Registering a Purebred Dog

More Purebred Info – Purchase and Registration

When you purchase your purebred dog from the breeder, you should receive the litter registration paper. A litter registration paper indicates the dog breed, date of birth, registered names and numbers of the sire and dam, as well as the name and address of the breeder. You will want to make sure that all of the information on the document matches the information that the breeder has told you. Beware of discrepancies, especially if information such as the “birth date” is inconsistent.

If the litter certificate is unavailable, check the individual certificates of the dam and sire to ensure that they are in fact registered with the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club, United Kennel Club or some type of other registry. Also, make sure that they are both registered in the name of their owners; take note of their registered names and numbers. If the breeder cannot produce these documents or is evasive when asked, go to a more prepared, more credible breeder. If you are a trusting person and are determined to leave with one of those specific dogs, you can have the breeder put into writing that they will send you the official documentation within a reasonable period (30 days) or will fully/partially refund your purchase price; this will be your only legal recourse.

If you are purchasing the puppy as a show or breeding dog, be absolutely sure that you have all proper documentation on the spot. Any terms included with the purchase should be included in the writing. Without this, the breeder will not be held accountable if health problems are later displayed with your puppy.

It is important you know registration with the AKC, CKC, UKC, or other registry does not necessarily mean that it is a quality animal. It only means that your dog is a purebred. Even litters from very well bred parents usually contain only a few puppies that are a caliber high enough for showing and breeding. The remainder of the litter is sold as pets and can supply the pet-buying community without any lessening of breed standards; although they are purebred, they are not breeding stock. You may not be able to tell the difference between “pet quality” and “show or breeding quality” dogs, but the differences do exist.

If your dog is strictly a pet or companion, spaying or neutering may be in your best interest; spayed and neutered dogs make better family companions and have a lesser chance of suffering certain cancers. Most reputable breeders will insist that pets be sold on a “spay/neuter contract” or on a limited registration.
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