Sadly, it can be very difficult to
distinguish between a 'backyard
breeder' and a reputable breeder.
The below can give you some
guidelines when choosing a
breeder. Never buy your malamute
from a puppy store!!! All reputable
breeders intensely screen the
people who buy their pups, and
give support throughout the life of
the dog.
distinguish between a 'backyard
breeder' and a reputable breeder.
The below can give you some
guidelines when choosing a
breeder. Never buy your malamute
from a puppy store!!! All reputable
breeders intensely screen the
people who buy their pups, and
give support throughout the life of
the dog.
What to Look for in a Reputable Breeder
*Reputable Breeders are not a burden on rescue! A Reputable Breeder ALWAYS
takes back the dogs they are responsible for producing no matter what the age.
Many Reputable Breeders are very supportive of rescue and help out with
fostering, transporting, mentoring/education and information.
*Reputable Breeders do not have puppies available all the time, and therefore
usually have waiting lists. A reputable breeder rarely has more than 1 - 3 litters a
year, and many times may only have a litter once every few years. At times, a
reputable breeder may have an older puppy or adult available as well.
*A Reputable Breeder puts much thought and planning into each breeding. They
care about where each and every puppy goes, and keep in touch with the new
family for the life time of the dog. Should anything happen that the family is no
longer able to care for the dog, it is required by contract that the dog be returned
to the breeder.
*Reputable Breeders are very careful with the placement of their dogs, and are
able to knowledgeably answer questions about their dogs. Be prepared to
answer a lot of questions about yourselves and your life style, and be prepared to
have a homecheck performed.
*Reputable Breeders microchip or permanently identify their dogs and those they
are responsible for producing!
*Reputable Breeders do extensive pedigree research and health checks on their
dogs before breeding them. This includes things like:
Hips and OFA Certification (more info can be found here: www.offa.org
Eye Certification (more info can be found here: www.vmdb.org/cerf.HTML
Heart/Thoracic exams
Thyroid Exams
CHD Certification (Chrondodysplasia)
More info on Malamute health can be found here: http://www.malamutehealth.org/
*Reputable Breeders breed for the All Around Dog. This includes conformation -
not just looks - an unsound dog is unable to perform the functions it was bred
for. Health and temperament should also be kept in mind. Any time only one
aspect of a dog is concentrated on in a breeding, such as size or color, or
breeding just for the show ring, the All Around Dog is not being taken into
consideration.
*Reputable Breeders don't send their pups to their new homes before 8 - 10
weeks of age - sometimes later. They rarely breed their girls before 2 years of
age, and rarely more than 2 - 4 times in their life time.
*Not all reputable breeders show all their dogs, but usually show some or have
in the past shown some, and the pedigrees of their dogs usually have AKC
champions behind them in the first few generations.
*Malamutes are classified as a working breed. They are highly intelligent and
excel at performance and working activities such as sledding/carting, weight
pulling, back packing, obedience, agility, rally. Not all reputable breeders
constantly work their dogs but the breeder whose dogs have conformation and
working titles is concentrating on producing the All Around Dog!
*Reputable Breeders register their dogs with the AKC, or in the case of Canada,
the CKC. They sometimes are dually registered with UKC, but any other
registration is marginal at best.
takes back the dogs they are responsible for producing no matter what the age.
Many Reputable Breeders are very supportive of rescue and help out with
fostering, transporting, mentoring/education and information.
*Reputable Breeders do not have puppies available all the time, and therefore
usually have waiting lists. A reputable breeder rarely has more than 1 - 3 litters a
year, and many times may only have a litter once every few years. At times, a
reputable breeder may have an older puppy or adult available as well.
*A Reputable Breeder puts much thought and planning into each breeding. They
care about where each and every puppy goes, and keep in touch with the new
family for the life time of the dog. Should anything happen that the family is no
longer able to care for the dog, it is required by contract that the dog be returned
to the breeder.
*Reputable Breeders are very careful with the placement of their dogs, and are
able to knowledgeably answer questions about their dogs. Be prepared to
answer a lot of questions about yourselves and your life style, and be prepared to
have a homecheck performed.
*Reputable Breeders microchip or permanently identify their dogs and those they
are responsible for producing!
*Reputable Breeders do extensive pedigree research and health checks on their
dogs before breeding them. This includes things like:
Hips and OFA Certification (more info can be found here: www.offa.org
Eye Certification (more info can be found here: www.vmdb.org/cerf.HTML
Heart/Thoracic exams
Thyroid Exams
CHD Certification (Chrondodysplasia)
More info on Malamute health can be found here: http://www.malamutehealth.org/
*Reputable Breeders breed for the All Around Dog. This includes conformation -
not just looks - an unsound dog is unable to perform the functions it was bred
for. Health and temperament should also be kept in mind. Any time only one
aspect of a dog is concentrated on in a breeding, such as size or color, or
breeding just for the show ring, the All Around Dog is not being taken into
consideration.
*Reputable Breeders don't send their pups to their new homes before 8 - 10
weeks of age - sometimes later. They rarely breed their girls before 2 years of
age, and rarely more than 2 - 4 times in their life time.
*Not all reputable breeders show all their dogs, but usually show some or have
in the past shown some, and the pedigrees of their dogs usually have AKC
champions behind them in the first few generations.
*Malamutes are classified as a working breed. They are highly intelligent and
excel at performance and working activities such as sledding/carting, weight
pulling, back packing, obedience, agility, rally. Not all reputable breeders
constantly work their dogs but the breeder whose dogs have conformation and
working titles is concentrating on producing the All Around Dog!
*Reputable Breeders register their dogs with the AKC, or in the case of Canada,
the CKC. They sometimes are dually registered with UKC, but any other
registration is marginal at best.
About Reputable Breeding
These are some pups that were
born when their pregnant mom
was taken in by Malamute
Rescue in IL. Most rescues don't
have the resources for taking in
many dogs, and sadly, some
dogs won't be saved and will die.
born when their pregnant mom
was taken in by Malamute
Rescue in IL. Most rescues don't
have the resources for taking in
many dogs, and sadly, some
dogs won't be saved and will die.
This is Sahara - she is the mom
of the pups. Sahara was most
likely bought from a backyard
breeder who was more
interested in how much money
he could get for his pups than
the homes they went to. Sahara
was obviously never spayed by
her previous owners, and was
either deliberately bred, or got
out of her yard and ended up in
rescue very pregnant. Sahara
and all of her pups found
wonderful homes through IAMRA.
of the pups. Sahara was most
likely bought from a backyard
breeder who was more
interested in how much money
he could get for his pups than
the homes they went to. Sahara
was obviously never spayed by
her previous owners, and was
either deliberately bred, or got
out of her yard and ended up in
rescue very pregnant. Sahara
and all of her pups found
wonderful homes through IAMRA.
Anua Alaskan Malamutes
Babe ended up in rescue when her owner
could no longer care for her - she was
bought as a pup from a backyard breeder
by an 80 year old man. Babe had never
been groomed so had to be shaved down
to her skin.
could no longer care for her - she was
bought as a pup from a backyard breeder
by an 80 year old man. Babe had never
been groomed so had to be shaved down
to her skin.
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