Did I catch your attention with the title? I know, Alaskan Malamutes are not Golden Retrievers. One has pointy ears and a plumed tail and the other has floppy ears and a continually wagging tail. Seriously though, the biggest difference between Malamutes and other non-northern breeds represented here by Golden Retrievers is how they respond to obedience training. Alaskan Malamutes are not the breed of dog that "serious" competitive obedience folk choose in their quest for the GMOTCH title. In fact, Malamutes have never made the top 10 Obedience dog list in Canada and it is the rare Malamute that competes beyond the Companion Dog level – let alone be successful.
As one who has lived with, "trained," and worked many Alaskan Malamutes and helped many Malamute owners (not all my own clients either) with training and/or behavior issues, I have learned – or rather have been taught by my dogs – how the Alaskan Malamute mind works. At least, how I think the Alaskan Malamute mind works! This is a fascinating breed and I find myself constantly learning more about them through careful observation and experience with a variety of individuals.
When a person chooses this breed, unless they are mentored well by an experienced owner/breeder, there may be difficulties that arise in the raising and training of the new puppy. The owner may diligently take the pup to classes. Unless the trainer has a good handle on the way northern dogs think, there may still be major hurdles that might not be overcome. Why do I say this? Simply, the Alaskan Malamute cannot be trained in the conventional ways that are so successful with non-northern breeds.
A good friend of mine and I frequently share our thoughts and insights about our Malamutes including their education. Both of us enjoy the work and teachings of Karen Pryor, Jean Donaldson, Patricia McConnell, Pam Reid, and Ian Dunbar. We understand, use and promote teaching with operant conditioning (specifically positively with clickers) and the principles of shaping behaviors. As my friend is very thorough, she prepared to teach new skills to her Malamutes by following shaping programs suggested by these trainers/behaviorists. The theory was sound – but in practice, she quickly ran into trouble as her Malamutes quickly lost interest with the multiple repetitions required at each step.
Now why should the novice owner who goes to classes taught by a trainer without a good working knowledge of northern minds and my experienced friend teaching with methods that should work have difficulties? Let’s have a closer look at the Alaskan Malamute.
As I tell anyone interested in any breed: do your research as to the dog’s function, history, how and why they evolved as they did. This is no different for an Alaskan Malamute owner to try to figure out their dog. The Alaskan Malamute evolved with the Inuit people. This is crucial to understand. The dogs and humans were partners in survival in a harsh environment. The Malamute dogs lived, hunted, moved camp, ate, and shared hard times with the people. They truly co-habited together. There was probably mutual respect for each other – especially their strengths. The Alaskan Malamute was and still is a breed with a high level of innate intelligence. They have, in addition to their high intellect, abilities to reason, and problem solve. Alaskan Malamutes are very wolf-like in many ways such as their pack orientation, play, and hunting. Malamutes today still retain all of those traits as well as their primitiveness.
Alaskan Malamutes need benevolent leadership from the pack leader (hopefully the human in the pack). Respect and communication between leader and pack members flows both ways in a sound and stable pack. In my view, one doesn’t "have" Alaskan Malamutes – one lives with Alaskan Malamutes. But that, too, is just a choice. It is the owner who lives with the Alaskan Malamute who really learns to understand their dog more than the owner who just has the Malamutes in a kennel situation and spends limited time with them.
Keeping in mind the primitiveness (i.e. not a man-designed breed) and how the breed evolved with the Inuit people it is not hard to understand that not only is the breed intelligent innately but they are also independent thinkers. Individuals (of any species) with high intellects learn easily, quickly, and become bored very quickly. These types of individuals also have very high retention of "things" learned. Again, this is crucial to remember about Alaskan Malamutes.
Non-northern breeds (particularly ones who are favorites of competitive obedience enthusiasts) are breeds that enjoy doing repetitive tasks over and over and over. They totally soak up any sort of "drilling" or "proofing" of exercises. Many individuals really do need long and involved shaping programs to learn obedience exercises. Some breeds, such as border collies, are totally obsessive about working at anything. The highly successful competitive obedience winners generally love working and pleasing their handlers. They learn their exercises well, are drilled and proofed beyond a shadow of a doubt, and handle trial after trial with joy. They are highly trained but do they really independently think?
By contrast, Alaskan Malamutes hate drilling and repetitive work. They get bored very quickly. If the handler does not understand her dog’s communication of boredom and/or confusion and keeps pushing the dog to "get it right" one of two things will happen. The first and most likely is the dog will shut down mentally with the end result of lack of interest/desire in any learning. The second possible outcome is the dog will try a variation on what the handler was trying to proof resulting in more frustration for both dog and handler. Malamutes learn quickly – very quickly if the handler has TAUGHT the dog clearly what is desired. After they are taught and shown they understand a new skill, when practicing do not keep pushing for perfection time after time. Do that and you’ll end up with problems. At most, I feel up to three good repetitions of what is worked on is optimal – then go onto another skill or activity.
Many trainers recommend training a dog every day – sometimes multiple times in a day. Malamutes will shut down if this schedule is followed. Yes, you can work on something every day for a week or two – then leave it for a while. Give the dog and yourself a break. It never ceases to amaze me how much these dogs can retain no matter how much time passes between training sessions. Often, the skill that was worked on is actually better after some time off. I suggest only training two or three times a week at most.
There is, however, a time in the Mal’s life when their education should be very intense. It is the time between weaning and approximately six or seven moths of age. That is the most important time in the dog’s life as the foundation for future behavior and education is laid. I teach a tremendous amount to my pups during this time. (Refer to "Early Puppy Education" on my website of www.inharmonymalamutes.com ). I will clarify, that these sessions are only once, maybe twice, a day for about 10 or 15 minutes each. The rest of the time, housetraining, manners and foundation laying for general behavior are done as part of living with the pup. I continue to keep the skills the pup learns in puppyhood up during our daily living preferring to wait until the pup is older for more intensive "formal" schooling. Depending on the dog, I’ll wait until somewhere between 1 and 2 years of age before resuming any intensive teaching.
I have had the best results with my Malamutes when I started to truly educate them. Yes, clicker training and shaping behaviors are definitely used in the education, but the important part here is that the education is done in a way so that the dog truly understands what is asked and then chooses to do it. Other than the obvious clicker training, what has really made the big difference in my dogs’ education is my ability to observe, learn, interpret, and understand my dogs’ communications. The Mal has a very rich non-verbal language. Each dog has slightly different expressions – like people have slightly different accents when speaking. Our dogs in turn are learning our non-verbal and verbal communication. There are real conversations taking place when one lives with a Malamute – if one tunes in.
Trust and respect are also crucial to have between a Malamute and owner. Again, this goes both ways and both must be earned by both dog and human. These qualities are innate in the Alaskan Malamute. Picture being out on the frozen ice with a team; the leader refuses to go a certain route. Does the driver demand the team continue on or trust the leader’s judgment? The one who trusts the leader’s instincts and decisions may well be the one who lives another day. While we probably won’t have that experience, we may have experiences with our dogs who alert us about danger (environmental or about people). Would you trust your Malamute then? I would – and have. This level of trust is as profound as the deep respect that grows between dog and human.
Malamutes are also easily bored. Not unusual with the high level of innate intelligence that they have. Doing a variety of different activities is highly recommended. A Malamute can easily switch between skills of competitive obedience, conformation, Rally-O and trick training in one session. I do this routinely. Do my Mals get confused? Absolutely not. In contrast, they love the variety and quick changes of what we are doing. I really encourage owners to teach tricks to their dogs. It is fun, different, relaxing, and the dogs love the reactions they get from their "audience." Remember, Malamutes have a well developed sense of humor. If they can get people laughing and enjoying their antics they are delighted! Handlers must know what their dogs enjoy – or not.
Because of the Malamute’s quick mind and excellent retention of what is taught, handlers must always have a picture or goal of what they are working towards. These dogs don’t always follow the prescribed shaping steps that work so well for non-northern breeds but may skip two or three steps and have a major break-through. Handlers must be prepared for that possibility at all times. Karen Pryor talks about this in her excellent book "Don’t Shoot the Dog!" Celebrate these break-throughs and keep progressing.
I cannot stress enough to have – and be open to – clear communication with your Alaskan Malamute. The Malamute will give feedback – positive and negative – about the activity you are doing. If the Mal is showing confusion or doesn’t understand what you are teaching, then know that it is your fault in not being clear enough in your teaching. Review and think about what you were doing and then try a different approach. Every Malamute is an individual; what works beautifully for one may not work for another.
Thank goodness Malamutes are not Goldens! I love the quick minds, sense of humor, way they communicate, and the personalities of Alaskan Malamutes. I love living and learning with them. I love working and educating Malamutes. Yes, they can be a challenge. They think and are individualistic primitive dogs. Easy to train? No, thankfully. Easy to educate? Absolutely! With good communication that flows between dog and handler, trust in each other’s judgment, mutual respect for each other as individuals and a solid education, doing many things with one’s Alaskan Malamute is possible – and a joy.
MALAMUTES ARE NOT GOLDENS
by Ruth Kellogg