How to train an Alaskan Malamute?
Are you thinking of getting an Alaskan Malamute? Then you are on the right track if you want a dog breed that is large, beautiful, and strong. This furbaby never fails to impress with its overall stature and with it being known for its intelligence and inclination to be around people, this would be a good addition to your family. With the right training in place, your Alaskan Malamute would be a great companion and best friend especially if you have kids.
Alaskan Malamute existed many thousand years before which is the reason why it is also known to be one of the oldest dog breeds. Its name came from the Mahlemut tribe in Alaska whose people, the Inupiats, were known to raise this dog breed. Even then, they are already known to get along with people well because of their extremely friendly manner. Their company is sought especially for hunting because of their formidability even in the face of big predators. They live side by side with their humans in ancient times to help out in the livelihood and daily tasks such as pulling sleds and guarding homes. With their thick coat, they are known to withstand very cold temperatures.
Alaskan Malamute can be a very social dog, but with their innate predatory instinct, this can be a challenge without proper training. This is most especially if you’d put it together with other pets that it would see as prey such as cats. This is why it is highly recommended to start its training as early as possible. Note that you don’t always need a professional trainer. As long as you have the patience and willingness to learn together with your Alaskan Malamute, then you’re good to go.
When training your Alaskan Malamute, it is always best to start with basic commands such as sit and stand. Most owners find success in positive reinforcement training or reward-based where their furbaby receives gentle scratches, praises, and even treats for every positive outcome. This type of training helps your Alaskan Malamute determine that he did well and he was able to please you with its behavior. The gesture doesn’t need to be big if you choose treats to reward your Alaskan Malamute. Just ensure that you have enough kibble at hand and in no time, your Alaskan Malamute will be at your command.
Of course, training of basic command should be repetitive until the desired result is achieved. From there, you can already go through other more difficult commands and even tricks that both you and your Alaskan Malamute would love. It should be put in mind though that dogs are very sensitive in general and your Alaskan Malamute is not different. As such, while training it, it is important to be consistent in the language and the tone of voice used. In that way, it would eliminate possible confusion with your Alaskan Malamute and you could better establish rapport between you and your furbaby.