Your Alaskan Malamute is a loveable, charming, people loving dog. Malamutes will make friends with anyone and everyone, and love to play. Their friendly nature means they don’t make good watch or guard dogs, but they are fantastically sociable around your guests and visitors and wonderful with children. Your Malamute’s strong prey drive means that he should be supervised around smaller animals and non-canine pets. Though a playful dog, Alaskan Malamutes tend to mature into mellow, relaxed and easy going pets that are a content member of the family and cause little trouble. Your Malamute was bred to work and the breed was originally used to haul sleds and freight, so they need a substantial amount of exercise and mental stimulation. This is not a breed that will live happily as a couch potato, so owners need to be prepared to take their Malamute on long and vigorous walks – jogging is even better! Due to their size and energy they are not suitable for life in an apartment and will do best in a house with a large enclosed garden. Be sure to install a high fence with a buried base as your Malamute loves to explore and dig.