When buying a puppy there are some Red Flags to watch out for. Below we refer to the AKC Breed Standard which was written by the Alaskan Malamute Club of America (AMCA). AMCA is the national Breed Club for the Alaskan Malamute in the United States. You can read more Malamute Breed Standards, published in other countries such as Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. When you get done reading this page please be sure to read more red flags.

1. AKC Registered - AKC, CKC, UKC Registered DOES NOT guaranty good temperament or health. The sad fact is that most backyard breeders, puppy mills and pet shops advertise AKC, CKC or UKC dogs. The only requirement for registration is that the sire and dam are Registered. It doesn't matter if they are not healthy, ill tempered, or don't conform to the national breed standard. Read the following paragraph from the AKC website.

AKC Registration and Quality

There is a widely held belief that "AKC" or "AKC papers" guarantee the quality of a dog. This is not the case. AKC is a registry body. A registration certificate identifies the dog as the offspring of a known sire and dam, born on a known date. It in no way indicates the quality or state of health of the dog. Quality in the sense of "show quality" is determined by many factors including the dog's health, physical condition, ability to move and appearance. Breeders breeding show stock are trying to produce animals that closely resemble the description of perfection described in the breed standard. Many people breed their dogs with no concern for the qualitative demands of the breed standard. When this occurs repeatedly over several generations, the animals, while still purebred, can be of extremely low quality. Before buying a dog, you should investigate the dog's parentage (including titles, DNA and pedigree information), the breeder's breeding practices, the breed standard, and the genetic tests recommended by the Parent Club for the breed. For more information visit the Parent Club website.

2. USDA Licensed/Registered/Certified/Inspected - The USDA licenses breeders that sell to pet shops or wholesale. This is a clear sign of a commercial breeder.
   
   
3. AMCA "Alaskan Malamute Club of America" member - AMCA is the AKC Parent Breed Club. AMCA does not endorse or license breeders. While the organization has a "Code of Ethics" it is almost never enforced. Many members are ethical and caring, but there are some that lack ethics. Some member breeders are nothing more than glorified puppy mills. Buying from an AMCA member breeder does not guarantee good temperament or health. Generally you will do better than with a Commercial Breeder, Back Yard Breeder or Puppy Mill.
   
   
4. AKC Inspected - Two primary reasons to be inspected by AKC are ("from the AKC website below"). Generally you should stay away from breeders that have been AKC Inspected. It's not a good sign!
   
   • AKC inspects breeders who register seven or more litters per year. AKC also randomly selects some breeders who register between four and six litters a year for inspection.
   • In addition, AKC inspects breeders based on written, signed and substantiated complaints.
     
5. DNA Certified - There is no DNA Certification! AKC has a DNA Profile service for Stud Dogs that have sired 7 or more litters "Frequently Used Sire". From the AKC website: "AKC DNA Profiling is required for: Frequently Used Sires (dogs having the greatest impact on the AKC Stud Book); imported breeding stock; dogs whose semen is collected for fresh-extended or frozen use; and for the sires, dam and puppies for Multiple-Sired Litter Registration." Puppy Mills and Back Yard Breeders often advertise "DNA Certified" as a means to impress potential puppy buyers. Having an AKC DNA Profile for a Stud Dog does not guaranty good temperament or health.
   
6. We Don't Sell To Homes with Children - Most reputable breeders with good temperaments will sell a puppy to a home with children. If a breeder flat out refuses to sell to a home with children it's usually an indication that the breeder has temperament problems in their line.
   
   
7. OFA Pending or Hips Pending and - the dog is much older than two years old is a sign that the dog received a fair hips rating or a failure "Dysplastic". It's not always the case, so be sure to ask. OFA Hip Ratings are (Excellent, Good, Fair, and Dysplastic). Most reputable breeders will not breed a dog with a rating less than Good. An excellent preliminary rating on a dog older than a year old generally indicates at least a good rating at two years old.
   
   
8. Giant Alaskan Malamutes - Bigger is not better! Giant Alaskan Malamutes are not a separate breed or type of Malamute. "Giant Malamutes" is nothing more than a gimmick that many backyard breeders and puppy mills use to entice people to buy their puppies. Giant Malamutes do not conform to the national breed standard which says "males, 25 inches at the shoulders, 85 pounds; females, 23 inches at the shoulders, 75 pounds". Giants often have serious health issues. Generally they don't live as long as ones that conform to the breed standard.
   
   
9. Rare Blue Eyed - Alaskan Malamutes should NEVER have one or two Blue Eyes. If a breeder is offering a Malamute with one or two blue eyes, they are not offering a pure breed Malamute. It is more likely than not a Husky, Husky/Malamute, or Malamute/??? mix. The AKC Breed Standard states "Blue Eyes are a Disqualifying Fault".
   
   
10. Extraordinary Closed Faced Puppies - From the AMCA website judges education section - "Face markings are a distinguishing feature. Markings range from a "cap" which is color coming to a point between the eyes or with a blaze of white up the forehead, or a "star" on the forehead or a "fluer de lis"  between the eyes with white. There also can be "eye shadow" color markings under the eyes, there may be a cap combined with a bar of color down the muzzle, which may also have a bar of white between the bars of color down the muzzle, all of these may be combined with a "mask" of color under the eyes. All of these markings always have white or cream "eye brows" and white or cream on the muzzle. A white blaze on the forehead and/or collar or a spot on the nape is attractive and acceptable." A "Closed Face" isn't mentioned. While the markings are not a disqualifying fault, they are not desirable.
    
    
11. Hybrid/Wolf - Alaskan Malamutes are not part wolf. This is another gimmick used by backyard breeders and puppy mills. Malamutes are no more wolf, or part wolf, than a Chihuahua or a Poodle!
    
    
12. We have the best temperaments - Ask for proof. Are their dogs exhibited in any type of conformation, obedience, agility or evaluated in some manner other than just their word?
    
    
13. We have the most beautiful Malamutes available - Like Best Temperaments, how are they evaluated?
    
    
14. We start socializing our puppies as early as two weeks old. - TWO WEEKS? Why do they wait so long to start socializing? A sure sign that they have have too many litters at the same time.
    
    
15. We are not a puppy mill. - If you have to say you are not a puppy mill... Well lets just put it this way - Nixon claimed he wasn't a crook, and Hitler claimed he wasn't exterminating Jews.