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January 2, 2010

Malamute of the Month – Savage

Savage Little Savage is a husky/malamute mix who was born at Joe’s remote hunting camp in the arctic where he was living at the time.  It was a less-than-ideal situation; Savage was an orphaned pup and the only survivor of her litter.  Winter had just started and Joe and the team were about to head out on a 5 month expedition.  It was no time to have a little pup to care for!  But he took Savage along and she traveled in the sled inside a little box lined with caribou hides to keep her safe and warm. 

One night when Joe was preoccupied feeding the team, she snuck into Joe’s tent and ate the entire caribou steak he’d planned to prepare for his dinner.  When he entered the tent, he found her with a bloodied up face from devouring the raw steak.  And that’s how she got her name…she looked like a little Savage!

Savage didn’t have a mommy to snuggle with, but she had a lot of guardians on the expedition to play with and learn from.

Savage rode on the sled that whole winter, but has since become a great member of the team who pulls in swing position.  Sometimes she runs in lead.

hicthin a ride

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I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you.  -John 14:18

 

  • http://dogblogemma.blogspot.com Emma Rose and The Duchess

    That is an amazing story. I’m glad she made it. Actually it sounds like she did quite well. She must be one tough little cookie!

    Kisses,
    Emma Rose

  • http://kit-dogdaze.blogspot.com/ Kit

    Savage is a beauty!!!
    I can’t imagine being on a 5 month expedition! Joe is “Da Man!” chuckle!

    I’m interested in your opinion of races like Iditarod and Quest!!! I have mixed feelings especially after 6 dogs died in last year’s Iditarod…I am returning this year, primarily so I can volunteer w/ dropped dogs! I’m all about the dogs, the true athletes of the races!

    • Hi Kit!

      We think Savage is beautiful, too, but we’re probably just a little biased! ;)

      We don’t race our dogs at all. Our malamutes (and Melvin :))are our family and they are trained to pull freight and that’s what comes natural to them, so we just stick to expeditions and freight hauling. We know a lot of racers and live near many of them, but we’ve never participated in a race, so we don’t have much to say about it…it’s foreign to us. They use different dogs…seems like there’s a lot of husky/hound mixes in racing.

      It’s great that you’re volunteering for the Iditarod. We hope you have a great time with the dogs and would love to hear about your experience!

  • WYO Fan Club

    Savage is beautiful, but it doesn’t look like she’s as big as the Malamutes. She’s a very good looking dog though. I love how she got that name. What a story. Good luck in the field Joe.

  • http://www.laplandmalamutes.com Marit Kangas

    What a story – I can picture her and the caribou steak, clever girl indeed! :-)