Available Dogs

Millie is approximately 8 years old. She is a sweet affectionate girl who longs to be loved. Millie is approximately 90 lbs and should gain 10 pounds to be at a healthy weight. She has a big heart and would love to have a family of her own. Due to her size, she could live in a home with older children. She has done well with other dogs. She can also live with a male companion after a meet and greet. Help us make her dreams come true and give her a life that she deserves.

Rhizo

Rhizo is a big, beautiful girl full of life and exuberance. She is about 1 1/2 years old & will be a 100-pounds. Rhizo could possibly live with another male companion her size. She will need someone who can give her the time for walks and training, so she can learn to be the best pup. She will need a refresher on potty training & a 6-foot fence. She is athletic! She loves car rides too.

Natty

Natty was born in 2019 and came to us when her family was moving and could no longer take care of her. She lived with fur-brothers and fur-sisters. She may benefit from having a male companion to keep her company and help her adjust. Natty is such a sweet girl but understandably confused and scared but does come around fairly quickly. She needs an understanding family that will go slow with her as she adjusts. Natty's safe and comfortable place right now is her crate.

Violet

Violet came to us from a kill shelter with Diesel who is also available for adoption. Violet is a young, bouncy, happy girl, who is ready for family to love her. She could live with another male companion in the home but would also be just as happy being the only dog in the home where she can get all the attention she deserves. Violet is a sweet, affectionate, smaller girl at 60lbs. and approximately a year and a half old. She is looking for a family with a fenced in yard and no small animal

Carson

Carson is a sweet boy who arrived to us from a puppy mill farm after it closed down. He is shy and has lived in a 10x10 run since he was a puppy. He would benefit from a female companion.

Klondike

Born in December 2018, Klondike is a big 140 lbs. boy. He will need help with adjusting to living inside a home. We consult with the Animal Behavior Wellness Center in VA and they have found the right medicine to bring out Klondike's best and reduce his anxiety. His dream home is in a quiet environment with a 6 ft. fence. He would love to be a couch potato and enjoy life with a family.

Maddie

Maddie is a special pup. She spent her life being bred, punished for her growl, and was debarked by the breeder. It's no surprise she has trust issues! Her foster family has earned her trust with force-free, fear-free handling.

CHAAMP is a proud member of The Pet Professional Guild Shelter & Rescue Organization. Our goal is to practice force-free (no physical force or verbal intimidation) methods to communicate with the pups. When we welcome a new Malamute to CHAAMP, we focus on capturing and rewarding good behaviors freely offered to start building trust (see Smart x 50 by Kathy Sdao). Once the pup is offering eye contact on their own and feel comfortable in their new environment, then we start rewards-based training. We avoid startling the dogs with "No!" or "Ah, ah!" and are careful to read their body language. The dog decides what is aversive (scary) and what is rewarding. For example, did you know that some dogs find the sound of the clicker and our excitement to be aversive? Each dog is a unique individual. We do our best to provide gentle and kind interactions with Malamutes and offer them a "choice" to collaborate with us. Even if it means that we start with the smallest baby steps. Training is a fun way to learn to communicate with our dogs. We learn to watch and read their dog body language so we can "hear" what they are saying to us. We are teaching dogs English, and they do not speak. It is our duty to learn to read a dog's body language.

Positive Reinforcement Training – Does it Work for the Working Group?

By Chelsea Murray, ATDI, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP

Adoption or becoming a foster begins with completing an online application. Information is confidential and is used to help us match a dog's personality with your environment and lifestyle. We work with you to find alternative solutions if you don't have a fence. We offer resources and access to CHAAMP's trainer (Mimi.Tello@chaamp.org) to support adopters and fosters including first time Malamute parents. Once the application is received, we set up a virtual or in person home visit where adopters and CHAAMP discuss puppy proofing your home, identifying a safe place (crate or gated area), food/potty schedule, and discuss enrichment ideas. We discuss the importance of decompression and identifying local professional dog trainers and resources. We are here to answer questions every step of your journey. Malamutes are highly intelligent, sensitive, and expressive dogs. It is critical to create a plan to set up your family and dog for success.

**Alaskan Malamute Training Facebook Group**

Pawsitive Futures Dog Training and Behavior - Alaskan Malamute YouTube

How to prevent resource guarding

Dog to Dog Introductions Booklet

Shy Adopter Guide by Shelter Playgroup

Inter-Dog Playgroup Guidelines

An adoption requirement is training. Training is like team building with you and your dog. It improves communication and collaboration with our furry companions. Plus, it builds a bond and helps your pup gain confidence. Malamutes are a working breed and need a mental outlet -- they love working for treats! We highly recommend nose work for Malamutes. It is a great way to give them a job and use their nose.

If you are not sure if a Malamute is the right breed for you or are not ready, you can volunteer to take the Malamutes on a walk. This is a great way to meet the pups and learn from volunteers how to best interact and handle these precious fluffy, intelligent, and strong pups.

Fostering is a wonderful alternative too. With your help, we can open up space for another Malamute to come to the rescue.