Information about "alternative" CANine Registries

There are many registries, organizations and 'networks' popping up all over the internet! A good rule of thumb when trying to evaluate the validity and integrity of any organization is to examine their purpose (i.e., mission/goals) and to also investigate their standards and practices, making sure that you VERIFY the information they present.

At one time, a dog being "registered" or with "papers" normally meant a dog was registered with the AMerican Kennel Club, or the United Kennel Club, or the CANadian Kennel Club. But all of that changed with the discovery of DNA!

AKC has long required breeders to undergo compliance inspections and had suspended thousands of breeders, and/or had the dog's AKC registration cancelled for failing to abide by AKC's rules and regulations.

Both AKC and GB:C also suspend breeders convicted of cruelty to animals.

AKC suspensions do not stop breeders from breeding, it simply forces them to use the lesser known registries designed primarily on a "no questions asked" basis.

Many more of these registries were created when the AKC began requiring inspections of large kennels & mandatory DNA samples for all male dogs producing more than three litters in a calendar year or seven litters in a lifetime - The AMerican Kennel Club’s Frequently Used Sires Requirement.

This requirement has resulted in the litters of many "commercial breeding farms" (also known as "puppy mills") and "backyard breeders" being turned down by AKC for registration because the breeders refused to positively identify the father of the litter through a DNA test.

As with any profession, there might even be a few less-then-ethical breeders showing in AKC sanctioned dog shows & events, for less-then-ethical reasons.

BREEDER RED FLAGS

The commercial breeders were outraged & in a frenzy about DNA being not only available, but required to prove parentage! In Feb. 2000 the largest commercial dog breeding organization in the country voted to boycott the AKC!

Of course, they are still going to want to sell "registered" puppies with "papers", in order to make more money!

Puppy buyers wanting "registered" puppies with "papers".
When the "commercial breeding farms/puppy mills" and "backyard breeders" discovered that most of the buying public does not know that a "registered' puppy might not truly be AKC registered, the floodgates opened & out poured dozens of dog "registries"!!!

Some breeders claim they are boycotting AKC "because complying with this DNA requirement costs money."

There is a small one-time fee of $35, for each dog DNA tested with AKC!  That $35 pays for the test kit, the DNA lab work, the DNA certificate, & postage costs. This AKC requirement is only for dogs that are being used to produce puppies.

A responsible breeder, having collected much in the way of stud fees and/or puppies before this requirement even kicks in, would NOT object to having the benefit of their dog being DNA certified for such a small sum!

Since DNA became available for identifying a dog's lineage, AKC has begun to do random DNA testing when inspecting kennels. In Missouri, where 1/3 of the country's puppies are produced, DNA testing and AKC inspections are resulting in an alarming number of suspensions!

The GB:C itself also began requiring inspections of large kennels, & DNA samples for all sires producing more than ten litters in a lifetime for GB:C registered dogs.

Here are some "alternative" registries, with whom many can register a dog regardless of its parentage as long as the fee is paid. Many *register* mixed breeds and require no proof of parentage, and are promoters of the commercial breeder and puppy reseller (broker to pet stores).

Even stolen AKC registered dogs can unknowingly be registered by these other "registries".  Once registered with these "alternative" registries,  the breeder producing puppies out of this stolen dog, can begin producing puppies with "papers" - perhaps enhanced with copies of the dog's legitimate pedigree.

Please take note that some of the registries listed below have similar or the very same initials as the older and well established registries. This can cause confusion for consumers. Don't be mislead!

Be alert -These are but a FEW of the "alternative" registries out there:

ACA - "AMerican CANine Association"
Advertises that over 3000 adult breeding canines are registered each week. Only registry endorsed by Petland. Caters to commercial breeders. Refers puppy seekers to pet stores.

AFDSB - "AMerican Field Dog Stud Book"
Besides registry service, they have a lot of advertising of products and certain kennels. AFDSB registers sporting breeds that are not recognized by AKC.
"Registers all breeds of dogs…records registered names, breeding background, colors, ages, sex…documents ownership…duplicates lost registration certificates…and enrolls litters. Please give us a call or E-mail us and we'll send you easy-to-fill-out registration application forms today." [quote source]

APR - "AMerican Purebred Registry"
Will register unknown pedigree dogs/cats, does not sponsor any shows, no proof of purebred required.

APRI - "AMerica's Pet Registry - Inc." also acquired AKR - Academic Kennel Records
Advertises free registration for commercial breeders. Non Profit "dedicated to the preservation of the professional pet industry", dogs and cats. Founded by retailers of pets (commercial breeders and resellers). You have no recourse as a buyer of a puppy bought thru them if the seller does not want you to know their contact information such as phone number, etc.

ARU- "Animal Registry Unlimited"
Guarantees they will register your pets of unknown pedigree, encourages cross breeding. Special prices for bulk.

CKC - "Continental Kennel Club"  (do not confuse with the true CKC - the  CANadian Kennel Club ! )
"Continental Kennel Club" will recognize a cross between any two purebred dogs, and will issue a registration certificate on their offspring. These crosses are not registered as purebred dogs but are registered as the offspring of purebred dogs. "CONTINENTAL KENNEL CLUB accepts registration applications and issues certificates based on the honor and integrity of the owner/breeder applicants, and CKC accepts no responsibility for any inaccurate, false, or fraudulent information submitted on registration applications". "Continental Kennel Club" sponsors no conformation shows or championships that have a dog completing against others (their website claims that the dog receives a "evaluration").
"Continental Kennel Club" also gives big fee discounts to large kennels registering lots of dogs ( such as "commercial breeding farms" - also known as "Puppy Mills" ). Will register dogs not registered with other recognized registries. "If other kennel club papers are not available, the dog owner must provide two witnesses who can verify the accuracy and truthfulness of the information listed on the application". [quote source]

CRCS - "CANine Registration and Certification Services"
Caters to commercial breeders. - CRCS has apparently removed/lost their website presence. Two cached pages from Google search engine.

DRA  - "Dog Registry of AMerica"  Formerly named "U.S. Kennel Club"
No DNA certification, registers unregistered/unknown/mixed pedigree dogs, brags about added value for sellers and confidentiality. "Tired of registration & documentation hassles? Starting your own blood line? Lost or never had papers? Developing new breeds? Breed not recognized? DRA™ Registers all purebred dogs."  [quote source]

FIC - "Federation of International CANines"
Special bulk discount for volume breeders. If a purebred dog does not have any registration, they will register application for the dog, on a person's signature - "I (we) do hereby certify that I (we) am (are) the true owner(s) of the dog described on this application and that all information on this application is true and correct, to the best of my (our) knowledge and belief." [quote source]

IABCA -  "International All Breed CANine Association of AMerica"
IABCA: "Domestic canines of unknown ancestry that are used in the development of a breed shall be permitted for registration purposes within the Foundation Registry only.  Non-domestic canines , pure species or non-domestic x non-domestic hybrids are considered non-domestic and are to be registered in IPDBA's affiliate for non-domestic canines, the International Progressive Exotic Breeders' Alliance (IPEBA), CANine Division." International Progressive Dog Breeders' Alliance (IPDBA) Article V- General Registration.

A *International Champion* title on a pedigree -  is NOT an AKC CHAMPION title! Take note how easily these "International Champion" titles are "awarded" by IABCA,  with NO competition against other dogs!. The *International Champion* titles you might sometimes see being advertised by some breeders, were obtained by that dog never having traveled outside of the United States, nor even out of state in most cases! Many owners of dogs that could not hope to win a *champion* title in a registry such as AKC, will still seek to have their dog appear to have a *champion* title of some sort.

References:

AMerican Kennel Club

AKC Registration Certificate example:


No breeder associated with the AMerican Kennel Club breed club & bound by a breeder’s club
Code of Ethics will sell or consign a pup (or kitten) to a commercial pet store.