If your dog is registered with the Kennel Club, you will gain access to an unparalleled source of information, experience and advice on dog welfare, health, training and breeding. Registering your dog with the Kennel Club also means that it can take part in many shows and events throughout the country. From fun days out to serious competitions, these activities are an opportunity to meet other owners, learn more about dogs, and simply have a great time.

The Kennel Club registers over 270,000 pedigree dogs every year of over 200 different breeds of dog. These breeds are categorised in seven groups: hounds, gundogs, terriers, utility, working, pastoral and toys. All profits from the organisation are reinvested into funding the many programmes run in the best interest of dogs and dog owners. Registration with the Kennel Club enables dog owners to be involved in all aspects of the dog world – from involvement in local lobbying , competing in fun activities and schemes, to health programmes and initiatives, training advice and much, much more.

You may not be aware but the Kennel Club doesn’t just register pedigree dogs though – we’ve been registering crossbreeds and older dogs for over 50 years. Registering your dog with the Kennel Club is simple – you just have to pick which register is right for you and your dog. Dogs can be registered on one of three Kennel Club registers – the Breed Register, the Activity Register and the Companion Dog Register. The fee you pay to register your litter/puppy/dog in your name helps the Kennel Club to pursue its work to promote, in everyway, the general improvement of dogs.

Breed Register

The Kennel Club's registration system is akin to Somerset House for people - it is a simple record of a puppy's birth and provides a number of benefits supporting responsible dog ownership. The Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme, on the other hand, is similar to a 'kitemark' that shows that the breeder has met certain high standards set by the Kennel Club, including health checks before breeding and careful rearing of puppies, as well as all the benefits of standard registration.

The Breed Register is only available to those breeds which are currently recognised by the Kennel Club and provided both parents are of the same breed and already registered. Both the sire and dam should already have been transferred in to the registered ownership of the owner of the dog.

Some litters can now be registered online or alternatively you can download the Litter Registration Form (form 1) from the Kennel Club’s website. If completing the paper application, the owner of the stud dog will also need to sign the registration form. In addition, application forms are always available from the Kennel Club direct, along with any advice you may need. It is best if you register your puppies as soon as possible to make sure that the relevant documents are available for the new owner at the time of sale.

The benefit to new owners of purchasing a KC registered pedigree dog is that they know they should display the characteristics of the breed, in both looks and temperament.

Finding a breeder:

It is important to start your search in the right place; as previously mentioned, the Kennel Club provides up-to-date contact information on breeders across the UK for all breeds. Breed Clubs are also an important source of contact for prospective puppy owners. Club Secretary contact details are also available on the website and within the Puppy Pack.

Seek out responsible breeders; the Kennel Club operates an Assured Breeder Scheme and full details can be found on the Kennel Club website, together with a comprehensive list of breeders with puppies currently available.

Visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/puppiesforsale or call 0844 4633 980 and you will be sent one of our Puppy Packs.

What to expect from a breeder:

• If the dog is advertised as Kennel Club registered, you should make sure that you see the Kennel Club registration certificate for the puppy before you take the puppy home. If the registration certificate is not available when you take your puppy, ensure that you receive an undertaking in writing that this will be sent to you when received from the Kennel Club.
• It is the responsibility of the breeder to register the litter, which will be recorded in their name. The breeder will name all the puppies, and the names may include their Kennel Name.
• Under normal circumstances, the litter registration should take approximately 14 days. The certificates will then be returned to the breeder. If there is a query on the form or about the names chosen for the puppies, the Kennel Club Registration Department will contact the breeder to clarify the position.
• The breeder should hand you a Kennel Club Breeder Certificate, which includes all the puppy's details that are registered with the Kennel Club. Please make sure that the breeder has signed the transfer of ownership form on the back of the certificate and completed the date of sale field.

Also ask the breeder for information on the following:

• A Contract of Sale, which should detail both the breeders and your responsibility to the puppy. It should also advise about any official Kennel Club endorsements (these could be restrictions against breeding or exporting the puppy) that the breeder may have placed on the puppy’s records, and under what basis the breeder is prepared to remove them. Before or at the time of sale, the new owner must give a signed acknowledgement of any endorsement placed.
• Written advice on training, feeding, rearing, exercise, worming, immunisation, insurance etc.
• Copies of any additional health certificates for the sire and dam.

What to do when you get your Kennel Club registered puppy home:

Transfer the ownership of the dog into your own name (you will find this section on the reverse of the registration certificate), ensuring that all parties have signed the relevant sections. Make sure you activate the Kennel Club Healthcare Plan.

Visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/owner or by post. (You will find this section on thereverse of the registration certificate).

You must ensure that all parties have signed the relevant sections.

The Kennel Club and the BSAVA urge all new puppy owners to take out proper healthcare insurance cover. It is the responsible thing to do because the fact is that two out of three pets need veterinary treatment each year and it’s sensible because treatment can account for up to 40 percent of the cost of owning a pet. Choosing the right healthcare insurance means that you do not have to worry about cost and when the time comes you will know you can afford the best treatment if your dog should become ill or have an accident for their lifetime. Designed to meet the specific needs of today’s dog owners,

The NEW Kennel Club Healthcare Plan offers flexible, lifetime vet’s fees cover and a unique choice of optional benefits to suit your lifestyle. You can create the policy you want and only pay for the cover you need.

What's more, when you insure your new puppy with us, you'll receive a generous discount as well as a refund of your Transfer of Registered Ownership Fee.

Call 0800 369 9090 or visit www.kcinsurance.co.uk for details.

• You will have an opportunity to order additional Kennel Club services on the transfer form, including pedigrees and the Breed Records Supplement. Discounted enhanced pedigrees can be ordered at the same time that you apply to transfer the dog into your registered ownership.
• After you have registered the transfer of ownership back to the Kennel Club, you will receive a Kennel Club Owner Certificate with your details and those of your puppy printed on it. At this point you will also receive a copy of the Kennel Club Puppy Handbook – an essential guide to caring for your puppy. The Puppy Handbook will give you advice and information to help you get off to the best possible start with your puppy.

Activity Register:

Your dog does not have to be a pedigree dog to be registered on the Activity Register. If your dog is not eligible to be registered on the Breed Register, and you wish to compete with your dog in KC licensed events such as Obedience, Working Trials, Agility, Flyball or Heelwork to Music competitions, then this is the register for your dog. The owner of a dog themselves can apply for registration on this register. To register your dog on the Activity Register, simply download this form or call 0844 4633 980 for an application form.

The Companion Dog Register:

The Companion Dog Club is open to any dog – purebred or crossbreed puppy or older dog, or a rescue dog and is a great way to become part of the dog world and celebrate the company of dogs with others.

When you join the Companion Dog Club you will receive a personalised certificate and access to an online section of our website with monthly updates, competitions and special offers. There is also a gallery of your canine pals and more. Members can also participate in exclusive Companion Dog Club classes at Companion Dog Shows taking place throughout the UK, not to mention our grand finale at Discover Dogs each year.

You can join at www.thekennelclub.org.uk/companiondogclub or call for an application form on 0844 4633 980.

Correct at time of print March 2011

A PDF version of 'How to register your dog with the Kennel Club' is available to download here

More Information Guides are available on lots of dog related subjects.

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