What Are the Steps to Register a Dog?

There are quite a few reasons why one would want to register their dog with the American Kennel Club (AKC). For one, both the owner's and the dog's names would be recorded permanently in the breed's history. If you are interested in breeding your dog, registering it shows you are serious about the health and well-being of the dog and often makes it easier to find a mate. In addition, puppies from registered dogs are often sold more quickly, as it shows potential pet owners that the pups are descendants of dogs that were well established in their breed.

  1. Obtain Registration Number

    • According to the AKC website, purebred dogs are eligible to register with the AKC as long as their litters were previously registered. When you purchased your dog from a seller, she should have given you papers stating that the puppies are registered, as well as an application to register your dog if the litter was already registered. The registration papers will include the dog's registration number. Without an application, the AKC needs a statement for why another application form is needed. In addition, the litter number, breed and litter date of birth, along with the breeder's name, address and signature are needed. The breeder also needs to include a processing fee. If the litter number is unavailable, the breed, registration numbers and names of the sire and dam, along with the litter birth date can be used. If your dog is not purebred and its litter was not already registered, it cannot register with the American Kennel Club.

    Application

    • Those interested in registering their dogs in the AKC can either do so online or on a hard copy application. The application must be filled out jointly by both the owner and the dog's breeder, states the American Kennel Club website. The breeder will fill out the majority of the information, including sex, color and markings of the dog, the date in which the ownership was transferred to the dog's new owners, the type of registration that is desired and the name and address of the new owners. The new owners must complete the name of the dog, as well as provide signatures and payment.

    Supplemental Transfer Application

    • If you didn't obtain your dog directly from the breeder, you will have to complete a supplemental transfer application. In other words, if you aren't the dog's first owner besides the breeder, you need to submit this application along with the registration application. New owners must submit their names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses, along with the dog's name, breed, sex and registration number. A separate processing fee is charged for this supplemental application, which is available online.

    Submit Application

    • Application submission is done either over the Internet or through the postal service. Pet owners should be sure that they properly fill out the applications and include the correct processing fees, or registration could be delayed. Once the dog is approved for registration, the owner will receive an AKC Registration Certificate in the mail.