Are Registration papers necessary when buying a pet?
 

Well i think they are. In Canada under our Canadian Kennel Club rules, we are required to provide and pay for the registration papers on any dog or puppy we sell transferred to the new owners name. The registration actually belongs to the dog or puppy being sold.
I am aware in the US the AKC does not have that requirement if you are buying for pet. The AKC from what I understand is trying to encourage breeders to provide the registration for the new owner to send in if they want to.
The regsitration paper for any dog or puppy, verifies that this a purebred dog, has the registration number and registered name for the dog as well as who the parents are and their registration numbers, date of sale, breeders name, date of birth that sort of info.
Under some contracts, spay/neuter will be done and verified before papers will be provided which is reasonable.
The info on the registration certificate is also only as good as the reputation of the breeder so bear that in mind when you are looking for a puppy.
If you are buying purebred, paying for a purebred, I think the registration verifying that this is a purebred should be a requirement of any buyer.
Thoughts?

Its also helpful if your dog is lost and found but you have to prove its yours at least you have the registration stating you have a pure bred yorkie

I send in my AKC registration even if only for pets that are to be spayed/neutered. I want to contribute to the history, provide a record that the dog is mine, and support the AKC and their efforts. A nice side benefit....registering your dog with AKC gives you 60 days of free health insurance, with option to continue. That is no small matter if a puppy comes down with a disease or injury requiring expensive vet treatment.

Never bred, never will, but I would like to get the papers, just to put in the folder and read all the cool dog names from the pedigree.

When I got Pixie she was registered to the breeder since she was 13 months old and going to keep her originally. I said I didn't care about the AKC papers. She said that it was in effect her birth cetificate and I needed to register her so I did. I also like looking at the pedigree.

Good idea! I got Elvis as a pet only with limited reg. his papers never came...he has health issues-Princess came limited registration with papers I sent them in and got a cute lil faimily dog tree for her,she very well bred I recommend her kennel to everyone. Scoobers was a Schnorkie from rescue-still I wish he had his, or that Schnorkies could be limited registration papered also. Limited registration is for pets only and there's a reason this is an option-to ensure the health/pedigree, show this dog was responsibly bred and that there is a reference for identifying your dog...anyone ever heard of pet stores or puppy mills offering papers...?

I'm tempted to do the same. I would love to see then research more about Kaji's lineage. But I waited to long, and it'll cost way too much to register him now. Should I or shouldn't I? I haven't decided yet.

At best the fine is just under $200 (limited registration)if you waited years and are getting the Gold Standard etc(unless you waited too long for a full registration, but you can opt to do limited-as long as you don't want litters from your dog registered etc.). Its worth it though I think, I had Scoobers DNA pedigreed because as he kept growing I couldn't believe he was a Schnorkie-it was about $160 for that and there's no real guarantee of accuracy and no way to know his exact linage...save a bit up at a time in a doggy treat jar and then one raining day check the jar and get out a stamp and an envelope addressed to the AKC...

I know how much it is, but I'm not sure I'm willing to spend $80 to get his pedigree. I waited too long after getting him. I have all the forms, just weighing out if it's worth it or not.

I wanted to (once again in this post) comment that its really important for people to know the difference between Limited Registration and Full Registration. Look it up with the AKC, CKC, or YTCA, their definitions are all basically the same but I really believe that all dogs should come with a Limited Registration (in the least) for all the important reasons listed above-if you plan to show or breed you need a Full Registraion.

I like the way Canada does it. I think that it is a reasonable request that the breeders submit the change of ownership paperwork for the new pup which is placed in his/her's forever home. All my dogs and one cat are registered with CKC and AKC in the case of the dogs. But then I show. For pet folks though one registry is enough. And for my cat his breeder kept his registration paperwork until I provided proof of neutering at 6mths old.
And breeders are not allowed to charge for this service to the puppy buyer. I also like the microchipping, and keep my breeders name as a second contact person on the file.

So for those that don't know if you wish to show in both countries you need to have both an AKC and a CKC number.

I guess I can advocate all day how worth it is and how $80 is reasonable-but its a personal decision everyone makes-which is why it isn't required yet here. I think of it like this, how much do you spend on supplies for your dog, food, toys, clothing, etc. You can't put aside $10 for 8 weeks or $5 for 16 weeks and send it in to know...I'm all into it have the papers for Princess and Scoobers framed on the dining room wall in a cute made for them frame with their pictures as pup (or me getting them) and a current pic. I think of it as that useless birth certificate the hospital give us all-the one with the feet and sometimes hands on it-its totally not a legal verification-we just use it to put in a frame on the wall and show off...yeah-my children's copies of those are next to the dog's papers on the wall in case you were wondering.

If it was a birth certificate that is used like a humans, of course I'd get it. But, really I'd never use it. It's just to know. Your posts makes me not want to get it.

Sorry! Double posts.

I'm sorry you feel that way, especially if it's due to my posts. I just listed my personal reasoning for getting them and trying to work out some issues without having them...again it's why its currently a personal decision...It's not just to know, it can be used in case your dog is stolen and to encourage responsible breeding practices etc. Sounds like Canada has a really great set up for it though. Glad I read this forum and learned the standard in Canada. Wish all breeders listed as limited registration or full registration instead of with or without papers.

I dont think it has anything to do with being able to afford the $$ or having to save up for it over many weeks time -- she is just saying, she does not feel like she would have a use for it. No need to bully -- some will some won't -- the world will continue to turn.

I don't have a need for them nor do I care about them even if I had the option to (I did not get papers for Jackson). I'm not really big on the AKC and what they have done to dogs anyways but I do realize what they have done good as well. Just don't see a need to give them more money.

It would be cool to see the pedigree though. Just out of curiosity.

I agree.

The info on the registration certificate is also only as good as the reputation of the breeder

You should never assume a dog is anything the paper says. Do your homework, study breeders. Learn the breed. If you don't care if you're buying a less than perfect example of the breed, the same protocol. You want a yorkie that will look like one, be healthy etc. Reg. numbers don't increase value or prove breed type. I think it depends what the papers say, not if and who they come from.

I think it's a good idea to get them. Atleast you know what you're getting.

Sometimes the breeder will give you a copy of the pedigree of your dog's dam and sire. I got copies from Ben's breeder. I did go ahead and buy his pedigree. I got the whole shebang -- Gold or Silver package, can't remember now. I don't know why, other than I was all ate up with finally getting him. I was excited to see the Champions in his bloodline. :) But I really did not get anything more than what the breeder had already given me.

OUCH! Bullying seriously? She stated the high cost and later said it was $80 so I suggested something for the alleviation of the cost-how is trying to be helpful bullying? I know she stated she didn't feel it was necessicary later...I only posted the reasons I felt it was necessicary, excuse me for giving my opinion in an open forum and trying to be helpful.

Jackson came from a BYB so I'm not even in contact with the "breeder" unfortunately. :(

I said it was WAY higher than it would have been if I had sent in the papers early on. You don't think a $50-$60 penalty fee is outrageous? I do! The only reason I would pay the fee (which I can afford, thank you very much) is if Kaji does well in agility classes and I'd want to seriously compete. Or, getting his good citizen certificate.


And of course all pets are on limited registration. It means you don't have permission to breed. Unless a dog came from someone who doesn't give a hoot, then that's another story. I have receipts, vet records, his Home Again registration, and all other documents to prove Kaji's mine. One more paper isn't going to prove anything.

This is exactly how I feel, and exactly why I was hesitant (still am) about even getting his paper.

I am willing to try again. When I said the registration papers could only be as good as the reputation of the breeder, I was saying that you should expect registration papers on a purebred dog. There certainly are some breeders that will sell you papers which under both AKC and Canadian Kennel Club is illegal. There are some breeders taht you can't be real sure the alleged sire and dam on paperwork whether you actually got the registration papers or not, really are the sire and dam.
What I am saying is do your homework but in that process also expect your breeder selling you a puppy to provide the proper registration paperwork.
From my experience here in Canada from people who are my dog grooming clients and who have bought puppies nonregistered, 99% of those puppies were not purebred at all.

Again I'm really sorry you misinterpreted what I said. Apparently my attempts to come up with an option to alleviate the new high cost wasn't taken well. When and where did I say you couldn't afford it? I was never implying that if that's where confusion comes from for you-you noted the high costs, which I believe do detour a lot of people looking at a larger one time expense more than they anticipated initially. Also,commenting that after reading my posts it made you not want to do it was rude but whatever to each their own. I do think the penalty is rather extreme as well. I didn't register Princess right away, I forgot and then when I remembered and got the papers out it was about $65 more, so I spent another month putting money aside to cover the extra cost I hadn't anticipated. I'm definitely a budgeter here, if its an unanticipated cost, it has to be an emergency expense to not get save up for, but that's really a personal financial choice.
I hope some people will get what they need from all the constructive reasons on weather or not having registration papers is beneficial. I agree with the original post in this forum-Limited Registrations should be a minimum standard and supporting all the good work of the AKC is well worth the minor expenses they charge. Papers in conjunction with micro-chipping is a great way to ensure any animal custody issues. You can add a microchip number to your AKC registration-nice to see people notate you need both CKC and AKC registration for various things.
Not to mention if every breeder has to register their dogs (AKC CKC EKC,etc)responsible can be encouraged through record keeping and giving more authority to the AKC.
One of my dogs came without his papers, he later had health problems (which can happen to anyone, genetics are genetics, if anyone says they have never had a sick pup in their line-they're probably not being honest) anyways there was little to be done about proving he came from the breeder he did, and that she had continually bred dogs with genetic issues. The AKC can really do very little about this with out records and registrations proving linage, as well their current limitations-its a shame but requiring minimal registration could be a step in the right direction. Ye that and as a lot of people have noted it's just so cool to look and see your dog's pedigree, champions, names etc.
I really think (again) it would be nice that all kennels (breeders) practiced as some do pups come with either Limited Registration or Full Registration instead of with or without papers...

The Fee schedule for costs of registration with the Canadian Kennel Club is based on those breeders that are members in good standing with the CKC. Yes, we can join the CKC.
To register a litter within 120 days after date of birth, it is $20.90. So say a litter of 3 would then be about $7 /pup.
To do the individual dog registration, it is $20.90/pup. To transfer ownership to the buyer it is $15.70 / per pup.
Past the $120 days for the registration fees, they go up about $5 then really jump if you are waiting over 6 months.
So that would bring my cost to about $50/pup. Sure is not much when you see breeders here in Canada sometimes selling pups for about $300 more for the registration papers which is illegal and such breeders are considered totally unethical.

Whoops should have read Past the 120 days ......

I think if a breeder is selling dogs claiming they are from AKC registered stock, they should be required to provide the papers to the buyer. I can understand that they do not want the buyer to breed the puppy, but that is exactly what the LIMITED registration check box is for. Of course it does not stop the new owner from breeding, but it doesn't stop them by not providing the papers either. I guess I just feel more comfortable knowing that if the breeder provides the "proof" that the puppy is purebreed, it more than likely is. NOT IN ALL CASES.. but thier signature on that paper also gives some recourse if it is determined that the puppy is NOT purebred.