WHO ARE YOU
SouthernStar Kennels is a small family-owned and operated Alaskan Malamute breeding facility located in the Horse Capital of the World, AKA, sunny Marion County, Florida. We only breed select litters using carefully selected, top-quality breeding pairs, and focus on producing quality over quantity.
We have dogs from top bloodlines in the US, Canada, and the rest of the world. We strive to produce dogs that not only shine in the conformation rings, but also work in harness, enjoy participating in various performance and sport fields, and excel as family pets and companions.
WHAT ARE YOUR BREEDING GOALS?
Our goal is to develop a top notch bloodline. We want to see that out dogs are consistent in type, and conform to the breed standard, as approved and published by the AMCA. We do this by striving for only breeding dogs that meet the criteria that we want in our puppies.
WHAT REGISTRIES ARE YOUR DOGS REGISTERED WITH?
Our dogs are all registered with AKC and UKC, and some are registered with CKC (Canadian, not Con). Our imports also have FCI registration as well.
DO YOU HEALTH TEST AND TITLE YOUR DOGS?
Yes. We believe the breed is only as strong as its weakest link, and therefore want to ensure that we do not bring the breed down.
We test above and beyond what the AMCA requires for CHIC certification (hips, eyes, and polyneuropathy) We also test elbows, patellas, and do a full genetic panel. We use the results to carefully select breeding pairs.
We also title. Our dogs all have a minimum of an IABCA HNRCH, and has been shown in AKC and UKC as well. We also strive to put harness titles on our dogs, but this can be tricky living in Florida. We do not frequently have weather that lets us run our dogs. This means that even though our dogs do work in harness, they may not have enough miles or hours to achieve titles.
We also put various performance and companion titles on our dogs as well.
DO YOU OFFER REBATES FOR TITLING AND HEALTH TESTING?
Yes. Definitely. We believe strongly that participating in events, sports, and shows strengthen the bond between you and your dog. When you put the time and effort into teaching him things, you are teaching him how to please you, strengthening the bond between you and him, and giving him a much needed outlet for his intelligence.
Our breed is not a breed that is content being a couch potato. They NEED a job to do. If you don’t give them one, they will invent their own. This is when many dogs get returned to the breeder or given up, since often the jobs they choose are not desirable in society.
When you teach him skills he needs for titles, you are teaching him how to please you and working his brain. This makes him happier and makes for a better family pet.
Rebates are as follows:
Training Class: a 1 time rebate of $25 if your dog graduates from a formal training class, that culminates in a STAR Puppy, CGC, CGCA, CGCU, CGN, or SPOT-ON title.
Conformation/Breed Survey Titles - Unlimited
$50 rebates per breed survey, V, VG, or G show rating, JRCH or CH in any country, IABCA titles.
$100 rebate per VA, Seiger, Seigren, Vize Seiger, Vize Seigren, GRCH in any country, International CH, World or Continental winner, or FCI show title.
Working/Performance/Temperament - Unlimited
$25 rebates per standard title, certification, or temperament test. This includes AKC/CKC/UKC/FCI performance titles, working certifications, national breed club awarded titles/certifications, TDI or other therapy dog certification, temperament certification, or household title (CGC family, TD, VHM, Farm Dog, SPOT-ON, CGN)
$50 rebate per Working CH, Dual CH, or Triple CH in any country.
$75 rebate per International Working CH or FCI Working CH.
Health testing - Unlimited
$50 rebate per certification per OFA test (or equivalent) Except for Genetic
$75 rebate for CHIC number.
Repeat health testing for anything other than genetic, earns the same as the original. This means if you decide to redo hips or elbows a few years down the road, or repeating eyes yearly means that you get a rebate each and every time. Genetic tests do not qualify for rebates, since that was done prior to sale, and DNA does not change.
Rebates will not be given for the following:
Titles, or certifications prior to purchase
Genetic testing
Titles or certifications awarded by pet registries, or non-legitimate registries.
Online service dog registration/certification, unless accompanied by proof your dog passed service dog certification through a legitimate service dog organization.
Emotional support dog registration/certification
WILL YOU TAKE MY DOG BACK IF I CAN’T KEEP IT?
Always. We always require, and it’s in the contract, that if you must rehome your dog, you must let us know. We will take any dog that we sold back under any circumstances. We do not refund your purchase price, but may give you a discount on a dog in the future if you choose to try again later. If you have a possibly home lined up, and the new owner passes our vetting process, and signs our buyer contract, we will transfer any remaining warranties and guarantees to the new owner.
WILL YOU BOARD MY DOG IF I NEED IT?
Absolutely. We will board any dog that we sold, along with dogs residing in the same household if needed. However, you must remember that we do not run an actual boarding kennel, and we will never board many dogs at one time, so it’s prudent to contact us early. We charge:
$20 per dog per day if we sold the dog and you supply food and supplies
$30 per dog per day if we did not sell the dog and you supply food and supplies,
$30 per dog per day if we sold the dog and you supply food OR supplies and we supply everything else.
$40 per dog per day if we did not sell the dog and you supply food OR supplies and we supply everything else.
$40 per dog per day if we sold the dog and you do not supply and food or supplies
$50 per dog per day if we did not sell the dog, and you do not supply any food or supplies.
However, if boarding is needed due to natural disaster, military deployment, or victim of a crime, we offer a free 10 day board, then half price starting on day 11.
We will not board any animal other than dogs. We do not have the ability to board small pets (including cats) and livestock. And we do not board any dog that has any percentage of wolf, coyote, dingo, or other wild dog.
WHAT ABOUT SALES TO JUNIORS OR SERVICE DOGS?
No, we do not sell puppies or dogs to juniors. Because of laws, a minor cannot enter into a legally binding contract, so we have to sell the dog to the parent/guardian, and then the dog can be transferred into the juniors name when the junior turns 18 and can legally sign the contract. We do not discount junior dogs though.
As for service dogs, our breed is not known to be a good service breed prospect. Even if they were, we do not sell for service work. There are many reasons, but it boils down to too many problems. Too many people go to breeders with a sob story about how they are on a fixed income because of a disability, and want a free or reduced price puppy to train as a service dog. Then, if they even attempt to train (because let‘s face it, often it‘s a scam and they just want a free or cheap pet), it‘s usually self training that goes nowhere. Even with the proper training, the wash rate for Malamutes is extremely high.
Then we have to worry about what will happen to the dog. Often they are sold, even against contract, because the person needs to recoup the loss to try to get another dog. Keeping a washed dog as a pet is a rarity in the service dog world. All in all it’s easier to say no to begin with.
WILL YOU SHIP MY DOG?
No. You are more than welcome to fly to us or pay our airfare to fly to you, or we can meet halfway, driving or flying, to transfer your dog. We do not ship dogs unattended baggage or cargo, and we do not use flight nanny’s or transporters. We hand your dog directly to you.
WHAT ABOUT RESIDENT OF HAWAI’I?
Importing pets into Hawai’i can be tricky. We understand this. We try to make it easier on you to bring your new dog or cat into Hawai’i. We follow checklist 1 for Direct Airport Release for your dog to enter Honolulu.
Your dog must have 2 rabies vaccines, spaced at least 30 days apart, plus a FAVN rabies antibody test (at least 30 days after the last vaccine) plus an additional 30 day wait after laboratory gets the sample before entry. This means your puppy will be at least 6 months old prior to arrival.
We will vaccinate at 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. Then at 20 weeks we take the blood sample for the antibody test and send it to one of the approved labs. Your dog must then wait another 30 days before setting foot in Hawai’i. If we send your dog before the 30 day waiting period, your dog will have to be quarantined in Hawai’i for the remaining time. At day 15ish after the lab receives the sample, we will get the health certificate and the required tick treatment. We will overnight mail you the health certificate and all rabies and antibody tests so you can submit the paperwork as needed to the Quarantine Station. We will keep a photocopy of all paperwork in hand for you to have in your possession for the flight home.
We do charge $10 per day for boarding, in addition to any necessary testing, all necessary vaccines, labs, blood work, and parasite control during that time. We highly recommend you contact our vet and put a credit card on file with them for any services rendered to your dog.
DO YOU SELL TO PEOPLE LIVING OVERSEAS?
This is a very common question, and the answer is yes. However, we do not do any of the paperwork for exportation, with the exception of giving you an export pedigree instead of a regular one.
You must come to our kennel in person to pick up your dog. We will have your dog’s export pedigree and health certificate ready to go. You are responsible for transferring your dog’s registration to your country’s registry, and any customs or embargo fees that are placed on your dog.
Also, if your country requires puppies be a minimum age for importation, we will keep your puppy for that length of time. We do charge $10 per day for boarding, in addition to any necessary testing, all necessary vaccines, labs, blood work, and parasite control during that time. We highly recommend you contact our vet and put a credit card on file with them for any services rendered to your dog.