| BUYER BE AWARE |
Let the puppy-buying public beware--- there is a common misconception about registration
papers for purebred dogs. When purchasing a purebred puppy, a buyer has likely done their
research to find a breed that suits their needs in terms of temperament, appearance and
activity level. However, when it's time to make arrangements for the payment and transfer of
the dog from seller to buyer, one will often hear terminology like, "AKC registered,"
"registered purebred," or "papers included". These statements are not the same.
The Problem
Over the past six months, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has seen a significant increase in
the number of complaints about buyers being misled by sellers who promise them "AKC
papers." Whether the seller deceived the buyer by claiming that an alternate registry is the
same as AKC, or that AKC papers would be mailed at a later date, the buyer is left
frustrated and disillusioned by the puppy buying process. Many irresponsible breeders,
puppy mills and pet stores try to deceive potential customers by promising that a puppy will
come with "papers". The buyer, believing that "papers" mean AKC, is later heartbroken to
find that his/her dog is not eligible to be registered with the AKC. Even more disconcerting,
the buyer is left uncertain about the genetic makeup of the dog.
There are currently more than twenty canine registration organizations, offering various
standards and membership criteria. Some require a dog to be purebred according to AKC
standards, meaning a dog must be bred from members of a recognized breed over many
generations, and others will register a dog with little or no proof of its lineage. In some cases,
a buyer could make arrangements to purchase and pay full-price for what they believe to be
a purebred dog, when they are in fact receiving a mixed-breed.
What's the Difference?
The American Kennel Club is the only not-for-profit registry for purebred dogs. When a dog
is registered with the American Kennel Club, the owner is provided with bloodline
confirmation and health lineage documentation. The registration certificate is essentially a
certificate of a dog's identity, providing recognition and official documentation of the dog's
place in breed history. The dog's pedigree traces its parentage back three or four
generations.
The only way a person is guaranteed to purchase a purebred dog, with all of the
characteristics and traits of the breed, is to purchase an AKC-registerable dog.
The Solution
When buying a purebred dog, buyers should seek a reputable breeder. If you are buying a
dog that is supposed to be registerable with the AKC, it is your responsibility to obtain
complete identification of the dog or you should not buy the dog. It has long been common
practice to explain the inability saying, "AKC hasn't sent the papers yet." If a breeder is
doing his paperwork in a regular, careful manner, there is ample time to obtain the necessary
"papers" from AKC prior to sale of any puppy. When "papers" are not available at the time
of delivery, it is a red-flag warning sign to exercise extreme caution. Make sure that your
registration papers have the official AKC seal. See sample of AKC application papers
This article was copied from the AKC e-newsletter. Sign up for your copy today
papers for purebred dogs. When purchasing a purebred puppy, a buyer has likely done their
research to find a breed that suits their needs in terms of temperament, appearance and
activity level. However, when it's time to make arrangements for the payment and transfer of
the dog from seller to buyer, one will often hear terminology like, "AKC registered,"
"registered purebred," or "papers included". These statements are not the same.
The Problem
Over the past six months, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has seen a significant increase in
the number of complaints about buyers being misled by sellers who promise them "AKC
papers." Whether the seller deceived the buyer by claiming that an alternate registry is the
same as AKC, or that AKC papers would be mailed at a later date, the buyer is left
frustrated and disillusioned by the puppy buying process. Many irresponsible breeders,
puppy mills and pet stores try to deceive potential customers by promising that a puppy will
come with "papers". The buyer, believing that "papers" mean AKC, is later heartbroken to
find that his/her dog is not eligible to be registered with the AKC. Even more disconcerting,
the buyer is left uncertain about the genetic makeup of the dog.
There are currently more than twenty canine registration organizations, offering various
standards and membership criteria. Some require a dog to be purebred according to AKC
standards, meaning a dog must be bred from members of a recognized breed over many
generations, and others will register a dog with little or no proof of its lineage. In some cases,
a buyer could make arrangements to purchase and pay full-price for what they believe to be
a purebred dog, when they are in fact receiving a mixed-breed.
What's the Difference?
The American Kennel Club is the only not-for-profit registry for purebred dogs. When a dog
is registered with the American Kennel Club, the owner is provided with bloodline
confirmation and health lineage documentation. The registration certificate is essentially a
certificate of a dog's identity, providing recognition and official documentation of the dog's
place in breed history. The dog's pedigree traces its parentage back three or four
generations.
The only way a person is guaranteed to purchase a purebred dog, with all of the
characteristics and traits of the breed, is to purchase an AKC-registerable dog.
The Solution
When buying a purebred dog, buyers should seek a reputable breeder. If you are buying a
dog that is supposed to be registerable with the AKC, it is your responsibility to obtain
complete identification of the dog or you should not buy the dog. It has long been common
practice to explain the inability saying, "AKC hasn't sent the papers yet." If a breeder is
doing his paperwork in a regular, careful manner, there is ample time to obtain the necessary
"papers" from AKC prior to sale of any puppy. When "papers" are not available at the time
of delivery, it is a red-flag warning sign to exercise extreme caution. Make sure that your
registration papers have the official AKC seal. See sample of AKC application papers
This article was copied from the AKC e-newsletter. Sign up for your copy today
| This site was created by and is maintained by Belinda Winters for BFH Bassets. If you have any questions or comments email belindawinters@bfhbassets.com |