Adoption Process

(1) Complete & submit an application. The information provided is confidential and used to help us match a pup with your lifestyle. We will do our best to work with you. If you don't have a fence, we will help find alternatives and a dog that is content without a fence. A volunteer will be in touch and schedule a phone call to review your application and answer any questions you may have.

(2) Home Visit is scheduled. **Please be patient while waiting to hear back from us & check your SPAM folder just in case we already responded.** CHAAMP runs on volunteer power, and it may take a week or so before we can get back in touch with you. If you have not heard from us, please let us know.

(3) Board reviews your application, home visit, and CHAAMP will follow up with you on the next steps. We'll typically have an idea of which of our dogs we think are potential matches. Learning about you and your family, helps us find a suitable match.

(4) Together we discuss trainers and training. CHAAMP can provide a list of dog trainers in your area who follow AVSAB's position statement on humane dog training. Training begins with the pet-parents. Your dog looks to you for guidance.

(5) Please watch the required videos (as shown below).

“Helping your fearful dog navigate the world” by Juliana Willems, KPA CTP, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA. This video discusses what signs to watch for, how to help your dog feel safe, and what you can do to reduce your dog’s fears.

You can meet your training requirement by enrolling in Victoria Stillwell's FREE Starter Course: Building Your Dog’s Confidence this course provides the foundation for positive reinforcement and how to communicate with your pup. The goal is to learn how to make each moment a positive experience and creating a strong bond with your pup.

(6) **DECOMPRESSION PROTOCOL** Make sure you review, print, and follow the 9 Steps to Success tip sheets Illustrated by Lili Chen and created by Dog Latin Dog Training and Behavior Consulting to help guide you and your family.

(7) Meet the CHAAMP Malamutes and hopefully bring one home.

Multiple Dog Home: Please bring your current dog(s) with you when you come to meet the CHAAMP adoptables. You will also need a second vehicle to separate your dogs for the drive home. We don't make exceptions to this rule so please come prepared, so you do not have to make an additional trip.

Please download the FREE booklet on dog-dog introduction tips and tricks.

As you can see from our application, we ask a lot of questions! The more we know about you and what you're looking for in your dog, the better match we can try to make.

CHAAMP is a proud member of the Pet Professional Guild. Our goal is to do our best to provide our dogs with no pain, force or fear, which is one of PPG’s non-negotiable Guiding Principles. Rescue dogs have been through hardship. They need to rebuild trust, and gain confidence. The best way to do this is through rewards-based training and giving them time to adjust to the new environment and people.

We understand that there are many ways to train your dog. We choose to follow AVSAB's position statement and use rewards-based training with our rescue dogs to build a healthy and emotionally stronger relationship.

We require training as part of your commitment to your dog. Training helps improve communication and strengthens the dog-human relationship. Instead of living in a world of "No!", "Ah! Ah!", or corrections (with the use of shock, prong, choke collars) let's show our dog what to do and pay them commensurate to what is asked of them. Think of it this way . . . How did you learn to do your 1st job? If all you heard was "No!" and corrections, would you be happy working or a nervous wreck because you had no idea what was expected of you? No doesn't tell us what to do and if you are upset, your dog has no idea why? They will demonstrate appeasement behavior often described as a guilty looking dog. In reality, they are trying to de-escalate the situation.