📚 TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Cover Story: What Makes a Breeder Ethical? (Hint: It’s Not Just a Website and a Contract)
- Myth Busters: If You Don’t Show Your Dog, Are You a Backyard Breeder?
- Quick Bites: Fun Facts About Huskies
- Featured Puppy Stories
- Health Matters: Understanding the COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding)
- Dear Luna: Husky Advice Column
- Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life at Bama Huskies
- Comment Section Roasts: You Said What?!
- Join the Pack: Stay Connected + Waitlist Info
📰 1. COVER STORY
🐾 What Makes a Breeder Ethical? (Hint: It’s Not Just a Website and a Contract)
Anyone can put up a glossy website with pretty pictures and claim to be a “responsible breeder.” But truly ethical breeding goes way beyond marketing. At Bama Huskies, we believe in transparency, long-term commitment, and raising dogs with purpose.
Ethical breeding isn’t just about producing puppies. It’s about producing healthy, well-adjusted companions that thrive in family life. That begins long before a litter is born and continues long after they leave for their new homes.
Here’s what makes an ethical breeder:
- ✔️ Genetic Health Testing: Not all health testing is created equal. We use DNA testing through Embark and Pair Predictor to screen for over 200 potential health conditions. Every breeding pair is matched intentionally not just for looks, but for health and long-term soundness.
- ✔️ Low COI Pairings: COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding) is often overlooked by mainstream breeders. We keep it low to ensure genetic diversity and avoid stacking recessive genes that cause disease. Our puppies come from pairings that emphasize outcrossing while maintaining breed integrity.
- ✔️ Purpose-Built Environments: From climate-controlled kennels to large play yards and early socialization programs, our pups are raised in stimulating environments that encourage development and confidence.
- ✔️ Lifetime Breeder Support: Ethical breeders don’t disappear after pickup day. We stay in contact, provide guidance, and always ready to help a family when needed.
- ✔️ Retired Dog Retirement: We never discard our breeders. They live out their lives here, loved, respected, and honored for the legacy they helped build. That’s rare in this industry, and we’re proud of it.
🚨 Red Flags: If a breeder won’t show you the parents, dodges health testing questions, or ghosts you after the sale, run. You deserve better, and so does your dog.
We don’t just raise huskies. We raise the bar.
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🔍 2. MYTH BUSTERS
🐕 If You Don’t Show Your Dog, Are You a Backyard Breeder?
This is a common accusation thrown around by show dog enthusiasts: “If your dog doesn’t have titles, you’re just a backyard breeder.” But here’s the reality not everyone is breeding for the show ring, and that doesn’t make them unethical.
At Bama Huskies, we breed with a very specific goal in mind: to produce loving, stable, healthy family companions who thrive in real homes. Our dogs aren’t bred for judges. They’re bred for kids, hiking trails, and couch cuddles.
The truth about show breeding is that it’s often more about aesthetics than health or temperament. Some of the most “champion” bloodlines in the AKC system have high COIs, exaggerated features, and behavioral issues due to closed gene pools.
What we prioritize:
- Clear genetic health
- Temperament suitable for families
- Functional structure and movement
- Behavioral soundness
Many of our huskies have woolly coats, plush tails, or slightly broader builds. That doesn’t make them flawed. It makes them fabulous and in many cases, healthier and better suited to the homes they go to.
So no, we’re not showing dogs. We’re raising dogs who show up for life.
We don’t chase ribbons. We raise family dogs. Some of those Karens out there can’t get that concept. We don’t care. Some breeders have their own goals in mind with their breeding program.
🍪 3. QUICK BITES: FUN FACTS
- 🗣 Huskies don’t bark they debate. Huskies are incredibly vocal, but not in the way you’d expect. Instead of barking like traditional dogs, they ‘talk’ using howls, whines, chirps, and woos to express excitement, displeasure, or sass. You’ll learn to understand their language… or at least pretend to.
- 👑 Woolly coats = majestic fluff, not a flaw. The woolly coat gene causes longer hair than the standard husky, giving them a lion-like mane and tail plume. While not accepted in the show ring, woollies are just as healthy and even more eye-catching.
- 🚫 Huskies hate being alone they’re pack dogs. Bred to work in teams and sleep close, huskies form tight bonds with their humans. Left alone for too long, they get bored and stressed. That’s when the digging, howling, and chewing show up. They don’t need 24/7 attention, but they do need a companion or two.
- 🕳 Digging holes is in their DNA not bad manners. Whether it’s staying cool, burying toys, or just following instinct, digging is part of being a husky. If you want your flower beds to survive, give them a digging pit or supervised yard time.
Fun fact? These quirks are why husky lovers become obsessed. Once you understand their instincts, you’ll never see them as flaws again.
🐾 Bama Huskies Quick Tip! 🐾
Did you know coffee grounds can stop your Husky from turning your yard into a lunar landscape?
Huskies can’t stand the strong smell of coffee grounds, making them the perfect, eco-friendly deterrent to digging. Simply sprinkle used coffee grounds in your pup’s favorite excavation spots and watch them reconsider their career as a landscaper!
☕️ Bonus: Coffee grounds naturally enrich your soil!
Try it out and reclaim your yard! 🌿🐶
🌊 4. FEATURED PUPPY STORIES
📸Meet Malaki
His name is Malaki and is a Bella/ Simba pup that we got to take home Christmas Eve. Malaki has always been so laid back and chill that he just goes with the flow of the craziness in our house. He loves to have his booty scratched and will gladly go to anyone willing to do it for him.
I went through a very heavy depression and we started noticing Malaki acting differently too. He wouldn’t leave my side! Whenever I get really down he would jump his entire 100lb self onto my lap and just lay his head on my chest looking up at me. Malaki would stay like that for hours if I needed him to. It’s like he just knew I needed him to comfort me. He has now become my emotional support animal.
Oh, and Malaki likes to TALK. We can always get him into a conversation with him by telling him to get off the couch 
. He likes his spot and will demand to stay there. Especially if he’s right beside me 
.
Here is a photo of him last week in his usual spot.
Meet Nala
When I seen this beautiful girl posted on your Facebook page to be rehomed, I felt I had to try to get her. When I came in January of 2021, I was very impressed with your kennels and how well everything was kept up. I greatly enjoyed the tour that you and Mary Lee gave me, made me feel how much you care for all the dogs really loved getting to see the moms and puppies. As I’ve said before my nala and I were meant to find each other, she is my partner in all the things we do, she is a good traveler, she is playful, she found her voice after we were together for awhile and now is a real sassy pants as all huskies are!! I love my girl with all my heart, she has become a very loving girl, she was very helpful last fall when we lost my mom, she cuddled my sister cause she knew she needed the loves, she checks me out every day when I come home from work to see who I touched, so I guess the only thing I would have done different would have had her from a puppy. She is my light when it’s dark. Thank you again for all you do for the pups and for the families
Meet Mara – Our Monkey, Our Goofball, Our Joy
Mara was born on March 19, 2024, to her parents Smoke and Phoenix. Around our house, though, we call her Monkey—because she’s always climbing on something!
Meet Mara
Mara is incredibly smart (sometimes a little too smart! 
) and has the sweetest, goofiest personality. She absolutely loves little kids and makes friends wherever she goes.
She’s always ready to play. Her BarkBox subscription is one of her favorite things—she gets so excited each month when the new toys arrive! Mara can even play catch by herself: sometimes she’ll toss her own ball in the air, or gently throw it at us to join the fun… or she’ll whack us with whichever toy she wants to play with next. She knows her toys by name too; if we say, “Go get Rocky Raccoon,” she’ll run off and come back proudly carrying her raccoon toy.
Mara also “talks” to us! She uses three verbal buttons to tell us what she wants: one for “outside,” one for “eat,” and one for “porch.” It’s amazing to see how she’s learned to communicate.
Ask her for kisses, and she’ll usually come right over (though sometimes she pretends not to hear us). She’s also the perfect hiking buddy and brings endless laughter and love to our family.
Mara truly is an absolute joy to have in our lives and we couldn’t imagine a day without her.
Meet Red
We took Red home in 2020, and despite the wild challenges and changes in the world due to the pandemic, we had such a sweet time at home because of our girl. Her toy-in-mouth howling and attempts to join in when someone is dancing have continually brought so much joy to our house.
️good treats️. Her favorite place to be is on top of the back of the couch watching the neighborhood. She will always steal your pillow.🧬 5. HEALTH MATTERS
🧠 Understanding the COI (Coefficient of Inbreeding)
Let’s talk about something most breeders won’t: COI the Coefficient of Inbreeding. It’s not flashy or cute, but it’s one of the most important health factors in any dog’s life.
COI is a number that reflects how closely related a dog’s parents are. The higher the COI, the more inbreeding is present. In the world of purebred dogs, COIs over 25% are sadly common especially in closed registries like show lines. High COI increases the risk of autoimmune issues, cancer, poor fertility, and even shortened lifespans.
At Bama Huskies, we take COI seriously. We calculate every pairing before it happens. Most of our litters have COIs well under 15%, often below 12% levels that maximize genetic diversity without losing the breed’s essence.
Here’s what lower COI actually does:
- Strengthens immune systems
- Reduces inherited disease risk
- Increases longevity
- Promotes more stable temperaments
The result? Puppies that are not only beautiful, but built to thrive long-term.
While some breeders focus on producing the same ‘look’ over and over even at the cost of health we’re focused on vitality. We believe your husky should be more than just a showpiece. They should be a happy, healthy part of your family for many, many years.
This isn’t just about genetics. It’s about giving dogs a better future.
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💬 6. DEAR LUNA: HUSKY ADVICE COLUMN
Meet Luna our opinionated, glasses-wearing husky mascot with a PhD in sass. She’s here to answer real (and ridiculous) husky questions with honesty, humor, and maybe a little shade.
Q: Why does my husky ignore me when I call them?
Luna: Because you didn’t say the magic word: cheese. We have priorities, and unless you sound excited or edible, we’re busy patrolling the yard for ghosts.
Q: Can I train my husky to be off-leash?
Luna: You can try. But let’s be real — most of us hear “come” as “you’re boring.” With early training, high-value treats, and a fenced field the size of Texas, maybe. Otherwise? Leash up, friend.
Q: Why does my husky yell at me for everything?
Luna: Because you’re late with breakfast, the cat looked at us funny, and the weather changed. It’s called feedback. We’re just passionate communicators.
Q: Can huskies live with cats?
Luna: It depends. On the husky. On the cat. On the stars aligning. Some of us cuddle. Some of us chase. Introduce early, supervise closely, and have a spray bottle ready — for both of us.
Q: Are huskies really that stubborn?
Luna: We prefer the term “independent thinkers.” You call it stubborn. We call it knowing what we want and pretending not to hear you.
Dear Luna is brought to you by raw honesty, sarcasm, and salmon treats.
🎬 7. BEHIND THE SCENES
🐾 A Day in the Life at Bama Huskies
Want to know what raising huskies ethically and intentionally really looks like? Here’s a look behind the gates of Bama Huskies from sunrise to bedtime.
6:30 AM – Morning Wake-Up
Our crew starts early. Kennels are cleaned, fresh water is replaced, and the air smells like vinegar and kibble. The moms get Royal Canin Starter formula, and pups are given their morning mix complete with probiotics to keep gut health strong.
8:00 AM – Enrichment and ENS
Puppies get exposed to new textures, sounds, and objects. From soft brushes to rattling keys and bubble wrap, we introduce controlled stress to build confidence. Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) happens in this window, laying the foundation for a stable adult dog.
10:00 AM – Crate Time & Handling
Each pup is gently handled and given a few minutes in an open crate. They learn it’s not scary it’s a den. We touch paws, check ears, and build trust through contact.
12:00 PM – Nap Time
While the pups rest, adult dogs rotate out into large play yards. Our retired dogs enjoy the same freedom and space as our breeding dogs because every dog here matters, no matter their age.
2:00 PM – Social Groups
Puppies play in age-appropriate groups. Big litters interact with humans of all sizes, toy distractions, and safe adventure zones. Confidence and play etiquette are taught here.
5:00 PM – Dinner & Wind Down
Evening feedings are calm, followed by quiet kennel time, soft lighting, and music. We do one final round of checks before lights out.
No, we’re not a puppy mill. We’re a full-time puppy academy.
🔥 8. COMMENT SECTION ROASTS
Welcome to the section where we respond to wild internet comments with facts, logic, and the occasional eye-roll. Here’s what the haters said and what we had to say right back.
Comment: “Do you provide directions to the shelter when they grow up?”
Us: Nope. Our dogs grow up in homes, not shelters. We screen buyers, support them for life, and have a take-back policy for any dog, at any age. That’s what ethical breeders do. But thanks for your unsolicited concern.
Comment: “You’re just adding to the overpopulation crisis.”
Us: Actually, we’re part of the solution. Ethical breeders reduce shelter numbers by producing stable, healthy dogs people keep and by educating families on lifelong commitment. Overpopulation is driven by irresponsible breeding and poor placement. We stand on the other side of that line.
Comment: “You should be ashamed to breed.”
Us: We’re not. Because we’re doing it right. We health test, we socialize, we educate, and we keep our retired dogs for life. We don’t contribute to the problem we’re building better dogs for deserving families.
Comment: “Adopt, don’t shop!”
Us: How about this: adopt ethically, shop responsibly, and support both shelter dogs and ethical breeders. We all want the same thing, fewer dogs in shelters. Shaming good breeders won’t get us there. Supporting them will.
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🐶 9. JOIN THE PACK
If you’re ready to bring a Bama Husky into your home — or if you’re just inspired by our mission here’s how you can stay connected:
- 📌 Join our Waitlist: Visit bamahuskies.com to get on our reservation list. Spots go fast and we only breed intentionally, not continuously.
- 🔐 Register That Microchip: Bought a puppy from us? Don’t forget to activate and register your microchip so your husky can always find their way home.
- 📸 Submit Your Story: We love seeing our pups grow up! Send your photos and testimonials to jim@bamahuskies.com for a chance to be featured in our next issue. Use subject line “Magazine”
- 📣 Advertise With Us: Want your brand in front of thousands of responsible dog lovers? Reach out via bamahuskies.com/contact to discuss ad placements for Issue #4.
Because success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently. And we consistently raise dogs the right way.
Thank you for reading Issue #3 of Bama Huskies Magazine.
