How Do I Get My Purebred Dog Registered?

Having a registered dog generally means your dog is purebred, with no other breeds in your dog's lineage for generations. The most well-known dog registry is the American Kennel Club (AKC), which has stringent rules for registering your dog. Other dog registries may require limited information and a fee before registering your dog -- this is an option for breeds that aren't yet recognized by the AKC. If registering your dog in North America with any registry other than the AKC or the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), look into their purpose, who they cater to, and what it means to have registration papers from them.

Things You'll Need

  • Registration application form
  • Registration name for your dog
  • Money
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the registry in which you can or would like to register your dog. If you plan to enter AKC-sanctioned dog shows, you will need to register your dog with the AKC. If you want to show your dog in Canada, you'll need to register it with the CKC, but the dog must first be registered with the AKC. You can register your dog with as many registries as you like, as long as it fits their criteria and you provide the necessary information and pay the fee.

    • 2

      Have your dog tattooed or implanted with a microchip by a veterinarian if it's required by the registry you've selected. The Canadian Kennel Club requires either a tattoo or an implant.

    • 3

      Locate the proper paperwork. You should have received a registration application form for your dog when you purchased it. If you did and it's for the registry of your choice, you're ready for the next step. If you did not receive registration papers from the previous owner, you may not be able to register your dog. Some registries do not require more than basic information about your dog, such as the seller and the sire and dam if available. However, the benefits of registering your dog with those types of registries may be limited or nonexistent.

    • 4

      Go online to find out if the registration name you've chosen for your dog is available. If registering your dog with the AKC, type its name into their online name check tool. You will receive a message saying the name is available or that it's been used previously. A name can only be used once.

    • 5

      Fill out the registration forms either online or by hand. The information required may vary depending upon the registry. To register your dog with the AKC, you'll need the puppy number and personal identification number (PIN), plus names and addresses and signatures of each of your dog's owners. You'll also need the name of your dog, the transfer date, the sex, and the color and markings of your dog.

    • 6

      Pay the registration fee. As of 2011, the fee to register one dog with the AKC is a one-time fee of $20. There is an additional fee for submitting the registration application one year of more after the date the litter registration was issued. The fees of other registries such as the CKC, Dog Registry of America, Inc. and the National Kennel Club Inc. range in price from $18 to $79.