Hi...I hope someone can help me.I just don't know what to do with my malamute.He is one year old and called Nanouk.I love him so much but I have a three year old girl,and I had to give up walking him .He has pulled me over and split both my knees.I am at my wits end,he is great in every other way and he is so loved here ,but I can't bear to see him confined to the garden.I have not been able to walk him for about two months and it is cruel to him.Please,please can any one help or does anyone have any advice on the best harness or collar...or training method.He is simply too strong and he needs good long walks.I have bought books and read up on The Malamute..but nothing is working for me...

Your first port of call should be your dog's breeder; reputable breeders take a lifelong interest in the puppies they produce and will do all they can to help.

Training is the best way to go, but as a 'quick fix' in the meantime have you tried a Halti or Gentle Leader type headcollar? Works like magic on my American cocker - not half as strong a breed of course, but I'm sure it would help a lot with your dog.

I'm sure there will be plenty of people along soon with some great advice about how to get the pulling under control but there were two tips we were given at training class that seemed to help us all.
1) Use treats to get your dog into position and then to follow your hand.  Whenever he is walking slowly and in the right place give a treat.  Practise around the house first just from room to room and changing direction.  Be prepared to give lots of v interesting treats and remember you might need to reduce the quantity of breakfast to compensate!
2) Just to get him back on track, and to get your confidence back, do all your lead work in the garden.  If the only time he goes on a lead is to go somewhere exciting he'll want to pull you there faster!  In the garden there is no incentive to pull and you can practice your chosen method better.

Good luck and do persevere.  If you can get to a good training class it can work wonders.  Your dog learns that you are a source of fun and food and starts to learn that pleasing you is always the best strategy!!

Helenclaire, I've PMed you with information. Click on 'Messages' at the top of the page to find it. :-)

Just wanted to let you know that I know how you feel right now. I have a 11 Month old Mastiff, a few months ago he started to pull very badly when out, it got to the point that I thought I would never be able to walk him and I was scared of what it would be like when he matured and got stronger.
But I bought a harness, then with some treats for distraction & reward things improved brilliantly, but a Mastiffs energy levels are no where near that of a Malamute. I'm sure there will be somebody along with experience who can give you some good advice.

I've also found a halti to be fantastic.

Hi,

To start with I would get a headcollar and condition him to that.  He will be very over-excited going out for walks to start with having not had walks for a while and will find it difficult to control himself, so I would start getting him out for exercise with the aid of a headcollar and then when you are feeling relaxed about taking him out and feel more in control then start working on the heel work.  Clicker training works really well in conjunction with lureing the dog into the right position and clicking and rewarding for the right position.  Also the 300 peck method works very well for heel work.  Start with one step of heel work then stop and reward then two, then three etc etc, it sounds very time consuming but actually works very quickly as you are setting the dog up for success as it becomes very clear to the dog what we are looking for.  If you are in a rush one day and don't have time for training then pop him on the headcollar so that he doesn't get the chance to pull and undo all your training :-)

My dog is a lot smaller (patterdale) but she's strong and used to pull me around. Basically the moment we got her at the age of 18 months the first thing we bought was a harness as the previous owners said that she pulled badly on the lead. 

I have mixed thoughts on the harness, it meant that walking was easier on Bess as she wasn't choking herself (once she brought up loads of phlem when we tried walking her with the collar) but on the other hand because she has a broad chest, it meant that it gave her more of a leverage to pull me along with, so this didn't really work.  I then bought a halti, which was good, it did stop her from pulling but took the fun out of the walk for her, and also because you attach the lead from underneath the chin and she only has short legs, she kept getting her legs tangled up in the lead.  So this wasn't really a sucess either.  So I thought right, this isn't going to beat me, so I put the lead on her collar and each time she started to pull I would say no and either stand still until the lead went slack, occasionally I turned around and walked back on myself but the standing still method works the best.  It took a few walks until she got the message, and now I only take her for a walk with the lead on her collar and she is great.  I have to say though that I am totally consistent with her and she knows that she needs to do as I say.  On the other hand my OH still takes her for a walk with the harness on because she pulls for him, because he isn't consistent with her and she knows she can get away with murder, a bit like my son does with him!

This is just my opinion but like I say I can't comment with a bigger dog, but Bess is capable of pulling me of my feet because she's a hunting breed and runs fast and is very strong.

Since I had sciatica which left me with a dropped foot I found it more difficult to walk my dogs sometimes. I used a halti and various other headcollars and stop pull harnesses but either I didn't feel they helped much or with the headcollars the dogs didn't like them. Recently after I'd tripped and fallen I happened to mention it to a friend who said she just used a straight forward Canac harness no moveable bits just a harness.

I was really sceptical but she offered to lend me hers to try and WHAT a difference :-D Loose lead no stress and my older Beardie who is sound sensitive isn't as stressed if there is a bang when we are out. I wish I'd tried one long ago.

Don't know how it would work for a breed bred to pull though??

A good trainer that can actually work with you and your dog will be able to help you loads more than reading different techniques. I have several that I use depending on the dog I'm working with. Different dogs respond better to different methods. Have you been to a good training class? The APDT website has a list of trainers by area. Their code of practice is to use reward based training, not harsh methods such as choke chains. Why not have a look and call a trainer near you. Even if you don't have time to attend classes weekly, an hour of one-on-one with a good trainer could really help you a lot.

Ditto lucydogs we use a halti on our Border Collie, stopped him pulling immediately. Good luck

Hi Helenclaire!

Im soo sorry to hear this for you and nanouk. (it becomes a vicious cricle doesnt it)
I totally agree with Lori's post.. please do get some help hon, and for fairness to poor nanouk get it quick.
-Can you afford to employ someone to walk him for you in the interim? (would have to be an experienced walker or your exascerbating the problem)
- Join a malamute forum and see if there's anyone in your area who can help out, walk with you and give you some pointers?? and combine that with training classes, you'll be laughing in no time :)

I myself have a couple of little steam trains (although Sibes are nothing compared to Mals!!) I'd avoid a harness as this just gives them better ability to hunker down into the harness using their chest wheight to pull even easier!! a headcollar may well be the way forward but it would be a really good idea to get someone to show you how to use it (and never with a long line/ extender lead)

Well done you for finally acknowledging this is no way to go on for you and Nanouk, you do need to nip this in the bud! and the good news is it can be easily remedied...but only if your prepared to put the work in.

I'm in Kent, if thats near you I'd be happy to meet for a walk if you'd like.. feel free to PM me. (I'll bring the knee pads..you bring the chocolate!) ;)

Hi Helenclaire,

Sorry to hear of your strong dog yanking you over- must of knocked your confidence somewhat. Firstly as everyone has mentioned about a halti they are great for strong dogs. Only with that maybe for the first couple of weeks- could you maybe afford a dog walker for while? as he is so going to be a handful as he has not been out for ages, no way would I take him out with your little girl if the dog walker is out of the question. Get a babysitter for a couple of hours and take him out for a good ramble for the first 30 minutes he will act like a madman but its only excitement. Only thing you will have to seriously think about as your choice of breed the malamute need extreme exercise! That means 1 1/2 hours mornings, 1 hour in the afternoon and another stroll in the evening? Would your daughter really cope with all this walking even if he was OK on his lead? When I had my tervuren and my baby came along, luckily she was obsessed with playing ball so I would take her down to the beach next to my house and get her energy out of her that way, but as my son was in a buggy it was easy- it was when he had to walk when he hit 3 that I had to leave him at my friends house and walk my dog and her collie together. Even though she would come with me around town off lead all day- I love walking for miles anyway- so I loved that and my friend hated the walking so it worked out great for us. Once the kids start school it does become easier.  

Hi Malamutes are large strong powerful dogs, definately not for the beginner dog owner!
What drew you to such a breed if you dont have much time for training etc...with having kids etc.... All dogs can pull whatever the breed but I would imagine its hard to hang on to something that size once he decides to go.

You are right it is very unfair to keep Nanouk in the garden , cant believe you havent walked him for two months!!! He will be much worse now and be so hyped up I would imagine. Can you not drive him somwhere safe where he can have a good gallop around off lead to release some energy?
A dog this size needs proper exercise.

I would try a halti or dogmatic headcollar for now, so at least you can get him out, but the real answer is training! Get him to a local obedience club and really put the work in, id do it sooner rather than later too.

Good luck
Kim

I meant to add also that I think Malamutes and Huskys are going to be the next breeds to come into disrepute! I love both breeds but dont feel equipped to cope with one, even though I have owned dogs all my life.
I know a few people at work have gone out and bought Huskys! Then had lots of problems thinking they are going to sit on the couch all day and be content with a 20min stroll to the park.

And worse than this , ive noticed quite a number of scallys parading around with Huskys! 

I hope Im wrong

Hi... forgot to add!

Get yourself a walking belt!! Fab bit of kit :O) Makes succcch a difference.
This is the one I have:- http://snowpawstore.co.uk/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?cat=21&idProduct=64
(and Snowpaws are a really friendly great little on line store)
HTH, Do let us know how your getting on.

Hi RB,

I've seen a few about where I live. At the moment it's even stevens between various Mastiffs, Husky/Malamutes and Akitas.

All big powerful working breeds, often dogs and again, often entire. Saw an entire, male Akita in the park yesterday, offlead. Owners had no control as he went zooming across the park towards another dog. Fortunately a bitch, so no harm done, but owner was terrified. Another dog was killed by a pair of Akitas, in this park, a couple of years ago, so a few are wary of the breed.

I guess the thing about Malamutes and Huskies is they have quite a strong desire to pull?

I would recommend a Walkezee - brilliant invention.  It doesn't allow the dog to pull into the harness but don't purchse the couplings as that defeats the object. I was having a real problem with one of my dogs dragging me into dog shows in excitement - now it's impossible for her to do that and walking is a delight.

http://www.dogtrainingharnesses.co.uk/