How to find a reputable breeder
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The ONLY reputable registry in the United States is the American Kennel Club (AKC). AKC is just a registry so if both parents are AKC registered, they will register the puppies. Just because a breeder has AKC registered puppies does not mean they are a reputable breeder.
Check out the information below to help you understand the difference in reputable and non-reputable Alaskan Malamute breeders.
Every reputable malamute breeder will health test all of their breeding dogs before the dog is bred. The minimum health testing a reputable breeder will do is OFA eyes, DNA test for PN (polyneuropathy), and one of the following hip evaluations, OFA or Pennhip. Other health testing that can be done is OFA heart, OFA thyroid, OFA elbows, OFA patella, OFA dental, and a DNA test for cone degeneration.
If a breeder gives you any reason as to why their breeding dogs are not OFA eyes checked, DNA tested for PN, or OFA hip / Pennhip checked, they are NOT a reputable breeder.
Possible excuses non-reputable breeders will give prospective puppy owners:
Every reputable breeder will register all their litters with AKC. A non-reputable breeder may say things like the parents are AKC but the puppies will not come with papers. There are three main reasons for this is:
Red flags
More information to be added soon!
Check out the information below to help you understand the difference in reputable and non-reputable Alaskan Malamute breeders.
Every reputable malamute breeder will health test all of their breeding dogs before the dog is bred. The minimum health testing a reputable breeder will do is OFA eyes, DNA test for PN (polyneuropathy), and one of the following hip evaluations, OFA or Pennhip. Other health testing that can be done is OFA heart, OFA thyroid, OFA elbows, OFA patella, OFA dental, and a DNA test for cone degeneration.
If a breeder gives you any reason as to why their breeding dogs are not OFA eyes checked, DNA tested for PN, or OFA hip / Pennhip checked, they are NOT a reputable breeder.
Possible excuses non-reputable breeders will give prospective puppy owners:
- All of my dogs go to the vet and the vet says they are healthy
- My dogs all run and jump so they must have great hips
- Those health tests are not accurate
- The dogs must be sedated or put under anesthesia – this is FALSE, NONE of the OFA health tests require sedation
- The health tests are to stressful for the dog – If your dog gets so stressed by visiting your veterinarian that you`re concerned it will injury itself or a human, you should be questioning your dog’s temperament and thinking about whether it should be passed on.
Every reputable breeder will register all their litters with AKC. A non-reputable breeder may say things like the parents are AKC but the puppies will not come with papers. There are three main reasons for this is:
- They didn’t want to spend the money to get the litter registered.
- They do not have breeding rights on their dogs and are breeding them without their breeders permission ( If this is the case, how likely are they to stand behind their health guarantee? )
- They do not want you to have a copy of the puppy`s pedigree because they are inbreeding their dogs (Mother to son breeding, father to daughter breeding, sibling to sibling breeding, or half sibling to half sibling breeding)
Red flags
- If a breeder has information on their website telling you how to send a puppy deposit or pay for the puppy you want, it`s clear that the most important thing to them is NOT the type of home the puppy will be going to.
- The breeder advertises rare colors or markings. This goes hand in hand with charging more for a certain color, size, or for long coat puppies.
- The breeder sells all of their puppies with AKC full registration (aka breeding rights)
- The breeder does not offer a health guarantee.
- The breeder requires the puppy to be on a certain dog food or vitamin for their health guarantee to be valid.
- If a breeder is breeding more then two breeds. It takes a lot of knowledge, time, and work to train and title your dogs and raise litters.
- If all (or most) of their females are having 5+ litters. Raising a litter takes a lot out of mom and she shouldn't have to spend all of her life dealing with maternal duties.
More information to be added soon!