I obtained an older puppy from Kool Alaskan Malamutes in June. She was being offered "free" to a good home. I contacted Kool to inquire about her. I was told she displayed some evidence of 'same sex' aggression. I have lived with all female Mals for 17 years and wanted to give her a try in my home if she did well upon meeting my female I already had. I supplied my adoption application along with my vet references and was approved for the adoption. The day before I went to pick her up, I was told by the breeder that she had a red and white male she'd give me that she thought would do better in my home. I explained that I was not interested in the male and would still like to see the female. All of my suggestions on how to introduce the two dogs were nixed by the breeder. I was told, "either they'll get along, or they won't."
I, like Dawn, also never met the breeder, it was her teenaged children that brought her to me. The puppy was very sweet, licking and kissing my whole family like she'd always known us. She even played with our female, both rolling over on their backs. I did notice, however, that she never carried her tail over her back like a Malamute should. When I asked what was up with her tail, I was told that was just how she carried it. We agreed to take the puppy.
Upon arriving home, I had a very difficult time getting the puppy in the house. It wasn't until I went to feed her, her tail curled between her legs and she showed extreme aggression to my other Malamute. I took my other dog out of the house and proceeded to feed the puppy at which time, she bolted the food down, choking on it like she was afraid someone else would get it. I put her in a crate for the night to sleep and the following morning, she became possessive of that growling at my other dog with her tail wrapped between her legs the whole time. If my children went to pet the other dog, she'd also growl at the other dog. Basically, she started guarding all of her resources.
I contacted the breeder to see if she could give me information on the puppy before I got her, things like her position in the litter. I told the breeder that the puppy seemed to be overly possessive. I was told by the breeder that through their experience with the dogs, they were known to be possessive and that her position in the litter did not matter.
Walking with the puppy and my neighbors male dogs was also met with many problems. She'd go into attack mode with her tail between her legs upon meeting them and once she got used to walking with them, if she'd see another dog not part of our group, she lunge out at the dog walking closest to her.
It took well over a monthof working with her before she'd carry her tail over her back showing confidence and was closer to 3 months before she understood she did not have to guard her resources from my other dog. She still eats more quickly than I'd like to see but I'm somewhat confident she won't die from bloat taking in air while bolting her food.
I do not believe these dogs are well socialized or that the breeder has the knowledge to produce and care for as many puppies as she does.
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