Have you ever had the feeling while walking your dog that you are not walking the dog at all, but rather being walked by the dog? Often you cannot keep up with the dog’s pace, and after enough time, the dog changes very little while you are the one who gets thinner. Here we will explain how to train an Alaskan Malamute to walk beside you and how to continue building long-term obedience.
To do a job well, you must first prepare the right tools. No matter where you go, always bring a leash when walking an Alaskan Malamute. The breed’s hearing and sense of smell are sharper than ours, and its reactions are stronger. If the environment is unfamiliar, stress responses may occur, leading the dog to run wildly or even injure someone. So it is best to prepare a leash properly. Civilized dog ownership protects the Alaskan’s safety and also reduces the chance of accidents.
Stationary training for the Alaskan Malamute
Let the dog sit beside you and hold the leash firmly, teaching it to stay at one side of your body. If the Alaskan tries to stand up and move away, use the leash to bring it back to the original position while speaking in a corrective tone and repeating either its name or a “stay” command. Once the dog can sit quietly beside you, formal heeling training can begin.
Shorten the leash and walk with the Alaskan
This step can first be practiced indoors. Shorten the leash so the Alaskan can move only beside your leg, then give a command such as “follow” and begin walking slowly. At this point the dog may think the stationary training is over and may try to run off. As soon as you move, it may become excited and want to dash away. When that happens, stop immediately, pull the dog back into position, and give the “stay” command again.
Then start walking again while repeating the “follow” command. If the dog behaves well, you can gradually increase the walking distance before stopping, returning it to position, and rewarding it with praise and treats. It is better not to use toys here, because toys may make the dog even more eager to run off and play.
Outdoor training for the Alaskan Malamute
After some success indoors, you can take the Alaskan outside. You will quickly notice that it is usually far more excited outdoors than at home and often wants to run off, so early outdoor training should also begin with a shortened leash. Afterward, depending on the dog’s performance, you can gradually give a little more freedom on the leash. Once the dog can still stay walking beside you even with more movement space, then you have achieved a complete victory.