Where to Find an Alaskan Malamute
Please consider this before looking for your Alaskan Malamute
Why do you want an Alaskan Malamute? Is it because of the breed's beauty? Is it because you like its impressive size and
working ability? Are you intrigued by the independent and clown-like personality Alaskan Malamutes exhibit? Is it some
combination of these or other factors? Or, are you not sure why you want one but think it would make a “neat” pet?
The Alaskan Malamute is not the right dog for everyone!
Have you looked at the answers to the “frequently asked
questions” (FAQs) about Alaskan Malamutes? Have you looked at the other pages in this series to get a better
understanding of what you can expect? Do you have the facilities to properly house and train your Alaskan Malamute? Do
you have the financial resources to purchase high quality food, veterinary care, and the dog accouterments that you will
need? Are you prepared to care for this dog for its entire lifetime (a dozen or more years)?
If, after very considerable research, thought and discussion, everyone in the family agrees that an Alaskan Malamute is an
appropriate dog for you there is one more important decision for all of you to make.
Would you be better off with a puppy or with an older dog (1 year old and up)?
Most people immediately think of a puppy when they consider acquiring a dog. They can train the puppy from the start,
watch it grow, and dogs are very cute at that age. Working with a puppy can be a lot of fun, very rewarding, but also a lot
of work and very nerve wracking. Sometimes an older dog is more appropriate.
A dog that is past its puppy stage will not have as much need to chew on furniture, will already be housebroken, will have
learned some basic commands, and will be past some of the illnesses puppies go through while waiting for their immune
systems to fully develop. Older dogs usually adapt very well to their new homes and make fantastic additions to the family.
Before you go looking for your Alaskan Malamute, please give some consideration to which is a better choice for your
situation, a new puppy or an older dog.
Where to Find Your Alaskan Malamute Puppy
Be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time looking for the right dog for your family. One place not to look is in
your local pet shop. The Alaskan Malamute Club of America's Code of Ethics prohibits members from selling Alaskan
Malamutes to pet shops or to wholesalers. If you find an Alaskan Malamute in such places, it most likely came from a
"puppy mill" which is a business whose only concern is to mass produce dogs for a profit. Little or no thought is given to
the health, socialization, or quality of the unfortunate animals caught in this "pet farming" situation.
The Alaskan Malamute Club of America recommends that you contact, and visit, several dedicated "hobby breeders" in
your area (or even elsewhere around the country). After your initial contact by phone, e-mail, or "snail mail" you will most
likely be invited to visit the breeder in person. You should do so!! Once there, and you like what you have seen, don't
hesitate to ask for references. People who breed high quality Alaskan Malamutes have earned a fine reputation in the dog
community through their many years of hard work and dedication. They will be proud to provide you with names of folks
you can call as a reference check.
The best Alaskan Malamute breeders mate dogs of sound mind and body. They will only breed a litter when time, space,
and resources permit. The health, training, socialization, and proper placement of each puppy into an appropriate new
home is the breeder's top priority. This type of breeder expects you to have the same high standards for the care and
well-being of any dog he or she may consider letting you take home. Be prepared to be interrogated about your ability to
provide a suitable home for an Alaskan Malamute!! There is a lot at stake and the breeder must be sure that his or her
puppies are being properly placed.
Any dog or puppy should be purchased only after careful consideration. Visit several breeders to view their dogs and
facilities. Are the dogs, and their environment, clean? Do the dogs appear healthy? Are the dogs outgoing and friendly?
Can you see the parents and other relatives of the puppies you are considering purchasing? Does the breeder offer help,
suggestions, and a lot of information about Alaskan Malamutes in general and the puppies specifically? Does the breeder
seem more concerned about your ability to provide a good home than in making a quick sale? If you answered NO to any
of these questions-find another breeder from whom to purchase your puppy!!
The Alaskan Malamute Club of America, or your local Alaskan Malamute club can provide you with a list of reputable
breeders. These are the people that you should be going to see if you decide to purchase an Alaskan Malamute puppy.
Also take a look at the AMCA Area webpages which list breeders, clubs and rescue contacts for a given area.
Where to Find Your Older Alaskan Malamute
Sometimes an Alaskan Malamute ends up in an unfortunate situation through no fault of its own. Perhaps the owner has a
job change, or a change of health and can no longer care for his or her beloved pet. Perhaps the family is forced to move
into a small apartment and can no longer provide a suitable home for its Alaskan Malamute. At times, a family gets an
Alaskan Malamute as an impulse purchase without giving it much thought. Having been inappropriately placed, this dog
finds itself homeless because the owners just do not want to care for it anymore.
Any of these, or a number of other situations, can result in wonderful dogs that have lots of love to give to another family
and need a new home. They are just waiting to be adopted by someone who will give them the proper care that their
previous owners are not providing anymore. These rescue dogs can range in age from under a year old to much older than
that and are cared for by tireless volunteers who serve as rescue contacts to help find these dogs new, loving homes.
These volunteers are just as concerned about matching the dog with an appropriate home as breeders are with placing
their puppies. They will be able to tell you something about the dog's history such as its ability to get along with children,
cats, other dogs, etc. With this type of information available, the rescue organization volunteer can let you know if a certain
dog temporarily in its care will be a good match for your home situation. Again expect to answer a lot of questions about
your lifestyle.
The Alaskan Malamute Club of America, your local Alaskan Malamute club, the Alaskan
Malamute Assistance League (AMAL), or
any reputable breeder can direct you to Alaskan Malamute rescue organizations in your area
(also see the Malamute Information page for links to
some rescue organizations.. For many families, adoption from a rescue organization is a more appropriate option than starting out with a
10 week old puppy. Please consider it.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO OWN AN ALASKAN MALAMUTE, GO TO THE TROUBLE
OF FINDING ONE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
Thinking of buying an Alaskan Malamute?
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