Breeder at Danish Kennel Club, DKC
When you buy a puppy from a breeder associated with DKC, you are ensured to certain rights and obligations from the breeder’s side.
The breeder must comply with certain ethical and practical conditions to get approval from DKC.
To achieve kennel name, the breeder has to complete the breeder education program from DKC.
A Supervisor from DKC must visit the breeder to inspect the conditions for the adult dogs and puppies before final approval.
There is a safety net for both parties in terms of legal guidelines and Danish existing laws, if any dispute should appear between breeder and puppy buyer.
Any breeder – with honest dedication and professional pride – puts his lifeblood into the breeding program.
It is not a question of making fast money, but an honest desire to make a litter, which will contribute positively to the breed – which will make worthy represents of the breed.
The time, money and resources spent from the moment a person decides to become a breeder until the first puppy is born, cannot be measured in cold cash.
The only reason one should do this job, should be of pure interest and passion for the breed.
A lot of time has been spent to find the right female puppy with prospect brood bitch qualities. This puppy has to grow into an adult and still have the desired qualities, which you saw in the puppy.
A serious breeder will enter the female to conformation shows to get an evaluation of the exterior. Some breeders will settle for lowest grading, and will show maybe once or twice. Some breeders seek a broadly-based evaluation – which means several shows with several judges’ opinion.
A smart breeder will also see a conformation show as show room for his female – the more people, who will notice your female – the better chance to find serious puppy buyers. And a show room for prospect males in future breeding plans.
Health checks for the breed, must be conducted. It takes time, and is not quite insignificant economic wise.
Mandatory tests for the Malamute are: 1) Check for Hip Dysplasia, HD, 2) Clear test for heritable eye diseases.
Other optional test can be Elbow Dysplasia, ED, Longocoat, LC, Polyneuropathy, PN.
Our approach is: "is there a test, then do the test" either on the puppy or through parents.
The more knowledge, the better basis for decisions we have to work with.
A lot of time has been spent to find the right male, who will match in pedigree, type, temperament, health and exterior – all this to make “the perfect litter”.
In most cases the male is not just around the corner. Travel expenses are expected.
It is the female heat cycle, which decides when the time is right – not the breeder’s calendar.
It is often outside normal vacation season, which requires absence from work to make the breeding in time.
Visit at the Veterinary before the breeding can be necessary. To do progesterone test to learn, when the timing is right – this can call for several visits..
Care for the pregnant female throughout the 63 day period in term of exercise, high quality food, supplements to improve and support the female and unborn puppies.
Many choose to do a scanning of the female to confirm whether the female is pregnant – or just getting fat from too much food..
Once the pups are born – hopefully in natural way – both mother and puppies should be checked by the vet at a house call visit
The puppies must be registered at DKC.
The puppies must be Chip registered at the Danish Dog Registration
Serious breeders will take the puppies to the vet for health check and first vaccination before leaving home at eight weeks.
Many breeders choose to give a bag of the same food, which the puppy has been raised upon at the breeders, to ease the transition period for the puppy to his new environment.
Mother and puppies must have the best conditions during growing up in terms of correct food, upbringing, training, socialisation in right and increasing amount during the eight weeks.
All of this is required of the breeder.
This is what concerns the breeder in this period. Meanwhile work life and social life are put on hold.
All the work mentioned, and more is what a serious breeder will put to effort to strive for the best conditions for a good start of a long and happy dog life.
All of this explains the difference in price for a puppy with and without pedigree. It may seems like you can do a bargain of purchasing a puppy without pedigree, but in the long run you might end up regreting your purchase - it may still be the best dog, you have, but exclusions from activities and a unknown health history can be reason to many headaches.
Buying a puppy without pedigree without health checks from a so called breeder not associated with DKC or special club, is like buying a lottery ticket - “purchased as is”. Be alert, if the breeders claim that the puppy is out of real Alaskan Malamutes, which has not achieved pedigree due to various reasons.
There is no guarantee for background, pedigree, health and upbringing. It can be a sad and expensive acquaintance.
Also you are not granted access to activities as shows and races, which are common activities with a sled dog.
Buying a puppy from a DKC breeder is not a 100 % guarantee for a totally healthy puppy, which will live a long and carefree life – but the starting point is much stronger.
The serious breeder will offer lifelong hotline, will be of assistance regarding training, purchase of the right gear, teenager issues and much more.
The price for a puppy without papers is approximately 70% of the price for a puppy with papers.
when you compare "the full package" between a puppy with pedigree, with guarantees, with hotline and follow-up, coming from a known background to a puppy without pedigree, without guarantees, without hotline and follow-up, coming from an unknown background - well, then the price for a puppy without papers is relatively high.
And the breeder will always be happy to receive pictures and stories from the puppy’s new life.