Proof of Ownership - that is a very good point. I have my yorkies registered in my husband and my name. Just in case one of us dies, especially me, my hubby then can prove he is the owner too and the dogs will not get taken until the courts can settle my estate. I live in a state that has a big problem with this. So the paperwork is one way to keep your babies at home. Including them in your Will is also very important.

I agree with supporting the AKC. They are NOT perfect but they are the best voice we have and they do a lot of good. I am also happy to see the emphasis they have put on helping pet parents the last few years. There has been a lot of community outreach/education. Over the years I have had many interactions with them and would rate all of them as positive. I had a hard time getting Angel registered because of her rare coloring and they worked with me to get it done.

I also like the way it proves ownership, allows me another way to list her ID (CAR), have a record of her back lines and yes, I admit it, I like it for their baby books. :p

Is it not enough to have them microchipped for proof of ownership? Rosie is chipped and I would think that should be enough along with her vet records.

I know mutts can compete in those things as well. If I'm not mistaken, and I very well could be, mutts have to have a registration number anyway. It's been a while since I looked that stuff up. So what's the difference between getting the AKC registration and a registration number for agility, good citizen or what not?

Did not register either of my first 2 Yorkies but did Tibbe.

i did register my babies because it is their birth certificate

I wish Dolce was AKC registered, but she is not. I got her papers, I guess her parents were registered with APRi, but I've never heard of that before. Next Yorkie I get, will def be AKC reg.

Nope not for me. Unless you can show me, unadulterated breeder contract, microchip number on sales agreement, and registered details of parents.

First I want to tract that the pup left from the breeder to you with unalterable indentification, could be a tatoo or microchip, then you had a signed sales contract, which should elaborate the parents full registered names. I put no faith in vets actually checking when first you visit, if indeed this dog belongs to you.

I have no idea what is done in the States; but when I brought my first animal in to my vet (this was actually a kitten), I brought with me, my contract, my bill of sale (which included the microchip number). I waited in the examining room while the vet left the room. That first time I didn't know why. Fast forward 3 pups later same deal, same except for the last time a longer wait....why? because the breeder hadn't yet transferred the ownership over to me on the microchip..... I waited until the vet had contacted the breeder to confirm ownership. And I had no problem with that. Just think of all the threads of ppl here who "find" lost pups and make no effort to find their real owners.

To put this in another context; as much as I abhor the fact pups are property, what is the first thing you need to prove when selling property? Yup that you have "title" or proof of ownership. that proof is usually associated with a defining unalterable identification.

Most all of mine have been rescue's so there for no papers.
My late Shayleigh (her sire was a CH) whom I bought from a Reputable Breeder, I did register her, even tho it was a limited registration, I did it for her birth record.