Now for the details on these 5 breeds. We know that these breeds may LOOK mean, maybe because of their size, but are they REALLY as mean as their reputation says they are? Lets look at their statistics...what their origin bred them for & their temperament is.

ALASKAN MALAMUTE:
description:The largest of the Arctic dogs, it's a thick, well built dog, with a plumed tail held high over it's back. It's head is held high & it has erect ears. The eyes are usually medium in size & are dark brown. They are small, almond shaped & obliquely placed in it's skull. The dog has the image of the wolf, but with a proud, sweet expression. Dark eyes are preferred, blue eyes, according to written standard, are a fault. The feet are large, & are snowshoe type with rough pads. The coat is thick & double coated, & averages about 1-3 inches in length. It comes in varying shades of light gray to intermediate shadings of black, sable, & shadings of sable-fawn. Combinations accepted can include: wolf gray, black & white, wolf sable (red, with dark gray outer coat), or red. White is the only solid color allowed. They often have darker highlights & at times, have a dark mask or cap. The legs & muzzle are almost always white. In some areas, the dogs might either be larger or smaller then the official standard.
temperament: Alaskan Malamute's are known to be extremely loyal & intelligent. They are sweet & most affectionate towards their master. They are great with children who are old enough to play with them safely. If their canine instincts are met, they mature into a dignified & mellow adult dog. They are friendly & therefore not suitable as guard dogs. Malamutes are happiest living outdoors as long as they receive enough companionship, but they also enjoy living indoors with their human 'pack' lives. Without firm leadership, these dogs have been known to become extremely destructive. Basically acting like overgrown, rambunctious, puppies. In one known case, a single malamute completely destroyed a living room of furniture valued at over $15,000 in just 3 hours. They love outdoor activities, & even do well in obedience training with firm encouragement. Although it can be difficult to train them for formal obedience, it's not particularly difficult to train them to be well-mannered because they love to please their human counterparts. Males do tend to be quite dominant. This breed does need their human master to be firm, confident, & consistent pack leaders. Some dogs of this breed may be difficult to house train. This breed is a thrifty feeder & needs much less food then you'd expect, however, they do tend to wolf down whatever you offer, which in turn, can lead to obesity. Although they are quiet compared to most dogs, they do love to howl & dig. They should be supervised around small, unfamiliar animals because they do have a strong prey instinct (that doesn't mean they are mean around small animals though, as some have been known to foster kittens!). Both genders can be combative with other dogs, especially dogs of the same gender &/or breed, because of this, they need again, firm handling & training. It's imperative that you properly socialize your Malamute with other people. It's also highly recommended that you give them obedience training.
height & weight:
Height for Male: 24-26 inches (61-66 cm)
Height for Females: 22-24 inches (55-61 cm)
Weight for Males: 80-95 pounds (36-43 kg)
Weight for Females: 70-85 pounds (32-38 kg)
HEALTH:
This dog does have a few known health issues such as bloat, hip dysplasia, & chondrodysplasia

DOBERMAN:
description:The Doberman is a medium sized dog, he's squarely built & has a muscular body. His head is long & when you view it from the side, it looks like a blunt wedge. The top of his head is flat, & turns into the muzzle with a slight stop. The color of his nose will depend on the color of his coat. Black coat=black nose, red coat=dark brown nose, blue coat=dark gray nose, fawn coat=dark tan nose, & white coat=pink nose. His teeth meet in a scissor bite. His eyes are various shades of brown, again, depending on the color of the dogs coat. The ears are usually cropped to stand straight up (this cutting is usually done at about 12 weeks), after the cropping, the puppies ears usually have to be taped for a couple months in order for them to stand straight up. If the ears are left alone & natural, they develop somewhat like a hound. The tail is usually docked to almost non-existent at about 3 days old. Again, if left natural, the tail grows somewhat like a hounds. (note: in Europe docking the ears & tail is illegal). The chest is broad, & the legs are perfectly straight. Dewclaws are sometimes removed (dewclaws are extra toes that grow up, higher on the leg), the short, thick coat lies flat & sometimes, there is a gray undercoat under the neck. The coat can be black, black with tan markings, blue-gray, red, fawn, & white. When markings appear, they are above each eye (known as 'pips', they're usually presented as spots above the eyes.), on the muzzle, throat, forechest, legs, feet, & on the tail. They is also a solid white color. In some clubs, white markings are a fault, while in others, they are accepted.
temperament:
Dobermans are very keen & super energetic. They have tremendous strength & stamina. They like to be with their masters & are not suitable for back yard life or for kennel life. They need human interaction & leadership. They are loyal, tolerant, dedicated & very affectionate with the family. Determined, bold & assertive while working, these dogs are very adaptable, & highly skilled & versatile. They're intelligent & very easy to train. They are outstanding guard & watch dogs & do not need additional protection training. This breed is not for everyone, they need an owner who is willing & able to display a natural authority over the dog. All family members must be firm, confident, & consistent, setting rules & sticking to them. The owner must learn to handle them properly as they can become stubborn & willful if allowed to have their own way. EVERYTHING must be on the human's terms. He should be throughly socialized as young as possible to prevent skittishness. In order to produce, a happy, stable-minded dog, you must provide mental stimulation, & plenty of daily exercise. They need consistent & thorough training. They can be good family dogs if the human shows them they are the boss & they receive enough exercise, & they are well trained & socialized with children. Although they have a reputation for being very aggressive, this is actually, NOT the case. They have been known to make GREAT therapy dogs. Issues do arise when they reside with OWNERS who do not display the proper leadership, or do not provide enough exercise. But when brought in a nursing home, they were very sweet & gentle, tippy-toeing over the IV tubes, & walking at the residents pace (which can be very slow), while at the same time, feircly defending his master if & when it was necessary. Dominance levels vary, even within the same litters & the breeds temperament will vary greatly depending on the owners understanding of canine behavior & how willing that owner is to take the time to provide what their dog instinctually needs.
height & weight:
Height of Male: 26-28 in. (66-71 cm)
Height of Female: 24-26 in. (61-66 cm)
Weight (overall): 66-88 pounds (30-40 kg)
health:
cervical spondylitis, von Willebrands Disease, skin issues, bloat, hip dysplasia, Congenital Heart Defects, & the white dogs, are actually albino

That's all for this one....my next blog, part 3, will be German Shepherds & Rottweilers. Then, I will do 1 whole blog dedicated to the breed with the worst reputation, PITT BULLS. Which, my town is trying to make illegal.