Finding the right dog that you will live with for the next ten to fifteen years is important. Its health and temperament should be your focus. Secondary should be its type, size, color and sex. When you begin to look it is important to do the following:

First, read books, magazines and explore the internet for information. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to ask the right questions and know what you are getting into!

Next, you should meet some malamutes.

You can do this in several ways:

• You can call local breeders and explain that you are interested in the breed and would like to visit their kennels.
• You can go to a local dog show and talk to breeders.
• You can get in touch with your local malamute rescue.

Look at the different personalities in the dogs, look at the different colors, the different types and the differences between the sexes. Ask the owners questions and get their opinions on whether a mal is the breed for you. Play with the dogs, pet them, and ask about their working ability and their positives and negatives.

When you have read about the breed and have met some mals and would like to find a malamute, you have two options:

• Find a puppy or adopt an adult rescue dog
• We suggest that you check out each of these options before you decide which is best for your lifestyle.

Finding a Rescue Dog

AMRONE's rescue dogs come from a variety of settings, house pets given up due to moving or allergies, strays impounded in SPCA or with animal control. Many of these dogs are mature and ready to settle quickly into a new home! Find out more about our dogs.

Finding a puppy

It is very important to understand what the adolescent and adult malamute is like before buying a baby. You can visit a puppy information article on the Alaskan Malamute Club of America's site.

If you live in New England and would like to receive a puppy packet (link to form that will send me their snail address-Joanne) we would be happy to send you a packet with information about the breed and breeders in New England (sorry, we only mail within the New England area).

If you live outside the New England area you can find a breeder near you by visiting the AMCA's home page or by contacting your local malamute rescue.

Pet stores

Puppy Buying Cautions

CAUTION: Beware of kennels that sell on the internet. Although many reputable breeders have an internet page advertising their kennel they will not sell a puppy to you thru the computer but many puppy mill breeders will! AMRONE has seen a large increase in the number of dogs that people have bought over the "internet" in the past few years. The computer has been a wonderful tool but it is not the best way to buy a live pet and has enabled puppy mills to spring up in different areas and sell directly to the public foregoing pet stores and brokers.

CAUTION: If you do not meet the breeder face to face, do not buy the puppy!

CAUTION: If you do not meet at least one of the puppy's parents, do not buy the puppy!

CAUTION: Do not buy a puppy bred by someone other than the person selling it. This is a good indication that the puppy is not from a reputable breeder, responsible breeders will not let their puppies be resold. Most pet stores ship their puppies in from other states or buy them sight unseen from people they don't know. They "certify" that these people are fine "breeders" but in reality, they don't know anything about them!

CAUTION: Do not buy a puppy from any retail store, newspaper ad or from a person with a sign on their lawn advertising puppies. You will probably pay high prices for a dog of lesser quality.

CAUTION: Pet stores and irresponsible breeders are very good at dismissing many of the questions above as unimportant if you only want a "pet". They also are good at making claims but not backing them up with proof. They know their business and they know to sell pups, do not always believe what you hear. Most pet stores and irresponsible breeders charge more for their puppies than local reputable breeders.

CAUTION: Beware of buyers telling you that the pups are quality just because they are "registered" and "have papers". The American Kennel Club (AKC) the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) and the (UKC) are the three reputable places where litters are registered. This only means that the parents of the pup are certified as purebred dogs, it does not mean the parents were quality(or healthy) specimens of the breed.

CAUTION: Beware of other registries. The American Kennel Club is making it harder and more costly for puppy mills to operate. In response, many of the puppy mills and brokers have started their own registries with official forms and pedigrees to fool the puppy buyer!

CAUTION: If you buy a puppy from a disreputable person or a pet shop remember that the puppies parents are probably going to be bred again because they made a "profit".

Some final advice from AMRONE on buying a puppy:

• Use the puppy questions to compare the breeders you are considering. At a minimum review the questions on this page with each seller!
• Go see the breeders, talk to them and meet their dogs.
• Visit at least three to four breeders before deciding on a puppy.
• Do not be in a rush to get a puppy, finding a good dog and a good breeder takes time. Don't rush and buy on an impulse.
• Buy a puppy from a person active within the breed. The breeder might do showing, sledding or backpacking. The breeder should also belong to a local all-breed club or the Alaskan Malamute Club of America.
• Above all, be very careful about where you buy your puppy. Please take the time to read about puppy mills and backyard breeders.