Alaskan Malamutes are beautiful, intelligent, and loyal dogs. They are also very large and strong, and can be quite stubborn. This makes them a challenging breed to train, but it is certainly possible with patience and consistency.
Here are some tips on how to train an Alaskan Malamute:
Start early. The best time to start training a Malamute is when they are puppies. They are more receptive to learning at this age, and it will be easier to establish good habits.
Use positive reinforcement. Malamutes are motivated by food, so using treats as rewards is a great way to teach them new commands. Positive reinforcement will help them associate good behavior with good things, and make them more likely to repeat that behavior in the future.
Keep training sessions short and fun. Malamutes can get bored easily, so it is important to keep training sessions short and engaging. Aim for 10-15 minutes at a time, and make sure to end on a positive note.
Vary your training locations. Training in different environments will help keep your Malamute’s attention and make training more challenging. You can train indoors, outdoors, in the park, or even in your car.
Be consistent. Malamutes are very good at picking up on patterns, so it is important to be consistent with your training. If you give them a command one day and then ignore them the next, they will be confused and less likely to obey.
Be patient. Training an Alaskan Malamute takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if they don’t learn a command right away. Just keep practicing and they will eventually get it.
Here are some of the basic commands that you should teach your Alaskan Malamute:
Sit: This is a basic command that all dogs should know. To teach your Malamute to sit, hold a treat in front of their nose and slowly move it up and over their head. As they follow the treat with their head, their bottom will naturally hit the ground. Once they are sitting, say “sit” and give them the treat.
Down: To teach your Malamute to down, start by having them sit. Then, slowly move the treat towards the ground in front of them. As they follow the treat with their head, their bottom will naturally lower to the ground. Once they are down, say “down” and give them the treat.
Stay: This command is important for keeping your Malamute safe. To teach your Malamute to stay, start by having them sit or down. Then, hold a treat in front of their nose and step away from them. As they stay in place, say “stay” and give them the treat. Gradually increase the amount of time that you step away before giving them the treat.
Come: This command is important for getting your Malamute back to you if they ever get loose. To teach your Malamute to come, start by having them sit or down. Then, call their name and hold out a treat. As they come to you, say “come” and give them the treat.
These are just a few of the basic commands that you can teach your Alaskan Malamute. With patience and consistency, you can train your Malamute to be a well-behaved and obedient member of your family.
Additional Tips
Use a firm but gentle voice. Malamutes are sensitive dogs, so it is important to use a firm but gentle voice when training them. Yelling or being harsh will only make them more stubborn.
Be a role model. Malamutes are very good at picking up on your behavior, so it is important to be a role model for them. If you want them to be well-behaved, you need to be well-behaved yourself.
Get help from a professional trainer. If you are struggling to train your Malamute on your own, you can get help from a professional trainer. A good trainer can help you understand your dog‘s behavior and develop a training plan that is right for them.
With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can train your Alaskan Malamute to be a well-behaved and obedient member of your family.
