Things to know
Alaskan
Malamute- Is it the Right Dog for You – AMCA
Prospective
Owners:
So,
you think you want an Alaskan Malamute?
WHY?
This is a very important decision that
must be given serious consideration.
Alaskan Malamutes can be a gift from
heaven, or your worst nightmare, depending upon how well matched your lifestyle
and a Malamute’s are.
This article will give you some idea of
how suited you are to this special breed.
This is designed to help you
understand what you can expect from your Malamute and to determine whether this
really is the breed for you.
Things
to Consider First:
Alaskan Malamutes were originally bred to
haul heavy sleds across long distances in harsh winter conditions.
This necessitated a dog that had
tremendous strength, energy, endurance, independence and intelligence.
These traits still define Alaskan
Malamutes.
A first time Mal owner soon learns what
this really means.
These dogs have extremely high energy
levels which require release in appropriate ways. They need to run, play, and
bounce around a lot. Without continuous physical and mental stimulation, they
become bored and restless.
This will certainly result in destructive
activities of the dog’s choosing, not yours.
Alaskan Malamutes can be quite boisterous
and even rowdy, especially during their growing years.
They will try to challenge the family for
the top or “alpha” role.
With a large dog (they grow to 30kg- 40kg
and up) this cannot be allowed to happen.
The family must learn how to properly
deal with this for every one’s sake.
Please remember, the traits that made
this breed so well suited to its original role in the Arctic may or may not
make it suitable for your home.
Again, please give careful consideration
to all the points discussed here!!!
Things you need to consider -
Are you going to be able to provide a
permanent home for the Malamute?
Are you financially able to support a
large dog? Take into account feeding, worming, registering,
vet bills etc.
Do you have time to exercise a Malamute
every day?
Are you fit enough to cope with a large,
strong dog and will you be able to walk it?
Are you confident with large dogs? The
Malamute needs a firm owner they can respect.
If you have another dog, are the two
going to get along? Is it desexed ?
Are you willing to always walk
your dog on lead?
Are you prepared to put up with a dog
that may do some extensive “garden remodeling”?
A
link worth watching , it is very general information although still worth the
time.
http://animal.discovery.com/videos/dogs-101-alaskan-malamute.html
WHAT I WANT MY MALAMUTE TO BE
By Tonya Syme – Chimo Malamutes
A Pet
This one’s easy.
All you need to do is provide lots of love and affection, Obedience
training and it will be returned in kind.
An
Obedience Dog
Anyone can do obedience.
Your dog does not have to be registered or even a pedigree.
Take a look around some of the local Obedience Clubs to find one you
feel happy with.
Different clubs can have very different training techniques and
attitudes towards dog behaviour.
Make sure you know the clubs policy towards things like disciplining
your dog and dog aggression.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t get a CD (Companion Dog)
with a Malamute.
Many people around the world have done this and much more.
The trick is to start early. The earlier you start your
training the further your Malamute will go.
A Show Dog
In order to show your dog you must have his/her Full Registration
papers.
There will be a extra cost when purchasing the fully registered
papers.
You will need to do is join your states Canine Council. The
Canine Council will send you a monthly magazine, which includes listing of
upcoming shows.
A Sled Dog
The Alaskan Malamute club in your state should be able to help you
re training for Dog Sledding. The club will be able to help you
with purchasing the specialized equipment required for sledding.
A
Guard Dog
Give up now. Malamutes do not have the right temperament
to make a good guard dog. While most burglars would find their size
intimidating, a Malamute is likely to do no more than try and beat him to death
with his tail.
WHO’S
IN CHARGE HERE?
A
Lesson in Becoming Alpha
by Vicki DeGruy
“My dog just tried to bite me!
All I did was tell him to move
over so I could sit on the couch next to him.”
“My dog got into the trash can
and when I scolded her, she growled at me.
What’s wrong with her?
I thought she loved me!”
“Our dog is very affectionate
most of the time but when we try to make him do something he doesn’t want to
do, he snaps at us.”
What do these three dogs have
in common?
Are they nasty or downright
vicious?
No – they’re “alpha”.
They’ve taken over the leadership of the families that love them.
Instead of taking orders from their people, these dogs are giving orders! Your
dog can love you very much and still try to dominate you or other members of
your family.
Dogs are social creatures and believers in social order. A dog’s
social system is a “pack” with a well-defined pecking order. The leader of the
pack is the alpha, supreme boss, Top Dog. He (or she) gets the best of
everything – the best food, the best place to sleep, the best toy, etc. The
leader also gets to be first in everything – he gets to eat first, to leave
first and to get attention first. All the other dogs in the pack respect the
alpha dog’s wishes. Any dog that challenges the alpha’s authority gets a swift
physical reminder of just where his place in the pack really is.
Your family is your dog’s “pack”. Many dogs fit easily into the
lower levels of their human pack’s pecking order and don’t make waves. They do
what they’re told and don’t challenge authority. Other dogs don’t fit in quite
as well. Some of them are natural born leaders and are always challenging their
human alpha’s. Other dogs are social climbers – they’re always looking for ways
to get a little closer to the top of the family ladder. These natural leaders
and the social climbers can become problems to an unsuspecting family that’s
not aware of the dog’s natural pack instincts.
Some families encourage their dogs to take over the “pack” without
realizing it. They treat their dogs as equals, not as subordinates. They give
them special privileges like being allowed to sleep on the bed or couch. They
don’t train their dogs and let them get away with disobeying commands. In a
real dog pack, no one but the alpha dog would get this kind of treatment. Alpha
doesn’t have anything to do with size. The tiniest Chihuahua can be a canine
Hitler. In fact, the smaller the dog, the more people tend to baby them and
cater to them – making the dog feel even more dominant and in control of his
humans.
Alpha dogs often seem to make good pets. They’re confident, smarter
than average, and affectionate. They can be wonderful with children and good
with strangers. Everything seems to be great with the relationship – until
someone crosses him or makes him do something he doesn’t want to do. Then,
suddenly, this wonderful dog growls or tries to bite someone and no one
understands why.
In a real dog pack, the alpha dog doesn’t have to answer to anyone.
No one gives him orders or tells him what to do. The other dogs in the pack
respect his position. If another dog is foolish enough to challenge the alpha
by trying to take his bone or his favorite sleeping place, the alpha dog will
quickly put him in his place with a hard stare or a growl. If this doesn’t
work, the alpha dog will enforce his leadership with his teeth. This is all
natural, instinctive behavior – in a dog’s world. In a human family, though,
this behavior is unacceptable and dangerous.
Dogs need and want leaders. They have an instinctive need to fit
into a pack. They want the security of knowing their place and what’s expected
of them. Most of them don’t want to be alpha – they want someone else to give
the orders and make the decisions. If his humans don’t provide that leadership,
the dog will take over the role himself. If you’ve allowed your dog to become
alpha, you’re at his mercy and as a leader, he may be either a benevolent king
or a tyrant!
If you think your dog is alpha in your household, he probably is. If
your dog respects only one or two members of the family but dominates the
others, you still have a problem. The dog’s place should be at the -bottom- of
your human family’s pack order, not at the top or somewhere in between.
In order to reclaim your family’s rightful place as leaders of the
pack, your dog needs some lessons in how to be a subordinate, not an equal.
You’re going to show him what it means to be a dog again. Your dog’s mother
showed him very early in life that -she- was alpha and that he had to respect
her. As a puppy, he was given a secure place in his litter’s pack and because
of that security, he was free to concentrate on growing, learning, playing,
loving and just being a dog. Your dog doesn’t really want the responsibility of
being alpha, having to make the decisions and defend his position at the top.
He wants a leader to follow and worship so he can have the freedom of just
being a dog again.
How
to become leader of your pack:
Your dog watches you constantly and reads your body language. He
knows if you’re insecure, uncomfortable in a leadership role or won’t enforce a
command. This behavior confuses him, makes -him- insecure and if he’s a natural
leader or has a social-climbing personality, it’ll encourage him to assume the
alpha position and tell -you- what to do.
“Alpha”
is an attitude.
It involves quiet confidence, dignity, intelligence, an air of
authority. A dog can sense this attitude almost immediately – it’s how his
mother acted towards him. Watch a professional trainer or a good obedience
instructor. They stand tall and use their voices and eyes to project the idea
that they’re capable of getting what they want. They’re gentle but firm, loving
but tough, all at the same time. Most dogs are immediately submissive towards
this type of personality because they recognize and respect alpha when they see
it.
Practice
being alpha.
Stand up straight with your shoulders back. Walk tall. Practice
using a new tone of voice, one that’s deep and firm. Don’t ask your dog to do
something – tell him. There’s a difference. He knows the difference, too!
Remember that, as alpha, you’re entitled to make the rules and give the orders.
Your dog understands that instinctively.
With most dogs, just this change in your attitude and an obedience
training course will be enough to turn things around. With a dog that’s already
taken over the household and has enforced his position by growling or biting
and has been allowed to get away with it, you’ll need to do more than just
decide to be alpha. The dog is going to need an attitude adjustment as well.
Natural leaders and social climbers aren’t going to want to give up
their alpha position. Your sudden change in behavior is going to shock and
threaten them. Your dog might act even more aggressively than before. An alpha
dog will instinctively respond to challenges to his authority. It’s his nature
to want to put down revolutionary uprisings by the peasants! Don’t worry,
there’s a way around it.
An alpha dog already knows that he can beat you in a physical fight
so returning his aggression with violence of your own won’t work. Until you’ve
successfully established your position as alpha, corrections like hitting,
shaking, or using the “roll over” techniques described in some books will not
work and can be downright dangerous to you. An alpha dog will respond to these
methods with violence and you could be seriously hurt.
What you need to do is use your -brain- ! You’re smarter than he is
and you can out think him. You’ll also need to be more stubborn than he is.
What I’m about to describe here is an effective, non-violent method of removing
your dog from alpha status and putting him back at the bottom of the family
totem pole where he belongs and where he needs to be. In order for this method
to work, your whole family has to be involved. It requires an attitude
adjustment from everyone and a new way of working with your dog.
This
is serious business.
A dog that bites or threatens people is a -dangerous- dog, no matter
how much you love him. If treating your dog like a dog and not an equal seems
harsh to you, keep in mind that our society no longer tolerates dangerous dogs.
Lawsuits from dog bites are now settling for millions of dollars – you could
lose your home and everything else you own if your dog injures someone. You or
your children could be permanently disfigured. And your dog could lose his
life. That’s the bottom line.
Canine
Boot Camp for Alpha Attitude Adjustment
From this day forward, you’re going to teach your dog that he is a
-dog-, not a miniature human being in a furry suit. His mother taught him how
to be a dog once and how to take orders. Along the way, through lack of
training or misunderstood intentions, he’s forgotten. With your help, he’s
going to remember what he is and how he fits into the world. Before long, he’s
even going to like it!
Dogs were bred to look to humans for food, companionship and
guidance. An alpha dog doesn’t ask for what he wants, he demands it. He lets
you know in no uncertain terms that he wants his dinner, that he wants to go
out, that he wants to play and be petted and that he wants these things -right
now-. You’re going to teach him that from now on, he has to -earn- what he
gets. No more free rides. This is going to be a shock to his system at first
but you’ll be surprised how quickly he’ll catch on and that he’ll actually
become eager to please you.
If your dog doesn’t already know the simple command SIT, teach it to
him. Reward him with praise and a tidbit. Don’t go overboard with the praise. A
simple “Good boy!” in a happy voice is enough. Now, every time your dog wants
something – his dinner, a trip outside, a walk, some attention, anything – tell
him (remember don’t ask him, -tell- him) to SIT first. When he does, praise him
with a “Good Boy!”, then tell him OKAY and give him whatever it is he wants as
a reward. If he refuses to SIT, walk away and ignore him. No SIT, no reward. If
you don’t think he understands the command, work on his training some more. If
he just doesn’t want to obey, ignore him – DON’T give him what he wants or
reward him in any fashion.
Make him sit before giving him his dinner, make him sit at the door
before going outside, make him sit in front of you to be petted, make him sit
before giving him his toy. If you normally leave food out for him all the time,
stop. Go to a twice daily feeding and -you- decide what time of day he’ll be
fed. Make him sit for his dinner. If he won’t obey the command – no dinner.
Walk away and ignore him. Bring the food out later and tell him again to SIT.
If he understands the command, don’t tell him more than once. He heard you the
first time. Give commands from a standing position and use a deep, firm tone of
voice.
If the dog respects certain members of the family but not others,
let the others be the ones to feed him and bring the good things to his life
for now. Show them how to make him obey the SIT command and how to walk away
and ignore him if he won’t do as he’s told. It’s important that your whole
family follows this program. Dogs are like kids – if they can’t have their way
with Mom, they’ll go ask Dad. In your dog’s case, if he finds a member of the
family that he can dominate, he’ll continue to do so. You want your dog to
learn that he has to respect and obey everyone. Remember – his place is at the
bottom of the totem pole. Bouncing him from the top spot helps but if he thinks
he’s anywhere in the middle, you’re still going to have problems.
Think – you know your dog and
know what he’s likely to do under most circumstances. Stay a step ahead of him
and anticipate his behavior so you can avoid or correct it. If he gets into the
trash and growls when scolded, make the trash can inaccessible. If he likes to
bolt out the door ahead of you, put a leash on him. Make him sit and wait while
you open the door and give him permission – OKAY! – to go out. If your alpha
dog doesn’t like to come when he’s called (and he probably doesn’t!), don’t let
him outside off leash. Without a leash, you have no control over him and he
knows it.
Petting
and attention:
Alpha dogs are used to being fussed over. In a real dog pack,
subordinate dogs are forever touching, licking and grooming the alpha dog. It’s
a show of respect and submission. For now, until his attitude has shown
improvement, cut down on the amount of cuddling your dog gets. When he wants
attention, make him SIT first, give him a few kind words and pats, then stop.
Go back to whatever it was you were doing and ignore him. If he pesters you,
tell him NO! in a firm voice and ignore him some more. Pet him when -you- want
to, not because -he- wants you to. For the time being, don’t get down on the
floor or on your knees to pet your dog. That, too, is a show of submission.
Give praise, petting and rewards from a position that’s higher than the dog.
Games:
If you or anyone in your family wrestles, rough-houses or plays tug
of war with your dog, stop! These games encourage dogs to dominate people
physically and to use their teeth. In a dog pack or in a litter, these games
are more than just playing – they help to establish pack order based on
physical strength. Your dog is already probably stronger and quicker than you
are. Rough, physical games prove that to him. He doesn’t need to be reminded of
it!
Find
new games for him to play.
Hide & seek, fetch or frizbee catching are more appropriate.
Make sure you’re the one who starts and ends the game, not the dog. Stop
playing before the dog gets bored and is inclined to try to keep the ball or
frisbee.
Where
does your dog sleep?
Not
in your bedroom and especially NOT on your bed!
Your bedroom is a special place – it’s your “den”. An alpha dog
thinks he has a right to sleep in your den because he considers himself your
equal. In fact, he may have already taken over your bed, refusing to get off
when told or growling and snapping when anyone asks him to make room for the
humans. Until your dog’s alpha problems are fully under control, the bedroom
should be off-limits! The same goes for sleeping on furniture. If you can’t
keep him off the couch without a fight, deny him access to the room until his
behavior and training has improved.
Crate-training:
Dog crates have 1,000 uses and working with an alpha dog is one of
them. It’s a great place for your dog to sleep at night, to eat in and just to
stay in when he needs to chill out and be reminded that he’s a dog. The crate
is your dog’s “den”. Start crate training by feeding him his dinner in his
crate. Close the door and let him stay there for an hour afterwards. If he
throws a tantrum, ignore him. Don’t let your dog out of his crate until he’s
quiet and settled. At bedtime, show him an irresistible goodie, tell him to SIT
and when he does, throw the goodie into the crate. When he dives in for the
treat, tell him what a good boy he is and close the door.
Graduating
from Boot Camp: What’s next?
Just like in the army, boot camp is really just an introduction to a
new career and new way of doing things. A tour through boot camp isn’t going to
solve your alpha dog’s problems forever. It’s a way to get basic respect from a
dog who’s been bullying you without having to resort to physical force.
How
long should boot camp last?
That depends on the dog. Some will show an improvement right away,
others may take much longer. For really tough cookies, natural leaders that
need constant reminders of their place in the pack, Alpha Dog Boot Camp will
become a way of life. Social climbers may need periodic trips through boot camp
if you get lax and accidentally let them climb back up a notch or two in the
family pack order.
How
do you know if you’re making a difference?
If boot camp has been successful, your dog should start looking to
you for directions and permission. He’ll show an eagerness to please. Watch how
your dog approaches and greets you. Does he come to you “standing tall”, with his
head and ears held high and erect? It may look impressive and proud but it
means he’s still alpha and you still have problems! A dog who accepts humans as
superiors will approach you with his head slightly lowered and his ears back or
off to the sides. He’ll “shrink” his whole body a little in a show of
submission. Watch how he greets all the members of the family. If he displays
this submissive posture to some of them, but not others, those are the ones who
still need to work on their own alpha posture and methods. They should take him
back through another tour of boot camp with support from the rest of the
family.
Obedience
Training:
Once your dog has begun to accept this new way of life and his new
position in the family, you should take him through an obedience course with a
qualified trainer. All dogs need to be trained and alpha dogs need training
most of all! You don’t have to wait until he’s through with boot camp to start
this training but it’s important that he respects at least one member of the
family and is willing to take direction from them.
Obedience class teaches -you- to train your dog. It teaches you how
to be alpha, how to enforce commands and rules, how to get respect and to keep
it. All family members who are old enough to understand and control the dog
should participate in the class. Obedience training is a lifelong process. One
obedience course does not a trained dog make! Obedience commands need to be
practiced and incorporated into your daily life. In a dog pack, the alpha animal
uses occasional reminders to reinforce his authority. Certain commands, like
DOWN/STAY, are especially effective, nonviolent reminders of a dog’s place in
the family pack order and who’s really in charge here.
A well-trained obedient dog is a happy dog and a joy to live with.
Dogs want to please and need a job to do. Training gives them the opportunity
to do both. A well-trained dog has more freedom. He can go more places and do
more things with you because he knows how to behave. A well-trained dog that’s
secure in his place within the family pack is comfortable and confident. He
knows what’s expected of him. He knows his limits and who his leaders are. He’s
free from the responsibility of running the household and making decisions.
He’s free to be our loving companion and not your boss.
He’s free to be a dog – what he was born
to be and what he always wanted to be in the first place.
A piece of Alaskan Malamute History
Named for an Inuit tribe known as the Mahlemuts,
the Alaskan Malamute has been employed by the people of the Arctic since time
immemorial. These large and powerful dogs aided their human counterparts in
bringing down and hauling the carcasses of large game such as seals, caribou
and even polar bears. For their contribution to the tribe, these dogs were
treated with great veneration by the Mahlemut people.
Europeans who began to explore the Arctic during
the 18th century were drawn to this tough, hard-working dog. With the advent of
the gold rush in Alaska during the late 19th century, the demand for the
Alaskan Malamute – with its ability to pull people and equipment across the
great, snowy landscape of Alaska – skyrocketed. The desire to not only mass
produce the breed but also to make it faster and stronger led to a flurry of
irresponsible breeding during his time, and by the 1920s the pure Malamute was
nearly lost. Thankfully, North American breeders realized their mistake before
it was too late and began efforts to reverse the damage. By the 1930s, the
Alaskan Malamute had proved its worth many times over in Arctic and Antarctic
missions; most notably, the breed was chosen to pull the sleds of Admiral
Richard Byrd on his 1933 expedition to the South Pole. Though never intended to
be a fast breed, the Alaskan Malamute also became a popular dog sled racer
during this time. The Alaskan Malamute was recognized by the American Kennel
Club in 1935 as part of the Working Group.
Recent DNA evidence has shown that the Alaskan
Malamute’s wolf-like appearance is no mistake. The Malamute is one of fourteen
“ancient” breeds whose DNA is more similar to the DNA of wolves than that of
other breeds.
Malamute
history from the origins ,to the gold rush to the Serum Run and the race to
Nome
http://www.worldmals.com/history.htm
Choosing your Samoyed-
Samoyed Club of Victoria
The SAMOYED is one of the oldest breeds known to man being
descended, without mixture, from the dog that accompanied the “Samoyede”
tribesmen during their migrations in far north Europe.
Ahead of you are many years (12-15) of love, fun, affection and
loyalty from what we consider the most beautiful dog in the world. The
Samoyed has a real need for human association and affection, having lived so
closely with nomadic peoples over many centuries. He herded the tribe’s
reindeer, pulled their sleds, guarded their camps from wolves and bears and the
pups were even used to keep their children warm in their reindeer skin tents.
He is a true companion, always willing to please and never showing
any aggression to humans. He is patient beyond belief, especially with
children, and is only truly happy when he is with you as part of the family.
THINK FIRST – BEFORE YOU BUY
This appealing little bundle of fluff is going to grow into a dog
that will stand between 46 to 51 cm (for a female) 51 to 56 cm (for a male) at
the shoulder, sometimes even bigger.
The Samoyed is an individual, a free thinker, independent and very
intelligent. He will need a lot of guidance and training during the
formative months to mould his personality into the well-adjusted family member
you require.
A Samoyed must be groomed regularly, needs exercise on a regular
basis and has to feel part of the family. He should be trained properly
and also fed a good balanced diet. A Samoyed loves to be beside you all
the time
This gorgeous puppy may BARK, DIG, CHEW, WANDER, CHASE THE CAT, and
DIRTY IN THE HOUSE. He needs your time and patience. If you don’t
have sufficient of either of these, don’t buy a Samoyed.
His coat needs attention, he needs daily exercise, proper feeding,
and he also needs mental stimulation (being played with and shown
affection). He needs an enclosed yard and a quiet warm place to sleep,
but most of all he needs YOU.
Everything you put into a Samoyed he will repay one-hundred-fold.
Don’t have a Samoyed if you just want a dog to keep in the yard and
look pretty!
A bored dog is a naughty dog. Barking, digging, chewing and
roaming are usually symptoms of boredom.
Once you feel confident in your choice, and the breed will suit your
life-style, talk to as many owners and breeders as you can and ask lots of
questions on the breed. Perhaps spend time with owners of Samoyeds at dog
shows or events run by the breed specialty club. Read as many books as
you can on the breed and get to know this lovely dog.
Be sure to buy your puppy from a reputable breeder. The
responsible breeder will be willing to provide ongoing support and advice and
will be only too willing to answer all your questions no matter how foolish you
may think they are.
General Care
The Samoyed is a medium sized dog with a thick white coat and a big,
permanent smile that reflects the happy-go-lucky nature of the breed. Their
gentle, even tempered nature makes them a delightful and devoted family pet.
Beautiful, graceful and affectionate the Samoyed has been called the dog that
carries the spirit of Christmas in its face and heart the whole year through.
Samoyed coats are usually white, although cream or biscuit colour is
acceptable. As a general rule a dog will have a bigger coat than a bitch. Both
have thick coats, with a soft undercoat and a harsher outer coat. A properly
groomed Samoyed is stunning; with a magnificent coat displaying sparkling,
silver tips, but don’t forget that a lot of time and effort has been put into
the grooming of that beautiful dog.
The Samoyed coat requires regular grooming to keep it healthy and
free of matts, parasites and loose hair. The Samoyed has a major shed (blow) at
least once a year where the undercoat sheds in a spectacular way and requires
many hours of work combing out. This shedding lasts approximately one month,
with relatively no shedding during the rest of the year. The coat should be
groomed regularly, at least once a week with a good comb
through and once a fortnight paying particular attention to elbows, hocks and
ears to ensure that the hair does not become matted at these points. In
Siberia, where the breed originated, the combings from the hair was converted
into human clothing. There are many people even now that use the Samoyeds hair
for spinning into ‘wool’ and knitting jumpers.
Before bathing, a Samoyed must always be thoroughly groomed to
remove any loose or dead hair. Bathing without combing first may make it very
difficult to dry and groom the dog later. During the shedding season if the
Samoyed has not been thoroughly groomed before bathing, the loose hair can turn
into matts which are very hard to remove. Little bathing is required and there
is none of the doggy odour often found amongst other dog breeds.
Do not clip a Samoyed coat in summer as the dog will cope very well
if not better than many shorter coated breeds in the hot weather as the
Samoyeds thick coat acts as insulation and the coat colour reflects the light.
Think of a sheep in the middle of summer. But make sure that your dog always
has plenty of cool water and somewhere shady to lie.
The Samoyed needs daily exercise and enjoys obedience training, but
this can be a challenge. You must make the work fun and commands should be
given with enthusiasm. You should be persistent and patient when training your
Samoyed as the dog will become easily bored and distracted. Don’t forget their
original environment demanded a very intelligent breed with an independent
nature. This breed thinks for themselves and “if you keep throwing that ball
away then you obviously don’t want it”. But after saying all that, there are
many Samoyeds proudly holding their obedience certificates.