Hello Aaron:
A few thoughts on dogs and kids: I raised two kids and two dogs simultaneously: a cattle dog (dominant, aggressive dog) being one of them.
It is good that you have a female. It is good that she and "Mikey" have a pretty good relationship(?).
1) crates and kennels: especially if your wife has to handle kids and dogs while you are away: she needs "mechanisms of control" when dogs can't be supervised.
2) especially with pup, set it up so pup only has positive experiences with your child. this is tough. One example: my dogs when crated, and approached by a child, got a treat 100% of the time. So if a kid came to a crate, I always had happy dogs waiting for treat, not threatened dogs looking to nip fingers. Another example was my 2 year old (now six) playing highly supervised fetch with the cattle dog. I would put dog in downstay until 2 year old threw toy, then I would release the cattle dog to get the toy. It let the dog know that time with the three of us together was a good time.
3) I personally would consciously make times when you the dog and babies are together good times for the dog, while maintaining control.
4) in siberians and probably in malamutes, most recorded fatal bites are to infants under 6 months old. Therefore it is a prey drive thing, and usually not dominance or human aggression. risk here is highest with intact males, but this should give you some sense of the significance of the "supervision" rule. I got that statistic from the Karen Delise book on fatal dog bites. This is not a scare tactic it is a reality check on your management plan. Overall a normal female malamute should be doable, in my opinion. You will need to evaluate if this female, taken at 5 weeks, can be normal.
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I felt the issue of the removal of the puppy at 5 weeks wasn't getting detailed enough treatment. So I've gone back to the text "Handbook of Applied Dog Training: Adaptation and Learning Vol. 1" Lindsey, Stephen R., Blackwell Publishing, Ames Iowa 2000. This is an expensive and worthwhile book that pretty much references all scientific literature on dog physiology and behaviour. It is based on science. expensive. hard to read. worthwhile.
In chapter 2 "Development of Behaviour" they address developmental periods in a puppy's life and explain in detail what you are up against.
Your description of the pup biting your son to say "leave me alone" is consistent with problems arising from early removal.
pp. 43: 3-5 weeks is a bite inhibition period. If pup weaned in this 3-5 week window, puppies bite too hard and have undeveloped inhibitory responses: so a question is when was this puppy weaned?;
pp. 43: "This period is especially important for the development of a stable emotional temperament and affective tone. Many social and emotional deficits observed in adult dogs are believed to result from removing puppies too early from the mother and littermates. although scientific studies are lacking, ample anecdotal reports and case histories reveal very pronounced effects resulting from early weaning or insufficient socialization with conspecifics. Behavioural sequelae commonly observed as the result of such treatment include emotional rigidness,
overreactivity, and increased vigilance and anxiety...They are more likely to develop aggression problems toward other dogs as adults. Dogs forming overly exclusive bonds may become aggressive or suspicious toward strangers, viewing them as a threat to their primary attachment. When not aggressive such dogs are overly fearful of other dogs, preferring human company over that of conspecifics."
It appears to me very important up to 12 weeks that the malamute not have negative experiences with your son. You need to learn about "fear periods" and apply that knowledge IMMEDIATELY.
pp. 46 "After week five, puppies become progressively more cautious and hesitant about making new social contacts-a growing fearful tendency that appears to peak at the end of the socialization period at 12 weeks...After week five, the recovery period following aversive or fear-elicited stimulation is significantly protracted."
I conclude that NO NEGATIVE experiences with your boy is very, very important.
pp. 46: major discussion on the aversive effect of isolation for 5-7 week old puppies, and the tendency of puppies removed from litter at this time to bond strongly with humans, and experience separation anxiety.
With a malamute, it is possible that this won't be such an issue, as independent dog to begin with. time will tell.
good luck. AM
Re: Alaskan Malamute Issues, Pls help
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