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Buddy and I have been together for over three years now, I rescued him, snatching him from the jaws of animal control just before they got there when he'd gotten himself into real trouble.

I wasn't looking for a dog at all, much less a mal, but we both needed each other right then and there, and we became the very best of friends after this.

He's never been real good at obediance, he'll sit when he knows there's something in it for him, but if not he'll ignore me, unless I enforce my will upon him. Even then he won't stay.

Lately he's been going nuts over the females in heat around here, and walking him has been a serious task. Buddy weighs 120 lbs. and is horrendously strong! Twice lately he's pulled me right off my feet.

So I've started walking him on a shorter leash that gives me more control, and periodically telling him to heel and sit, which he'll do, but he still pulls hard on me, and keeps his tension on that leash looking to exploit any slack he can get.

I feel that perhaps I've spoiled him rotten, and I wonder if he's ever going to be anything like obedient. I learned early on never to trust him off the leash, he has no road sense at all and will walk right out in front of oncoming cars.

I've made our walks training exercises for him, and he's starting to get it, slowly, but I'm not sure it's going to stick.
It's always been that he'll do what I tell him, as long as he knows he can't get out of it, or there's something in it for him. Is this ever likely to change?
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Don't worry about using treats. Just use very small pieces of something healthy. I get great results with Iams MiniChunks dog food for a big dog's treats. That way I can keep the treats flowing close together and keep the dog looking back to me, back to me, back to me.

It is normal for Malamutes to pull, and of course that's too big a dog for you to always handle that pulling--dogs are about 3 times their weight in strength compared to a human man. That means 120 pound dog equals 360 pound man! Too much power without some help from tools.

You might try one of the no-pulling harnesses. I'm not familiar with them, so can't recommend one. The Gentle Leader head halter might be a very good option, too.

You need to keep the leash loose so the dog changes the habit of pulling. I know that is not easy! But with a Gentle Leader and some work, you can do it.

Read the "Attention, Please!" and the Leash articles at the link with my signature. Article titles are in alphabetical order there. The Veterinary Information Network maintains the site as a public service and there is no registration or anything required to access it and read there.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Well, thankfully I am strong enough to manage Buddy, most of the time, but now that the females around here are in heat and marking everything in the area he pulls against me with everything he's got, and the way I've been able to stop that so far is to keep him on a short enough leash that I can lift his front feet up so he loses traction, then tell him to heel. It takes several repetitions of this for him to get the message.

I really do doubt that he's ever going to be any less bullheaded and willful than he's been so far. He's real consistent that way, but I love him so dearly I'm resolved to live with it.

3 years of "bad habits" will take time to unlearn. Still, it's always worth trying to establish new habits. Habits that make life easier on both of you.

I have a dog that pulls mercilessly. She is terrible and a breed that isn't prone to listening any better than a malamute. Still, I finally got it through her thick skull that I NEVER go forward when she puts tension on the leash. It took about 2 weeks of no walks and my dog straining at the end of the leash trying her very hardest to make me move forward before she finally figured it out- keep leash loose human will move. For her, the reward was not food, but being able to move forward and go on a walk. Even now, if she looses her mind and pulls me, I become a statue and do not go forward.

With a bigger dog like yours, I'd probably start this training in an area that has less distractions because your dog can literally pull you off your feet when he wants to. Still, same rules apply and once they get it due to you being consistent enough, they remember it.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles www.freewebs.com/performanceshibas