Finding a Puppy

What to look for in a Reputable Breeder

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/signs-of-a-responsible-breeder/

According to the AKC finding a reputable breeder includes looking for a breeder involved in their breed club, producing puppies that meet the breed standard, performing health screening and genetic screening before breeding, interviewing potential puppy buyers, and placing all puppies under a contract.

 

A Rough Checklist when looking for a breeder

    1. Strive in each and every breeding to achieve the highest quality possible relative to the breed standard for conformation and temperament, in order to maintain our breed's characteristics.

    2. Use only physically sound, mature dogs of stable temperament for breeding.

    3. Continue to educate themselves regarding genetic diseases pertinent to the breed including, hip and elbow dysplasia. Documentation of hip and elbow screenings should be available to prospective puppy buyers.
    4. Match each puppy's personality as carefully as possible with a compatible buyer/family. Temperament testing of a litter before puppies are offered for sale is encouraged.

    5. Take appropriate steps to have each puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian for general health prior to placement. Each puppy should be vaccinated and de-wormed by a veterinarian.

    6. Endeavor to gain personal knowledge of the temperament and health of every dog they breed, or to which they breed, in order to gather information on which to base future breeding decisions. They share this information fully and honestly with other breeders and with prospective buyers.

    7. Sell breeding prospects to knowledgeable, ethical and experienced persons or are willing to help educate and guide novices. They should at any time accept the return of any dog/bitch their breeding program produces and they should always help when relocation is needed.

    8. Do not engage in misleading or untrue advertising and do not use AMAEP of AMCA membership as a marketing tool.

    9. An extensive interview process of potential puppy buyers to ensure they are the best home possible for their puppies.

    10. Sell all dogs on a return contract to ensure they remain out of shelters and rescues and are returned to the breeder in the event they can no longer be cared for.

 

AMCA List of Health Tests

https://www.alaskanmalamute.org/find-puppy

The following are the health tests that the Board of Directors of the Alaskan Malamute Club of America considers both required and optional for all members and breeders of Alaskan Malamutes.

Required Tests:
     Hip Dysplasia – screening for hip dysplasia
     Eyes – screening for phenotype abnormalities
     Polyneuropathy – DNA test

Recommended Tests:
     Elbow Dysplasia – screening for elbow dysplasia
     Cardiac Disease – screening for congenital heart disease
     Thyroid Disease – screening for thyroid abnormalities
     Cone Degeneration – DNA test
     Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia – DNA test

 

What to look for in a Responsible Rescue

https://www.alaskanmalamute.org/malamute-rescue

The Alaskan Malamute Club of America (AMCA) has links on their website to national and regional breed-specific malamute rescue partners that they have worked with.  They state,

"Check out our partners, the Alaskan Malamute Assistance League, or AMAL. AMAL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and charitable organization, an all-volunteer national rescue network which includes state and local breed rescue groups. Their main objectives are to rehabilitate and re-home rescued Alaskan Malamutes, assist Malamute owners, and provide education services to the public. The ultimate goal is to ensure that every Alaskan Malamute has the chance to live a life that they deserve."

https://www.akc.org/akc-rescue-network/

The American Kennel Club has their own AKC Rescue Network.