How to Create a New Dog Registration

Registering your dog with the American Kennel Club (AKC) signifies your dog as a purebred member of its breed. This allows your dog to participate in AKC events. If you decide to breed your dog, AKC registration is important to ensure the puppies can be registered with the AKC as well. You can create a new dog registration via mailed forms or online at the AKC̵7;s website.

Things You'll Need

  • Application
  • Pedigree
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ask your dog̵7;s breeder to fill out the sex, color, markings, registration type and transfer date on the dog registration application. The breeder must sign the application as well. Most breeders will have this prepared when you go to pick up a new puppy.

    • 2

      Fill out the name of your dog, payment information for the registration fee and any additional options you choose, and your name and address on the application. Sign the application in the designated spot.

    • 3

      Mail the registration to the AKC at the address printed at the bottom of the registration form.

    • 4

      Download a supplemental transfer statement at akc.org/pdfs/masterform.cfm if you purchased or acquired your purebred dog from someone other than the breeder. Mail this form with your registration application.

    • 5

      Get all previous owners to sign the supplemental transfer statement and mail it to the AKC at the address indicated on the form.

    • 6

      Include your dog̵7;s pedigree with the registration application if your dog did not come with papers and its parents were not registered. The AKC will allow registration for dogs whose pedigrees show the animal̵7;s parents as AKC-stock dogs as long as there is not a break in AKC lineage.

    • 7

      Apply for enrollment in the AKC̵7;s Purebred Alternative Listing/Indefinite Listing Privilege (PAL/ILP) program if your dog is not eligible for normal AKC registration because it did not receive papers from the breeder or because of incomplete paperwork. Rescue dogs and dogs registered with other organizations that make them ineligible for AKC registration are also eligible for the PAL/ILP program. Download an application at akc.org/pdfs/masterform.cfm. Fill the application out and mail it to the address indicated on the form.

    • 8

      Register your dog online at www.apps.akc.org/dogreg/index.cfm if you prefer to avoid mailing hard copies of the required applications and forms.