But my dog ​​has papers! See what this really means

“He has papers”

What do these two words mean? They signify that the dog has been registered as a purebred with a breed organization. In the United States, “has papers” usually means that the dog has been registered with the American Kennel Club or AKC. Alternative registries exist such as the United Kennel Club and the Continental Kennel Club. To be considered and registered as a purebred, the dog’s parents and grandparents must have all been of the same breed, meaning that the registered dog is also of the same breed. However, in the United States it is important to understand that the registry/organization of the breed does not usually see the dog, does not evaluate its quality, does not evaluate the quality of its parents and grandparents, does not verify that the parents look and act typical of the breed, does not verify the health authorization of the dog animal and never evaluates the knowledge of the breeder. In other words, the seller probably paid money to enter the dog in the breed registry without the animal being tested. That’s it. There is no real guarantee of quality. When it comes to knowing the dog’s working capacity, temperament, health, and conformation, these “papers” mean nothing.

What about the dog’s pedigree? The dog’s “papers” impressively describe three or four generations of descendants, all registered with the breed organization. It is important if you are looking for a particular breed of dog. The pedigree is used as a record of the dog’s descendants, but it is only as valuable as the genetic inheritance that is passed down from generation to generation. As we have already pointed out, the mere fact of having pedigree documents from a breed organization is not a guarantee of the genetic quality, health and temperament of the dog. A dog’s pedigree is often used to track whether or not certain traits will be passed down between generations. These traits include the overall health of the dog, including the hips, elbows, and joints, the color of the dog’s coat, and the dog’s ability to work. All of these aspects are recorded in the “papers”, except in situations where the title comes from Europe or from a different organization that is not associated with the American Kennel Club. The breeder must have extensive knowledge of this genetic heritage and that information must be recorded in the dog’s pedigree documents. If you come across a breeder who doesn’t know the breed you’re interested in, run! Be very careful when selecting a puppy, because you may come across one that shows generations of untested, untitled dogs that lack health clearances. What do you get in this circumstance? You may get an animal that is registered as “purebred” but also comes from a line with a breeding history with any available purebred, regardless of title, health certification, etc. of that pure breed. The end result is a “purebred” puppy that lacks the specific qualities and traits that the breed is known and valued for.

The fact that the dog has pedigree “papers” does not naturally or immediately mean that it is worthy of being bred. Current American Kennel Club policy states that it is acceptable to mate two purebred dogs and their offspring can also be registered as “purebred” and receive their pedigree “papers”. Health checks, conformation titles, working titles, and temperament tests are NOT required prior to breeding. Unfortunately, this means that two dogs with health issues, hip dysplasia, and undesirable temperaments can be brought together and their puppies, who will likely inherit many of those same traits, be considered purebreds. A fearful and indiscriminate biting dog with an aggressive temperament can be crossed with a timid and nervous dog. However, all puppies will be registered purebreds with their pedigree documents. All you can really count on from the “papers” is that the animal will be the same breed as its parents. You can’t count on anything else, nor can you take the papers like a breed quality guarantee.

If the breeder focuses on claiming that the puppies and their parents are thoroughbreds with papers, buyer beware! It is a myth that the papers offer a guarantee of the quality of the dog. The true quality of the dog is determined by carefully examining its features. You should selectively breed for overall quality, including health, temperament, conformation, and working ability. These traits just don’t happen. They will die out fairly quickly, usually within a couple of generations, if the animal is bred indiscriminately.