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Why are Malamutes so Stubborn?

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Malamutes often have a "Why should I listen to you? What's in it for me?" and our favorite, "Show me the money!" attitude, which often mislabels them as stubborn. Malamutes are independent thinkers, free spirited, opportunistic, suspicious, highly intelligent, and bred to be part of the family, go hunting, and pull sleds. We bred them this way! They are a working breed and need a job such as nose work or hiking, etc. They enjoy force-free FUN training earning yummy rewards. They are emotional and like their "space" (invisible bubble), which is tough because they are fluffy and adorable!

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Dog Body Language

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The foundation to a healthy relationship is communication. Dogs speak to us by using their body. When a dog looks away from you, they are politely saying, "no, thank you" to your presence. If they are uncomfortable, they may yawn. If we do not listen, they may bark, growl, snap, or bite. Please learn to read dog body language to listen to what our dog is saying. 

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Please DO NOT

Lean over and pat a Malamute on their head

Stare and get close to a Malamute's face

 These actions are considered an act of aggression in dog body language and can be interpreted as a threat. A Malamute can freeze and bite your hand or face. A dog may get in your face and invade your space, this is NOT an invitation for affection. We recommend looking away and offering calmness to de-escalate over arousal. 

 

Some dogs are affectionate but that doesn't mean they are in the mood when you are or perhaps, they are not feeling well. As they age and start aching, they may become grumpy and defensive, especially with strangers. We recommend a CONSENT TEST FOR PETTING to be respectful and stay safe, especially with children.

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When meeting a Malamute for the first time less is more. Each dog is a unique individual. Some are shy and others are easily excited. Give them time and "space" to process their feelings, especially in a new environment. They will soon discover how wonderful you are!

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Walk this way!

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Think about shopping with your best friend. You converse and communicate when you need a break or want to go to the food court because it is polite. However, on walks with our furry best friend we pull or yank the leash in the direction we want to go, or just stop walking without communicating to our dog, "wait" or "this way". We also walk at a pace that is quite boring to most dogs and wonder why they get frustrated and bite the leash or pull your arm off to chase a squirrel. Malamutes are independent, born to pull, and enjoy chasing critters. It is a recipe for disaster. We can learn to meet their needs. We recommend giving your dog a snuffle mat or a treat scatter at home to allow your dog to sniff and take the edge off before going on a walk. Next, learn to have fun conversations playing pattern games like the Ping Pong game, which is activated with eye contact. Play at home so you both are comfortable and know what to do. Practice with a 10 ft. leash and build up to 15-20 ft. Always be aware of your surroundings and the radius of your leash. Play Ping Pong during walks providing a healthy outlet for your dog to chase a treat and sniff the grass to find it. You can toss or roll the treat in different directions giving you time to catch up or get ahead. Wiggle the treat at their nose to make it exciting. Then let your dog sniff and explore and check in with your dog or practice asking your dog to "wait" and then use a release cue ("free", "break", "ok") to continue your walk.

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Long Line Training for More Fun and Freedom! by Pawsitive Futures

Attention and Recall on the Long Line by Pawsitive Futures

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If your dog is struggling chasing critters, please check out Predation Substitution Training™ by Simone Mueller.   

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Communication & Relationships with Dogs

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Can you imagine a world with your Northern Breed paying attention to you? Suzanne Clothier's Relationship Centered Training™ (RCT) works beautifully with all dogs, but especially with Northern Breeds. Suzanne teaches "The Auto Check-In" which is one of the foundation skills for RCT. In addition, Suzanne's book, "Attentive Cooperation" explains how to use real life rewards for real life relationships using Puppy Politeness Poker (PPP). RCT changed Bucky Jack's life from a "I want it now!!!" attitude to "I am ready to play PPP" as he sits on his carpet or the front door and looks at his mom for instructions for a real-life reward or an enrichment opportunity. Northern Breeds are intelligent and appreciate learning what to do in order to get what. 

 

Suzanne's webinars and RCT will open your mind and heart challenging you to "See the Dog." 

CHAAMP does not receive monetary benefits for promoting Suzanne's RCT.

 

When and how to use rewards

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Dogs decide what is rewarding and for Malamutes, it is usually food but there are also real-life rewards like going outside. For example, before letting your dog out, wait for them to look at you and take advantage of this moment to ask for a "touch" then open the door as a real-life reward. You dog learns to look to you for access or guidance.

 

We never use treats to bribe a dog to get close to something scary. Some dogs will get the treat and suddenly look up at the scary stranger and bite them in self-defense. We do not use treats to trap our dog in vehicle. Your dog will learn not to trust you, run away from vehicles, or become suspicious of treats. Instead work on building confidence and advocate for your dog. If your dog is shy, it is ok to say, "no thank you" (and depending on the situation, walk away without an explanation) to strangers who want to pet your dog.   

 

A reward is given in recognition of an effort or achievement. A "lure" is used by holding a treat your hand to gently guide your dog into position and then release the treat as a reward at the end. We use a lure to show our dog what we want. Once your dog gets it, add the verbal "cue" and use your hand without a treat as a guide. Once your dog performs the behavior, deliver the reward with your opposite hand. It is important to fade the lure as soon as practical to avoid creating a "show me the money" behavior because a lure can quickly turn into a bribe. After a couple successful attempts, use your verbal cue and wait for your dog to perform the behavior. If your dog needs help, use your hand as a guide and consider breaking down the behavior into smaller learning stages and slowly build.

 

When training, keep treats away from you to prevent your dog from looking at your treat hand or treat bag. Malamutes are intelligent and excellent negotiators; they may refuse to train unless they see food. 

 

A bored Malamute can become destructive

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Malamutes are a working breed with Alaska origins, and we bring them to home with no job. They will entertain themselves by chewing on wood or digging a hole in your sofa or bed. They need to exercise their brain and body (see Enrichment). By providing healthy outlets to sniff, chew, lick, and scavenge their needs are met. There are simple pattern games that you can play on walks or in your home. Rewards based training provides a fun opportunity to earn rewards by collaborating with you. Capturing and reinforcing calm behavior with gentle praise and placing a cookie between their paws encourages your dog to continue and repeat that behavior. Learning polite manners in a fun way creates good habits and pretty soon good behavior becomes the new norm. Please check out free resources from professional dog trainers to learn more. ​

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Capture & Reward Good Behavior

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Kathy Sdao, MA, ACAAB author of "Plenty in Life is Free" developed SMART X 50. It stands for See Mark And Reward Training X 50. The object is to have 50 easily accessible high value pea-size treats and throughout the day watch your dog perform any good behavior. When you See the behavior, Mark it with a "Yes" or "Good Boy/Girl" And Reward (deliver the treat to your dog) Training. Any good behavior is rewarded. 

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• Reinforce calm behavior, your dog will most likely repeat the behavior because it was rewarding.

• Reward your dog for not jumping by delivering treats on the ground before they decide to jump.

• If your dog looks at you, reward them for offering you eye contact.

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Facts about dog training and behavior by Shelter Playgroup Alliance

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Positive Reinforcement Training – Does it Work for the Working Group?

By Chelsea Murray, ATDI, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP & Malamute Mom

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