above) Planted 4 fruit trees in the Spring. Tree #3 was felled by Alosia on 10/4. Note the bottom where she is not content to pull off the limbs and break the tree in half, she's determined to dig it up by the roots. |
| Yum.... dirt. |
| Catching melting snow as it falls off the porch roof. Alosia LOVES snow and rain. |
| Alosia plays in rain and mud from Tropical Storm Nicole late September 2010. 2 days later 10/1 ...off to the vet Alosia has head shaved to treat 2 large hot spots. Her embarrassment lasted just a few minutes, then off to play with her romp & roll. All in the day of a Malamute. |
| Enjoying the snow and doing a good wolf impression. How many times have I been asked that question? |
| Caught taking a nap amongst the TP (note the telltale bits in her lips) |
| I am NOT dressing up for Halloween, regardless of what those shepherds do. |
| Our very patient alpha female Breeze with inquisitive, 4 month old puppy Alosia. |
More neighborhood laughter on trash day
| Very proud of her handiwork |
| Nov 2009, during the middle of the biggest Nor'easter storm and flood to hit Virginia in a hundred years... and here's Alosia howling, wet, covered in mud wanting to go back outside. |
| Looking contrite.. only temporarily |
| Maybe I'll eat the evidence |
| So you're thinking of adopting a Malamute? "Awwwww…. They’re so cute and fluffy." In 1998, “Malamute Quarterly” published a humorous article listing the costs of owning a Malamute. * Our first (so far) Malamute joined our family a year ago, in July 2009. We developed a list based on our own first year experience. Not yet discouraged, Malamute #2 planning is in the works. Call me crazy, but if laughter extends one's life, she's given me more time here on Earth. |
| *Omal Malamutes has an excellent website devoted to the Alaskan Malamute. An article noting the high cost of owning a Malamute, in its original form, was authored by Cindy O'Malley and highlighted on the Omal Malamutes website. It was the inspiration for our own list. While we do not have a personal connection with Omal Malamutes, we highly recommend their site as an honest and informative place to research the breed. |
| Caught in the act |
| Oh... that Woo-Wooing was adorable at 4 months, so we encouraged it, even videotaping those sweet vocalizations. What were we thinking?? |
| Just another Malamute Monday (8/30/10) |
| Please investigate this breed thoroughly and carefully before deciding to adopt that cute furry puppy. Too many high energy dogs, particularly many Arctic or sled dog breeds, wind up in shelters because their owners are not prepared. Choose your forever companion responsibly and wisely. |
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| "You really think this thing can hold me?" |
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| Someone left the toilet paper roll out again. |
| Alosia saw fit to remove the old paint, and chew the copper/brass to a luster, then remove the wooden handle from our radiator. This radiator has been here for over 80 years, and it took a Malamute to make these alterations. |
| Proudly presented to me by Alosia. Am I rich? Is this a fossilized dinosaur tooth, an arrow head? Nope... it is a 3" x 4" chunk she bit (yes I said that right) off of a brick she found buried in the yard. |
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XANADU Shiloh Shepherds & Alaskan Malamutes
| What could this be? For those who guessed correctly... yes, this was a hairbrush. We found the top part under a cabinet (thank goodness she didn't eat it). Can you imagine how strong her jaws must be? |
| At first, I wasn't sure what was destroyed. Did she steal a plushie toy from Breeze and gut it? (Breeze treasures her plushies.) Was it insulation? Oh, now I see.... it's the stuffing from her new orthopedic bed (note the hole chewed in the corner). |
Thank goodness Malamutes are so darn cute.
Below is a sampling of what an energetic Malamute can do in a short amount of time, even with many chew toys and lots of exercise. After the age of 2, we are happy to report that Alosia's demolition projects have slowed down. Uptate: We are happy to say that after age 2, Alosia's demolition projects seem to be limited to the outdoors. |
| I went to the grocery store, and she ate the kitchen walls.....Does plaster really taste this good? We had her tested for lead poisoning just in case as our house is over 100 years old. She's just fine. If you're wondering, she flips an airline crate, ate through a soft crate and bent a metal crate. |
| We always wondered what color our kitchen wall used to be. Touquoise... how quaint. Interesting tooth designs. Maybe she's an artist. |
1. If I like it, it's mine. 2. If it's in my mouth, it's mine. 3. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine. 4. If I can take it from you, it's mine. 5. If it looks like mine, it's mine. 6. If it's mine, it will never be yours. 7. If I saw it first, it's mine. 8. If you have something and put it down, it's mine. 9. If I chew something up, all the pieces are mine. 10. If it used to be yours, get over it, now it's mine. |
| Bathroom door - suppose if you scratch long enough or often enough someone will come. Imagine what those nails (which are very short) do to your leg? |
| Alosia |
| Bathroom door jam - I thought she could safely stay in our large bathroom instead of a crate for a couple of hours while I ran an errand. This was after she chewed up a hairbrush. a roll of toilet paper, and our toothbrushes. |
Malamutes are loving, affectionate, devoted, pack centric, intelligent, primal, prey driven, vocal, intense, large, stubborn, intuitive, demanding, exhausting, intense, heavy shedders, happy, playful, comedic, diggers, pullers, protective, strong, inquisitive, champion chewers, bossy, and that's just a few of their endearing qualities. They are natural hunters and have an unmatched ability to chase and capture anything that moves. It's been an interesting first year. We are experienced animal and dog people, but even all the reading, researching, meeting with breeders, attending shows and planning didn't prepare us completely for how our hearts would be wrapped within the paws of this incredible creature. Malamutes are beautiful, awe-inspiring and always conversation starters. They love their people and will assume the alpha role in the home if they sense their human leaders are not worthy or up to the task. Their respect is earned. They will try to outsmart you, and definitely have the ability to do so. Training techniques used with other breeds usually do not work. If you've had other strong breeds and think you know how to raise a Malamute, think again. On this page we will share a few glimpses of our enlightenment after spending a memorable first year with Alosia. It's only just begun... Our key lesson... Have a sense of humor! Enjoy. |
| The Malamute Creed |
Alosia's Olde Towne Lost & Found |
| Malamute Projects |
| Talking with a Malamute Puppy |
| Visit our Videos page to see Alosia in action. |
These are a few of the treasures that Alosia found on our walks around Olde Towne at night. Not everything disgusting makes it home - these represent a sampling of the more appropriate items to show on our website. Malamutes will pick up anything they find. The trick is spotting the item before they do and recovering it (see the Malamute Creed above). |
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In response to what we hear on our walks: * No you didn't have one just like this as a child * No, you don't want one just like her * No, she isn't a wolf * No, she isn't a husky |