How to Get Papers for a Purebred Dog

Registration with a reputable kennel club provides not only papers, but lifelong benefits for a purebred dog and his owner. Though the litter may be reported to an organization by the breeder, the dog's registration ultimately will be the responsibility of the owner. Purebred dog owners may choose to register their pet with one kennel club or more, and enjoy the benefits that they have to offer.

Responsible dog breeders often register their litters with the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club. The United Kennel Club requires litter registry before the pups reach a year of age. The UKC charges $20 for litter registration. Litters born to dogs under a year of age may be subject to DNA testing at the owner's expense for registration with the UKC, according to the organization's website. The AKC requires breeders to provide the registry numbers of the puppy's parents as well as the number of males and females born in each litter. The registration application must be signed by the owners of the adult dogs for the litter to be registered. A litter registration fee of $25 plus $2 per puppy is required.

If a purebred dog's litter was registered with the AKC by his breeder, he is automatically eligible for full registration. Owners wishing to register with the AKC can submit an application and the appropriate fee. Required information includes the dog's name, payment information and registration options. If the dog was not purchased directly from his breeder, the AKC will require a supplemental transfer statement, which is provided on its website. The registration process takes nearly three weeks, after which time the dog's owner will be issued a certificate. Registration with the AKC enables dog owners to take advantage of certain perks, such as the AKC Pet Healthcare Plan, a free 60-day health care plan for newly registered dogs. The plan includes a free first veterinary office visit from participating veterinarians. AKC registration also qualifies dogs and their owners for AKC herding, field and agility trials as well as shows, hunting and tracking tests.

The United Kennel Club offers several registration options for owners of purebred dogs. According to the organization's website, an owner whose dog's litter was registered can submit an application for permanent registration. Once the application has been processed, the owner will receive a permanent registration certificate. The UKC offers a single registration option for purebreds whose parents are not already UKC registered. For this option, the dog's owner must provide the dog's complete pedigree for three generations and registration certificates from other recognized registries, such as the AKC or the Canadian Kennel Club. UKC registration allows registered dogs and their owners access to shows and performance events such as obedience and agility trials, weight pull events, field trials, breed-specific races and pointing dog events focusing not only on the dog's appearance, but his overall abilities and performance in the field. A fee of $35 is required for most breeds. Registration for an American pit bull terrier costs $50.

Though having the papers for a purebred dog may be a point of pride for the dog's owner, certain circumstances may prevent dogs from a full registry with a reputable organization. Undesirable faults may disqualify a dog from full registration, but both the AKC and the UKC offer alternatives. Each organization charges a $35 fee for these papers. The UKC offers limited privilege registration for purebred dogs with breed faults such as incorrect coloration or conformation disqualifications. Dogs from unregistered litters or unknown pedigrees can be registered as long as they are spayed or neutered, according to the UKC's application for single registration. The dogs are then able to participate in performance events or junior showmanship. The AKC registers purebred dogs of an uncertain lineage with their Purebred Alternative Listing, which enables dogs to participate in obedience, showmanship and tracking tests. The PAL program is open only to AKC-registerable breeds, according to the AKC website.