The Alaskan Malamute is jokingly called one of the “three silly sled dogs,” so scientific training is especially important during puppyhood. Otherwise, once the dog becomes an adult, it becomes much harder to manage. We divide Alaskan Malamute training into three stages.
Stage 1: Building conditioned responses
The first stage is helping the Alaskan understand which action corresponds to which command. This is the stage of forming conditioned responses. In a distraction-free environment, the trainer uses assistance, gentle compulsion, and rewards so that the Alaskan forms a basic connection between the human command and the action it needs to perform. This memory is only temporary at first and cannot yet withstand outside interference. Put simply, this stage helps the dog understand what action your command is asking for.
You can tell the first stage is complete when, in the same training environment, the trainer gives the command three times without using food lures or leash control, and the Alaskan still performs the correct action based on the verbal cue alone.
At this stage, there are no strict requirements regarding hand signals, the number of repetitions, the dog’s speed, or the precision of the movement.
Stage 2: Standardizing the conditioned response
The second stage is getting the Alaskan to carry out commands in a strict and reliable way. During this phase, the trainer keeps increasing distractions and raising the conditions under which the dog must obey. Through repeated and precise requirements, the dog develops the awareness that once it hears a command, it must or willingly wants to carry it out. This stage firmly reinforces the dog’s memory. In simple terms, the Alaskan learns that a command is not optional and that the corresponding action must be completed accurately.
You can consider the second stage complete when, under a certain level of distraction, with no lure, no tool control, from more than five meters away, and within no more than two verbal commands, the Alaskan can quickly, attentively, and accurately complete the required action.
At this stage, clear requirements exist for the number of commands, the training distance, the speed of the dog’s response, the accuracy of the movement, the amount of environmental interference, and whether any auxiliary tools are used.
Stage 3: Turning the conditioned response into daily-life habits
The third stage is the lifestyle stage, in which the trained actions become voluntary habits in real life. At this point, the trainer brings the Alaskan fully into everyday situations and lets it experience real human social activity. The dog performs the learned actions in real-world living scenarios until those trained behaviors gradually turn into willing, automatic life habits. In practical terms, this means helping the Alaskan understand how to behave when living with people so that both the dog and the owner can live more happily and safely together.
You can tell the third stage is complete when the owner can take the Alaskan outdoors for off-leash release, test entering and leaving a crate, going through doors, getting in and out of cars, riding in vehicles, toileting outdoors, off-leash recall, waiting, and similar behaviors, all with minimal commands and in a natural, relaxed real-life setting.
The third stage requires the owner to stay in a fully realistic everyday state, while the Alaskan willingly cooperates with all parts of the owner’s life. It is the ideal picture of human and dog living in harmony.