Malamute Grudges

Well, a canine relationship has gone south here at Tailwaggers Kennel. This is how Kiah, and daughter Solo, started out. All warm and fuzzy. Protective mama. Silly puppy. That puppy is now huge, way bigger than Kiah and way over 100 lbs. And she's inherited her mama's strong will.

Kiah has pretty much moved into our house now. She's a senior citizen and doesn't handle the cold very well anymore. We wondered how having two dominant female Malamutes in the house would play out and for a while it went very well. Each respected the other. Neither one threw out a challenge. We seemed to have peace....until Darrel was playing with one and the other got jealous. I'm not sure who started the fight but it was on. We broke them up and after a few stern reprimands they resigned themselves to sideways hostile glares.

The next day their relationship was tenuous but peaceful. The truce was quickly broken when I came in from outside and they wanted to go out at the same time. This time it was a knockdown, drag out brawl which took the two of us to break up. Kiah, despite her age, seemed to gain the advantage when she grabbed onto Solo's lip and simply wouldn't let go. After using a broom handle as a pry bar we got them apart and sent Solo outside. Each has a few minor wounds on their face.....nothing major but there will be scars.

The thing about Malamutes is that they tend to hold grudges. They are incredible dogs - loyal, strong, brave and smart. And their memories are long. We'll continue to work with them but it's unlikely they will ever really get along again.

Even as I type this, Kiah is in the room with me having her supper. Solo is outside enjoying hers. Both will continue to enjoy life inside the house but in seperate rooms.