Getting an Alaskan malamute is a nice thing as you will get the company of the dog while walking in the evening and also it will be your friend for the whole day.
Walking the dog on the roads or even fields are not an easy task as malamutes are often prone to pull the leash or harness and keep the owner deviated from the way. So you need a good quality harness to keep the dog in control.
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Why harness is required for handling the malamute?
Alaskan malamute prefers to walk for sure. This sober-natured dog can be handled when it is well trained and also the relation between the owner and the dog becomes like the pack leader and pack member.
But when this large-sized dog gets excited then it becomes really unmanageable. Also, there can be something on the road that startles the dog. If you keep the harness on your Alaskan malamute then it will be much easy to manage the dog.
Also, the harness keeps the confidence level of the owner up, as it gives him or her comfort as well as a good amount of control over the dog.
As Alaskan malamutes are big-sized dogs, you need a good amount of strength to manage them on the road. If it pulls and tugs you, you can be hurt, if you are using only the leash and no harness is attached to it. While using the harness you will be benefitted from your own health purpose. The soft padding on the handle and grip will help you to lessen the force of the dog and thus, there will be less chance of getting hurt due to muscle pain.
How to choose the right kind of harnesses for the malamute?
When choosing the right kind of harness for your Alaskan malamute, you should be aware of the features like size, quality, and comfort.
Size
As the Alaskan malamutes are huge in size, you must measure the size of the body and know which part will be fitted to the body of the dog. If possible you should take the dog along with you to the pet shop to know which one fits the dog better.
When you get an ill-fitted harness, it will make the dog try to get released from the harness and that will be the most uncomfortable way for the dog to take a walk. You must make sure to use only a comfortable and proper-sized harness for your Alaskan malamute.
Quality
Check for a strong and durable strap. You will be handling a full-grown Alaskan malamute that has the reputation of being unruly if irritated or intimidated. So to avoid any chance of accident you must be cautious enough. Only the best quality material should be used to create the harness for your dog.
The stitching also needs to be of superb quality. The thread should be able to permit the heavy tug and pull which the dog will give at the time of the walk.
Comfort
Check the harness that will not cut into the skin of the dog. Make sure that it is frost and water-resistant, as you do not know when it will rain while on the walk. Keeping the dog comfortable and also make the walk a pleasant journey depends upon the quality of the harness.
So now, we can suggest a few best-quality harnesses which can be fitted to the body of your Alaskan malamute.
1. Joyride Harness For Dogs
This is a no-pull pet harness that will be easy on your dog and also will help you to grip the dog with full control. There are rings on three sides of the harness which helps the dog to be comfortably fitted inside the harness. The soft padded vest will hold the body of the malamute with much care. The clip that comes along the harness is easy to put on and off, thus you will not feel messy while handing it.
You can easily walk, run or train the dog while keeping the harness on. Multiple colors are available for this product so you can select some bright chirpy colors to suit the malamute’s coat shade. As the harness will not need any pull, it will give the satisfaction of walking without any hassle, and yet you can be confident of keeping the dog well managed.
Pros:
- Three side rings
- No pull
- Easy on-off clip
Cons:
- Clasp underbelly may seem uncomfortable
2. BABYLTRL Bid Dog Harness
This adjustable harness is perfect for handling the Alaskan malamutes. The soft vest pattern of this harness is just awesome when it comes to managing this aggressive dog. You need to get the right-sized harness as this brand offers XL-sized ones. The multiple varieties of colors will be easy to choose from. You do not have to pull or the dog will never be choked while it will give it a tug. The soft-touch around its body will keep the dog feeling relaxed while walking.
The design of this harness is quite simple and thus it is pretty easy to put it on and take it off. The straps are adjustable so they will fit any sized dog. Only you need to fix the harness according to the size of the girth of the dog. The D ring attached with the leash is to support the bodyweight of the dog.
Pros:
- Comfortable grip
- Adjustable strap
- Easy to put on and off
Cons:
- A bit difficult to adjust around the waist
3. Paw Five Core-1 Dog Harness
This harness is available in various sizes like small, medium, large and extra-large. You can get the large or extra-large one for the Alaskan malamute. This heavy-duty harness is perfect for the long runs that you will take with your four-legged friend. Do not hesitate to put this on as this harness will not harm the dog and your pet will feel comfortable while wearing it.
The harness contains a well-built D ring and buckle which will not be rusted anytime soon. In fact, the product ensures a 30-day quality guarantee, so you can trust this product to be a really good one. The chest and waist straps are adjustable and thus you can keep them fitted around the dog’s body. The single closure buckle will be easily closed. There is a holder for the waste bag, which is another innovative addition.
Pros:
- Convenient design
- Adjustable strap
- Padded handle
Cons:
- Metal leash attachment is not suitable for many leashes
4. Rabbitgoo Tactical Dog Harness
This harness is shaped like a vest and is perfect for bigger-sized pet dogs like the Alaskan malamutes. This harness comes in various sizes so you can get the right-sized one for your dog. This harness is strong and fitted for all outdoor activities like running, hunting, or mere walking. There are two metal shoulder buckles that will fight the force of pulling off the big dogs. The inner side of the vest is well padded so at the time of tugging, the dog does not get hurt.
The modern design of the vest makes it a practical product. There are holders for keeping the water pouches or dog gears. There are multiple hooks that will be sufficient to hold such equipment. The front clip will be taking care of the pull so you can make it work without any disturbance.
Pros:
- Two metal shoulder buckles
- 1050D Nylon stitching
- Easy adjustment
Cons:
- You can receive different color if order online
5. Auroth Tactical Dog Training Harness
Available in multiple different sizes, this harness will solve the problem of fitting for your Alaskan malamute dog. It is made from breathable air mesh and the soft padding of cotton has been implanted inside. This harness is much easy to put on and take off and the adjustment facility goes a long way to make it well fitted to any sized dog.
There are two rings to keep the dog safe even when it pulls through the walk on the road. The load point for pressure has been ensured to become soft inside, so the dog’s coat and skin will remain intact after a lot of pulling and tugging. There are two metal leash attachments in this harness so you can adjust any leash to any of these. The front clip will take care of the pulling while you will be training the dog.
Pros:
- Molly system embedded
- Provides enough security
- Ensures dog’s comfort
Cons:
- High priced
Faqs:
As malamutes are dogs with personalities and they are quite self-dependent, they can often try to pull when you take it for a walk. Also, they are huge in size and have much strength. When they give a strong pull, it is hard to manage them on a busy road. Also if you take them to the open fields they can try to run as they love the outdoor activities.
Can malamutes be off harness?
Alaskan malamutes are unpopular due to various myths like they cannot be handled easily, or cannot be trained and they should always be in a harness. But if you understand the mental game of the malamutes and know what is going on inside their brain you can easily control them.
Malamutes can be kept off harness if it is trained properly. Malamutes are driven by survival instincts as well as pack mentality. If you can approach the dog with the image of the leader of the pack, then it will obviously follow you.
How to train the Alaskan malamute to be harnessed?
Malamutes are gentle dogs by nature, so you should also approach them gently. There should not be shouting or any kind of harsh treatment towards the dog, as that can deviate the dog from the training lesson.
Also tightening the harness to make the dog obey is not the right idea. The dog will act obstinately and try to pull with more force. This will not serve your purpose. Rather giving them a slack once in a while when they try to pull some other way is the better idea.
Are malamutes obedient when it comes to training them in harnesses?
Alaskan malamutes are intelligent dogs, and being intelligent means they would not be much obedient. They use their reasoning sense to follow the direction of the pack leader, or in the case of the pet, the owner. But obeying any direction blindly is not in their gene. But you can make the thing work by being patient and treating them smartly.
How difficult it can be for the owner to train the Alaskan malamute train?
Keeping track of the training session of the Alaskan malamute is tough as they often tend to act independently. Also, they are free-willed most of the time and you need to be hardworking to keep them well exercised and trained.
Also, you should concentrate a lot on their energy level and keep them well exercised so they get tired at the end of the day. Their excessive energy should be spent off which will make them easy for handling.
Conclusion:
Finding the right harness is one severe step you need to take before you take the dog out for the walk and exercise routine. Dogs like Alaskan malamutes take the outside trips very seriously and also they need it to be healthy and cheerful. They are not much unruly kind but you need to keep a hold on them while walking as there can be chances of various accidents.
When you make the dog wear the harness, you can be sure of getting into no trouble and along with that, you can manage its movement in a better way. Do not follow the route that the dog wishes to take, as you should always present yourself as the master of the dog. It should never be another way, or the dog may get confused and later it can behave difficult way.
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