The truth about CKC and AKC registered puppies
At some point, if you're talking to an unknowledgeable breeder, you're likely to hear something
like this: "My puppies come with CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) papers and a pedigree" or
"My puppies come with AKC (American Kennel Club) papers and a pedigree."
They expect you to respond with an awed whistle.
Here's a better response: Oh yay.
Now, you might be surprised to hear this, because you probably thought that CKC registered puppies
meant good quality. That's what the CKC and AKC would like you to believe. But it's not always true.
like this: "My puppies come with CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) papers and a pedigree" or
"My puppies come with AKC (American Kennel Club) papers and a pedigree."
They expect you to respond with an awed whistle.
Here's a better response: Oh yay.
Now, you might be surprised to hear this, because you probably thought that CKC registered puppies
meant good quality. That's what the CKC and AKC would like you to believe. But it's not always true.
The truth about CKC and AKC registered puppies is this:
-The CKC or AKC will register any puppy whose parents are registered.
-The CKC or AKC registered those parents because their parents were registered.
-And so on. CKC or AKC registration is a mechanical process, a chain of numbers.
You send the CKC and AKC money. If the owners of your puppy's parents and grandparents were all good
doggie owners who kept the chain intact by sending in their own money, the CKC and AKC will add your
puppy to the chain, sending you a piece of paper with a number on it. Voila . . . your puppy is registered.
-The CKC or AKC registered those parents because their parents were registered.
-And so on. CKC or AKC registration is a mechanical process, a chain of numbers.
You send the CKC and AKC money. If the owners of your puppy's parents and grandparents were all good
doggie owners who kept the chain intact by sending in their own money, the CKC and AKC will add your
puppy to the chain, sending you a piece of paper with a number on it. Voila . . . your puppy is registered.
"What about a pedigree? Doesn't a pedigree mean good quality?"
'Fraid not. Send more money, and the CKC / AKC will access their database again and spit out the
names of your puppy's parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, as many generations as
you're willing to pay for. Voila . . . your puppy's pedigree. A pedigree is just a list of doggy names.
Dog Registration papers and pedigrees don't tell you a single thing about a dog other than its place in the
chain of names. To get registration papers or a pedigree, a dog doesn't need to meet any qualifications
of health, temperament, behavior, or sound structure. None whatsoever.
A dog can be sickly, vicious, obese, ears pointing every which way, EVEN PURPLE – and the CKC and AKC will issue the exact same kind of registration number they give to the Best of Breed winner at the Westminster Kennel Club show.
names of your puppy's parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, as many generations as
you're willing to pay for. Voila . . . your puppy's pedigree. A pedigree is just a list of doggy names.
Dog Registration papers and pedigrees don't tell you a single thing about a dog other than its place in the
chain of names. To get registration papers or a pedigree, a dog doesn't need to meet any qualifications
of health, temperament, behavior, or sound structure. None whatsoever.
A dog can be sickly, vicious, obese, ears pointing every which way, EVEN PURPLE – and the CKC and AKC will issue the exact same kind of registration number they give to the Best of Breed winner at the Westminster Kennel Club show.
"Good grief! And here I thought CKC and AKC registered meant good quality!"
Don't be fooled. Registration papers don't suggest quality in a dog any more than they suggest
quality in a car. Does buying a car with registration papers mean it won't be a clunker? Of course
not. In fact, registration papers suggest quality in CARS more than in dogs, because in most
provinces/states a car can only be registered if it has at least passed a smog/pollutant
check and often a mechanical safety check.
quality in a car. Does buying a car with registration papers mean it won't be a clunker? Of course
not. In fact, registration papers suggest quality in CARS more than in dogs, because in most
provinces/states a car can only be registered if it has at least passed a smog/pollutant
check and often a mechanical safety check.
The CKC and AKC registers dogs with no health or safety checks at all.
Hopefully you will never again make the mistake of believing that the existence of CKC or AKC papers or
a pedigree has anything whatsoever to do with a puppy's quality. CKC / AKC registered puppies with
pedigrees is just not a big selling point, no matter how loudly a breeder trumpets it in his classified ad.
a pedigree has anything whatsoever to do with a puppy's quality. CKC / AKC registered puppies with
pedigrees is just not a big selling point, no matter how loudly a breeder trumpets it in his classified ad.
"But papers at least guarantee that a dog is purebred, right?"
Boy, I'm really beginning to feel like the bearer of bad news here!
No. Being purebred has nothing to do with registration papers. Pure bred means that a puppy inherits the
limited combination of genes that have been "fixed" in the breed's gene pool. This limited set of genes
is what makes the puppy grow up to be a certain size, have a certain type of coat, color, etc. Since those
genes are the only genes his parents have to give, they're the only genes the puppy can inherit.
Thus, a "pure bred" dog must inherit genes for smallish size, brown/black/white color, floppy ears, a short
coat that sheds, etc. Those genes are fixed in the breed's gene pool – there are no other choices.
That's what makes a dog purebred – inheriting genes from the fixed gene pool of his breed. The
presence or absence of registration papers has no effect on those genes.
That's what makes a dog purebred – inheriting genes from the fixed gene pool of his breed.
The presence or absence of registration papers has no effect on those genes.
No. Being purebred has nothing to do with registration papers. Pure bred means that a puppy inherits the
limited combination of genes that have been "fixed" in the breed's gene pool. This limited set of genes
is what makes the puppy grow up to be a certain size, have a certain type of coat, color, etc. Since those
genes are the only genes his parents have to give, they're the only genes the puppy can inherit.
Thus, a "pure bred" dog must inherit genes for smallish size, brown/black/white color, floppy ears, a short
coat that sheds, etc. Those genes are fixed in the breed's gene pool – there are no other choices.
That's what makes a dog purebred – inheriting genes from the fixed gene pool of his breed. The
presence or absence of registration papers has no effect on those genes.
That's what makes a dog purebred – inheriting genes from the fixed gene pool of his breed.
The presence or absence of registration papers has no effect on those genes.
In fact, a dog can have registration papers,
yet still not be purebred.
What???
It's true. A dog can have registration papers, yet not be purebred, because his registration papers
can be falsified. Most registries, such as the CKC and AKC, operate primarily on the honor system.
They simply take the breeder's word for it that "King" and "Queen" were really the parents of Solomon.
But scams happen all the time.
It's true. A dog can have registration papers, yet not be purebred, because his registration papers
can be falsified. Most registries, such as the CKC and AKC, operate primarily on the honor system.
They simply take the breeder's word for it that "King" and "Queen" were really the parents of Solomon.
But scams happen all the time.
Let's say Dishonest Dave has two purebred Boxers with registration papers.
The female is accidentally bred by a stray dog of unknown ancestry.
Dishonest Dave is unwilling to give up the $600 he could get for "AKC registered Boxer puppies" so when the litter arrives, he simply fills out the litter registration paperwork – claiming that his BOXER was actually the father.
The CKC and AKC will dutifully mail him a packet of Boxer registration papers for each puppy, which he will happily pass along to the buyer of each puppy....collecting his $600 as he does so.
And no one will be the wiser until the puppies grow up and start to look suspiciously non-Boxerish.
Fortunately their is a new DNA testing program now, where participating breeders submit DNA samples
of parents and puppies, which conclusively proves parentage. If you want to be sure of who your
puppy's parents really are, look for breeders who participate in this program.
And always remember that GENES make a dog purebred. The presence or absence of registration papers doesn't change the genes inside a dog. He can be purebred without having papers – and sadly, he can have papers without really being purebred.
The female is accidentally bred by a stray dog of unknown ancestry.
Dishonest Dave is unwilling to give up the $600 he could get for "AKC registered Boxer puppies" so when the litter arrives, he simply fills out the litter registration paperwork – claiming that his BOXER was actually the father.
The CKC and AKC will dutifully mail him a packet of Boxer registration papers for each puppy, which he will happily pass along to the buyer of each puppy....collecting his $600 as he does so.
And no one will be the wiser until the puppies grow up and start to look suspiciously non-Boxerish.
Fortunately their is a new DNA testing program now, where participating breeders submit DNA samples
of parents and puppies, which conclusively proves parentage. If you want to be sure of who your
puppy's parents really are, look for breeders who participate in this program.
And always remember that GENES make a dog purebred. The presence or absence of registration papers doesn't change the genes inside a dog. He can be purebred without having papers – and sadly, he can have papers without really being purebred.
Part of this article above is from: http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/
For additional information about how the Canadian Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club affect the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed, read the following:
Purebred dogs are being ‘bred to death’ for desirable traits required of show dogs