Dead Toy Gallery

The first thing you learn with a new Malamute is they require a lot of toys.

A bored dog is an unhappy dog that may decide peeling wallpaper or gutting the sofa is fun, since a bored dog is also a destructive dog. We've found Malamutes love all kinds of toys, but they must be durable, safe and for some dogs, non-toxic without small parts. There are many commercial products that are made especially for large dogs that are safe, durable and fun! However, nothing is completely indestuctable to a determined Malamute. Shadow managed to "kill"a guaranteed indestructible ball by continuously popping it in his mouth.

A friend's dog ATE a kong (a very hard, large rubbery chew toy) that had to be surgically removed from his stomach. Most every Malamute owner will have a funny story about something their dog has eaten! Fortunately, because our dogs are raised with toys from a very young age they usually (notice I said USUALLY) don't eat the parts of things they destroy. Malamutes love toys they can pretend to hunt, kill and gut. Toys that squeek and have stuffing to pull out and spread around the house are favorites! Needless to say, most pet toys rarely last very long so there is no sense in buying really expensive ones unless they are particularly durable. If you're one to get emotionally attached to a particular toy and would be devastated to see it ruined...don't get a malamute.

One thing you learn about malamutes is that playing with toys is serious business. There are some that will destroy any toy - shred it to bits. Others will merely gut out the squeaker, and they're done. Sometimes it looks like a surgeon removed it - it's so precise. Others take it to a new level...it becomes personal. First you steal someone's toy, then, if it's another dog you like, cherish and hoard it. If it's a dog you have issues with, you gut it - completely out of spite! Some Mals are hoarders...Superman has his crate FILLED with them - and he rarely ruins them. He just rearraranges them daily and knows if even one is missing. Others can't be trusted with any toy...Theodore will gut them and EAT the stuffing so if he gets them, we have to watch closely. Others are opportunists...Mocha will steal anything that isn't nailed down...and destroy it - she doesn't care whose it is. More than once she's totally obliterated someone's favorite. Then there's Max...who is very gentle with his toys and tries to keep them away from the thieves. There was also an unwritten LAW in our household after dogs kept stealing and gutting Mula's toys...we enforced that NO ONE dare take her toys rule....which she appreciated and would strut around with them like "nanner nanner, you can't have this"...though she would've given it up to anyone that asked. It was something we had to enforce, because they all thought it was cool they could just take them from her (she was so easygoing she'd give them up without a fight). There's a certain hierarchy in having LOTS of toys, or at least the special ones. All Malamutes look with ownership at their toys...there is no community toy...it's MINE or I'll steal it is the philosophy. I think they were all pirates in previous lives!

The best toys make some kind of noise. The really best toys do something completely unusual...play music, honk, crinkle or have multiple sounds and lights. One of the all around favoites was the hedgehog max is holding here (they come in 3 sizes) and the Deedle Dude Shark they stole from Darby when she stayed for a few weeks. We'd give it back, and they would keep stealing it. They must've liked Darby though, because it never sustained any real damage except slobber.

I scour garage sales for baby-safe squeekies and stuffed animals they can destroy in a matter of minutes, but Ahhhh those few minutes! These do not have the small metal squeekers or swallowable eyes and noses, so unless your Malamute will eat the stuffing or plastic shreds, are pretty safe. For the potential new Malamute owner, here is our gallery of just a few of the 'dead toys'.

Typical Malamute Living Room

Koani's toy guts strewn living room
Courtesy of Koani and Crew - a typical Malamute living room

Star Trek Meets Planet Malamute
- never be a red shirt in a Malamute household

A game of keep-away.

Simone - Tired of toying with the Invader

pup

Max says I'll finish him off. He's dead Jim.

And More Destruction...of every kind.

Squeaker surgically removed (see the hole)

Headless Dolls....

Taco Bell dog didn't survive

Darby is a fan of good literature

Oh no Mr. Bill....

Mula Loves Tennis balls and barbells....but they don't last long

The Kong Quest lasted all of 3 minutes for Max.... I would NOT recommend this for a malamute since the chunks they can break off are very dangerous if swallowed. This toy was recalled.