AKC Purebred Preservation Bank

Criteria for AKC Purebred Preservation Bank for Alaskan Malamutes

Acceptance Criteria (Stud Dog)

The following guidelines summarize the screening criteria required by the Alaskan Malamute Club of America (AMCA) for potential donations of frozen semen from any Alaskan Malamute dog to the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank (PPB).

General Information

The following information must be provided for any Alaskan Malamute dog whose semen is being donated to the AKC PPB:

AKC registration number
Foreign registration number(s) if any
Registered name
Call name
4+ generation pedigree
List of conformation and /or performance titles
Permanent ID (microchip and/or tattoo number)
AKC DNA profile number
Color and code (per AKC registry)

Only colors allowed by the breed standard may be distributed for breeding purposes. Alternate or non-standard colors may be accepted but may only be used for research purposes.

Health Information

The types of testing that have been completed and collected are important as are the results of those tests. It is acknowledged that not all semen donations will come from dogs who have been fully tested based on the most current health testing requirements but rather on what testing was available and required at the time of testing. An evaluation ranking to designate the overall rating level (A through D) of health testing completed and provided will be created and assessed based on the following scale:

All CHIC requirements and all optional /recommended testing including any genetic tests have been completed and the results are published in the OFA database system.
The minimum requirements for CHIC certification are complete and a CHIC number has been assigned to the dog.
Some tests have been completed but no CHIC number has been assigned.
There is no data available or provided regarding any completed health testing.

Any additional medical history available for the dog should also be provided inclusive of a history of cancer, seizures, epilepsy or other notable health conditions and concerns. If the dog is deceased, the cause of death should be noted.

Appearance Description

Information regarding the appearance and physical attributes of the dog are crucial to potential breeders. At a minimal level these descriptive specifications below must be provided:

Photos showing the front and the side of the dog in a stacked position
Weight and height at the withers
A thorough description of the coat color, type (long, short, harsh, soft etc.), markings

If additional photos are available depicting other angles of the dog (rear, both sides) and any movement videos of the dog would be very beneficial.

* Inclusive to providing additional photos or detailed descriptions, if any of these attributes following could be expanded upon in more detail it would provide for even more depth of documentation:

* Headshot showing pigment, muzzle/skull proportions, eye color, shape and

placement

* Foot correctness such as size, depth, and shape

* Ear leather thickness and placement

* Tail length and carriage

* Bite and dental disposition

* Temperament or behavior traits

* Any other unique or specific attribute or traits

Breeding History

Information relative to the breeding history of the dog is also of critical importance to the potential breeders. The following data should be provided for all litters sired by the dog:

Litter date of birth
Number of puppies in the litter
How breeding occurred (Frozen AI, Chilled AI, Surgical, Natural etc)
Any notes on litter evaluations or individual puppies

Any semen evaluation reports regarding quality, quantity and morphology for the individual collections being donated should also be provided including post thaw evaluations.

Other

The requirement and acceptance criteria are outlined above with these additional conditions imposed:

No donated semen will be distributed for breeding for at least 10 years after the acceptance of the semen by the AKC PPB.
AMCA will be notified when any application is submitted to the AKC PPB.

Distribution Criteria (Bitch)

The following guidelines summarize the screening criteria required by AMCA for the potential distribution of frozen semen to any Alaskan Malamute bitch applicant for breeding purposes.

General Information

The following information must be provided for any Alaskan Malamute bitch to be bred using semen distributed from the AKC PPB:

AKC registration number
Foreign registration number(s) if any
Registered name
Call name
4+ generation pedigree
Date of birth
- The bitch must be at least 2 years old and may not be older than 6 years old.
List of conformation and/or performance titles
- The bitch must have earned titles in conformation, companion, and/or performance events.
Permanent ID (microchip and /or tattoo)
AKC DNA profile number
Color and code (per AKC registry)
- Only colors allowed by the Alaska Malamute breed standard should be bred. Bitches of non-standard colors may NOT be bred using frozen semen from the AKC PPB.

Health Information

The types of testing that have been completed and their results are of critical importance before distribution of semen for breeding will be considered for an applicant. the screening criteria below is mandatory for the potential bitch applicant:

The bitch must have completed all required testing for CHIC certification and have a CHIC number issued to her
The bitch must have received the following rating scores for the required CHIC testing:

Hips – OFA evaluation rating of Fair, Good, or Excellent or PennHIP Distraction Index for both hips less than the breed average.
Elbows – OFA evaluation rating of Normal
Eyes – Normal

The bitch must have received minimal results for the following optional/recommended CHIC testing:

Thyroid – Normal
Genetic tests {currently Alaskan Malamute Polyneuropthy AMPN (NDRG1 SNP), Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia PCD (NME5, Alaskan Malamute Variant), Day Blindness (CNGB3 Deletion, Alaskan Malamute Variant), but will include all genetic conditions stated in the OFA CHIC recommended tests at the time of semen distribution}.

If the sire is UNKOWN for a specific condition or disease, the bitch must be CLEAR for that condition or disease.
If the sire is a CARRIER/AFFECTED, the bitch must be CLEAR for the condition or disease.
If the sire is CLEAR, the bitch may be a CARRIER or CLEAR for that condition or disease.
AFFECTED bitches may not be bred with a semen distribution from the AKC PPB.

If there are any additional medical history records available for the bitch applicant, they should be provided as well. Any bitches with a documented history of cancer or epilepsy / seizures may not be bred with a semen distribution from the AKC PPB.

Breeding History and Plan

Detail on the breeding history of the bitch is of critical importance. The bitch applicant must be proven and have whelped at least (1) litter but will NOT be considered a candidate if she has whelped (3) or more litters.

The breeder that is requesting the semen distribution will be required to state, “How will breeding this particular bitch to the dog semen requested support and advance breed preservation to benefit the Alaskan Malamute on a breed basis.”

In addition, the proposed breeding method must be documented and is required to be performed as a surgical implant or a transcervical implant by a licensed veterinarian.

Other

The requirements of semen distribution criteria are outlined above with these additional conditions imposed:

AMCA will be notified when any application for a semen distribution request is submitted to the AKC PPB

Distribution Requirements for The Breeder

AMCA has mandated the following requirements of the breeder for the request of semen distribution in addition to the criteria applicable to the bitch:

The breeder has successfully bred (2) or more litters of Alaskan Malamute that were registered with AKC.
The breeder has titled (2) or more Alaskan Malamutes in AKC conformation, companion, and/or performance events.
The breeder Is a current member of AMCA or an AKC Breeder of Merit.
The breeder can provide evidence of adhering to the following good breeder practices:

All puppies are sold or transferred via a legally binding agreement.
Non- breeding offspring produced are managed by limited registration and/or a contractual spay/neuter clause etc.
The breeder provides knowledgeable resources, advice and support for the life of every puppy/dog they produce.
The breeder will commit to accept the return of any puppy/dog for any reason or to assist in rehoming the puppy/dog for the lifetime of every puppy/dog they produce.

More information on the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank can be found at https://akcppb.org.

What is AKC PPB?

Introduction to the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank
“Long term preservation of our breeds has become a central issue of focus for many AKC Parent Clubs. Preservation is not just for the breeds with lower-than-average levels of breeding activity, but for any breed that might face genetic bottlenecks or other genetic difficulties, now or in the future.”

– Dr. Charles Garvin – AKC PPB Chairman and Delegate of the Dalmatian Club of America (June 2021 Perspectives)

In July of 2022, the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank, Inc. (AKC PPB) was formally established as a Delaware not-for-profit entity (tax exemption pending) to provide support and encouragement for preserving the genetic heritage of all purebred dogs.

Identifying the Problem
Currently, valuable frozen semen is abandoned or destroyed at storage facilities every day due to owner incapacitation, financial barriers, or death. Executors and heirs may be unaware of the abandoned semen, or they may not appreciate the real value of semen as breeding programs come to an end. As a result, thousands of breeding units are destroyed each month across the United States.

Historically, significant events such as World War II led to near extinction of several famous breeds:

Rottweilers – for five years, there were fewer than 10 dogs registered per year
Bernese Mountain Dogs – for five years, there were ZERO dogs registered
Alaskan Malamutes – for three years, there were ZERO dogs registered
Flat-Coated Retrievers – for three years, there were ZERO dogs registered

As recently as 2021, the AKC identified 12 breeds that had fewer than 10 litters registered nationally. This illustrates that any breed could face a genetic bottleneck, experience adverse effects from new diseases, or suffer unanticipated crises. Therefore, focusing on preserving semen solely on low entry breeds is not our solution.

Creating Solutions
One of the many goals of the AKC PPB is to educate breeders and Parent Clubs about available opportunities to preserve frozen semen from both current and former dogs. Storing diverse semen could address unknown future health concerns and rejuvenate breeding programs, e.g., provide genetic repair by using frozen semen that pre-dates the existence or evolution of the disease in the breed. Imagine if it were possible to add the conformation quality or health traits of an outstanding specimen of your breed from 50 or more years ago to today’s gene pool.

The AKC PPB will be able to take immediate ownership of donated or abandoned semen at storage facilities. AKC PPB will fund the storage of frozen semen and manage the transfer process to individuals or Parent Clubs, as directed. Protocols and criteria will be established by Parent Clubs to make acceptance and release decisions for the stored semen.

Through research, development of resources for Parent Clubs and breeders, and ongoing education efforts, we can all take these important steps to protect the heritage of quality purebred dogs.

Source:

What is AKC ppb?. AKC. (n.d.). https://akcppb.org/about-akcppb/

AKC Resources:

AKC PPB Guiding Principles: https://akcppb.org/faqs/akc-ppb-guiding-principles/
FAQs: https://akcppb.org/faqs/
Donation Process: https://akcppb.org/forms-2/donor-information/the-donation-process/
Partners in Preservation: https://akcppb.org/partners-in-preservation/

Contact – AKC

The following downloads, along with many others, are available on the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank website. Check the AKC PPB website regularly for updates.

Webpage Links for Downloads: