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Why are Malamutes so Stubborn?

Why should I listen to you? What's in it for me? Show me the money!" 

 

Alaskan 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 Malamutes this way and then remove them from a thriving environment and do not provide a job. Malamutes are a working breed and need a job such as nose work or hiking, etc. Their need to hunt is strong, so we must provide them with a healthy outlet to meet their needs. Otherwise, Malamutes may self-employ and go nuts chasing critters or dig/chew through furniture. We teach our Malamutes to play pattern games and earn or chase yummy rewards. 

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Dog Body Language

The foundation to a healthy relationship is two-way 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. ​They are emotional and like their "space" (invisible bubble), which is tough because they are fluffy and adorable! 

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Please DO NOT lean over or pat a Malamute on their head or stare or 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 or perhaps they are grumpy because they are not feeling well or didn't get enough sleep. As dogs age, they start to ache. They may become defensive, especially with strangers. We recommend a CONSENT TEST FOR PETTING to be respectful and stay safe, especially with children.

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Your dog is an individual, it is ok to say, "no thank you" and walk away from strangers who want to pet your dog. Do you enjoy meeting, being touched, or hugged by strangers? It depends, right?   

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When meeting a Malamute for the first time less is more. Some Malamutes 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!

​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 may 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". Give them a chance to listen and communicate.

 

We also walk at a pace that is boring to most dogs and wonder why dogs 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 recommend hiding treats for your dog using a snuffle mat, scrunched up towel or a treat scatter at home. This allows your dog to sniff, which takes 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 level to make the treat come to life for the rewarding and safe chase. Let your dog sniff, explore, and reward offered eye contact. 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 appreciate learning what to do in order to get what. It is so rewarding.

 

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 program.

 

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 then open the door. Next time, take advantage of this moment to ask for a "touch" and then open the door as a real-life reward. You dog learns to look to you for access or guidance.

 

Avoid using treats to bribe a dog to get close to something scary. They may get the treat and suddenly look up at the scary stranger and bite 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 always advocate for your dog.

 

Your dog is an individual, it is ok to say, "no thank you" and walk away to strangers who want to pet your dog. Do you enjoy meeting or being touched or hugged by strangers?   

 

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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Malamutes are family

​Malamutes are highly social and consider themselves part of the family. Imagine the confusion and anxiety they face with the loss of their family and home. This may cause distress, frustration, and depression. Their world has been turned upside down and they need time and "space" to process their feelings. Most need time to receive all the love and affection we have to offer. They are dealing with a lot of feelings. We recommend reviewing how to read dog body language to respond appropriately. 

 

It's so fluffy!

Malamutes are beautiful and intelligent. They have their own "space" bubble and will express their feelings. They look huggable, but please DO NOT HUG a Malamute until you establish trust and can read their body language. They will take you by surprise if you do not respect their "space" bubble!

 

They are independent thinkers and want to know what's in it for me? Why should I listen to you? They may talk back and express themselves passionately. They look so cute, fluffy, and are so animated but please do not overwhelm them with physical affection. Pause and try to understand what they are telling you. If we do not listen, their behavior may escalate due to frustration or fear or both. 

 

A Malamute's cuteness may cause us to overlook what they are trying to say to us. If they look away, it's their way of saying, "no thank you -- please do not pet me." If their body is stiff, give them space! A wagging tail with a stiff body and a growl means give me space now!!! When someone doesn't hear us, we yell. Malamutes yell too and this can look like an air snap or fierce growl. 

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First Introductions with a Malamute

It is easy to misinterpret behavior because they are so fluffy and animated. Maintain calm energy to help them process their feelings. 

 

Warning signs: the dog is flicking their tongue, freezing, hesitant, yawning, a stiff body, rigid tail wagging.

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When a dog is afraid or not sure meeting a human, they may run up, jump up, rub or lean into the person appearing really friendly and may even get in your face to see what you are going to do. Please be calm, avoid eye contact, and DO NOT PET. We want to prevent their arousal from escalating even if they are friendly. If we reciprocate by petting or possibly hugging the dog (viewed as restraint), it may cause the dog to air snap or bite the person in their face. This is why it is so important to give the dog "space" and allow them to sniff us without petting them. Malamutes are easily excitable and due to their size can knock you over. 

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Belly Rubs

Some of us shut down or avoid conflict. Dogs will roll over on their back exposing their belly with a stiff body and wagging tail desperately telling you, "I mean you no harm, please give me space." When in doubt, give them space. 

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To minimize stress, we do our best to create peaceful interactions. If we do not listen with our eyes by reading their body language, we may inadvertently cause them to feel threatened. In dog body language, staring, directly facing, or leaning over a dog is considered threatening. We want to be respectful and earn their trust. A healthy relationship is formed when we listen and feel heard. 

 

Chasing Critters

The most common issues are pulling on a leash to chase critters, which are behaviors that are bred in Malamutes. Offer opportunities to chase treats or do nose work as a healthy hunting outlet. Simple pattern games like Ping Pong help your dog engage with you and chase a treat. Practice at home with no distractions, then practice in different locations and then slowly add distractions. If your dog cannot play this game while out on a walk, then it is time to manage and create distance from the trigger with an emergency U-turn. Simone Mueller has written books and offers online Force-free anti-predation training for dogs that love
to chase.

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• https://www.dogcrazylady.com/post/pattern-games

• https://joyfuldogllc.com/emergency-leash-techniques/

• https://predation-substitute-training.com/

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Unwanted Behavior

Remove opportunities for your dog to practice unwanted behavior (bad choices). You can teach alternative behavior and increase mental stimulation (brain exercises). There is a good chance that a need is not being met, or it can be a health issue that is causing unwanted behavior. 

 

If you know how to predict your dog's behavior, you can be proactive.

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Stop counter surfing by removing access to the kitchen (with a baby gate or crate) and do not leave food unattended. Before you start cooking, show your pup where to go and provide them with a snuffle mat, a natural chew or a frozen Kong, close the kitchen door/gate and then start cooking. Show your dog what to do BEFORE they get themselves into trouble. If we react when the dog comes to the kitchen to find food by giving them food, the dog learns going to the kitchen means he will get food. Timing is so important!    

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