Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca - Malamute Gal Needs a Home..

[url]http://www.malamuterescue.com/Adoption/100307_dakota/new-adopt.html[/url]

Dakota is lovely wolfgrey and white, 6 year old, 90 lb, spayed, female
Malamute who is looking for a new home.

Dakota will be considered for a home that meets the following
requirements:

1. A home where she lives inside as a member of the family.
2. A home where she is the only dog
3. Older teens - no children or pre-teens.
4. Experienced dog owners.

Dakota is a house dog. She is house trained, has very good house manners,
even when her owner is away, and does not like to be left outside. She
will be considered for a home where she can curl up on her bed, maybe with
a stuffed kong, while her people are at work.

Dakota is extremely friendly and affectionate and loves to snuggle. Her
owner reports that with supervision and lots of praise, Dakota loves the
children she has met. She has done well with children who have been taught
respect and how to behave around dogs. However, because of her initial
tentativeness around children, her owner suspects there may have been some
issues with kids sometime in her past. For this reason, and simply because
of her larger size, Dakota will only be considered for a home with older
teens.

Dakota is most definitely a "cuddle muffin"! There is still a 5-8lb puppy
lurking beneath the surface of this now large and beautiful girl! If
allowed, she could very quickly turn into a 90lb lap dog. If allowed, you
will wake up to find her sprawled out on top of you. Her current owner
reports that she has been broken of the habit of using her people as
"snuggle cushions". She is not allowed up on the furniture, on laps to
snuggle, or in beds to sleep! She has been very respectful of these rules
for a few years now. However, in a strange environment with new people,
these boundaries may need to be reinforced as she tries to charm and worm
her way into your lap with kisses and snuggles.

Dakota is currently living with a male Malamute, whom she has started to
challenge, and these challenges have continued to escalate over the past
year. She is fine with him on walks and out in the yard (unless they both
find something of interest to eat), but not in the home, where she must
share affection and treats.

Sharing her human is not negotiable, so Dakota is looking for a home where
she is the only dog. Because of her naturally high prey drive, her new
home should not have cats or other small furry animals, unless they live
separately and are permanently out of sight.

Dakota walks well on leash. Her owner reports that he walks both dogs
together and Dakota will initially pull in excitement when starting out,
but settles down with the "Easy" command.

Dakota will growl at another dog on walks, but does not lunge and listens
to her owner. It is difficult to know if Dakota would continue to growl at
other dogs on walks in a new home because she is walked with a male
Malamute who is extremely aggressive towards some dogs in the
neighborhood. However, there is likely a real risk to an off leash small
yappy dog that ran up barking at her or barking at her owner.

Unlike the majority of Malamutes, who view the sudden presence of a
stranger as a neon sign that says, "Opportunity for smooching pets and
treats", Dakota's owner reports that she has displayed protective
behavior. On a late night walk after dark, Dakota startled him by lunging
forward in front of him and growling at a man he didn't see, who was
working under his car. Dakota didn't jump at the man, but remained guarded
while he spoke to say hello. Her owner reported that once he recovered
from being startled and calmed down, Dakota was very fine with the fellow.
This is somewhat unusual behavior for a Malamute and Dakota would do best
in a new home with an experienced dog owner.

Dakota is a beautiful Malamute who love walks, short jogs, and thrives on
affection and cuddles from her people. She knows "Sit", "Down", responds
to "Easy", and she will "Sit and Wait" for the OK before digging in to eat
her food.