Pedigree and Kennel Club registration

Let’s start with questions one might have and we will try to cover them in this article.

What is The Kennel Club, and what does it mean ‘dog or puppy is Kennel Club Registered’?

The Kennel Club is the official kennel club of the United Kingdom. Its role to oversee all canine activities in the UK, and its operates the national register of pedigree dogs in the United Kingdom. All the information about Kennel Club registered puppy (dog or bitch) can be found in the national register online: health profile, inbreeding coefficient and detailed pedigree (Dam, Sire and predecessors). In other words, this is the only official confirmation of puppy pedigree. (Unless you are getting puppy from abroad, and in that case equivalent of kennel club would be the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which is International Canine Federation effectively. FCI registration is recognised by The Kennel Club, so puppy with FCI paperwork can be registered with The Kennel Club assuming they were legally imported into UK.)

Can I get pedigree Yorkshire Terrier puppy which is not registered with The Kennel Club?

In theory, yes… But realistically speaking, highly unlikely that puppy will have Yorkshire Terrier pedigree going generations and generations back, as in that case it would be registered with The Kennel Club, no? Knowingly or unknowingly people will sell puppy as Yorkshire Terrier, when in fact it won’t be, and new owner won’t realise this until puppy is fully grown. It’s difficult to see the difference with untrained eye at early age, as they all look cute. It might be the case when puppy from registered parents doesn’t have Kennel Club registration (certificate), as it doesn’t meet KC criteria for litter registration:

  • The bitch has already whelped four litters
  • The dam is aged over eight years old at the date of whelping
  • The dam is under one year old at the date of mating
  • The offspring are produced through mating a father and daughter, son and mother or sister and brother
  • The dam has already had two litters by caesarean section

Do you really want to get a puppy in that case which was result of irresponsible breeding?

The Kennel Club provide strong guidances and regulations regarding breeding, and encourage breeders to be driven by correct reason for breeding. Some of which are:

  • Dog has a good pedigree (family tree) and has good genes that are worth being passed on
  • Improving the breed (healthier, better personality, add some ‘features’ to stay within breed standards)
  • Make a positive difference to the breed

Do I really need to get Kennel Club registered puppy if I am not bothered by fancy pedigree and not planning to show my dog? I just want a pet that I will love and care for!

Good question, but unfortunately we won’t be able to provide straightforward answer to this one. As breeder, we personally made a concise decision to follow principles emphasised above, i.e. improving the breed. At the same time, our first Yorkshire Terrier (which we adopted from our friends) was not Kennel Club registered, but it doesn’t prevent us from loving and appreciating him. When we were offered to ‘adopt’ him we didn’t care IF he was KC registered or not, we simply couldn’t believe it!

On a side not: To celebrate its 150th Anniversary on the 5th April 2023, King Charles III confirmed the Club with a Royal prefix and so it becomes The Royal Kennel Club. So now The Kennel Club is The Royal Kennel Club.