Alaskan Malamutes...

I don't have a Malamute, but a family friend of mine does. They shed a lot and need a ton of exercise and training. Apparently they can be kind of aggresive and pushy without training, but that's just what I've heard. Very much alpha dogs. They're beautiful though and either a Malamute or Husky will be my next dog. I just think they're gorgeous.

Remember: They were bred to pull...

If you want to read books by a Mal-Lover, check Susan Conant.

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/alaskanmalamute.htm

Check out that info.

I'm into Britts and setter type hunters myself, but my best friend has a couple Malamutes.

They tend need a lot of exercise and training, but really, what dog doesn't? I don't know if it matters to you, but hers don't come with a lot of horse sense, so it takes them some time to learn not to chase them and such. Ash will hitch hers to the same cart that her mini pulls. It's the funniest thing ever. Oi, those dogs are tricksters. I'm absolutely certain that they have an utterly human sense of humor.

I don't know a lot about them, but I've met a couple that I really liked.