Glossary

Kennel registry

An organisation that keeps records of dogs and their parentage, issues registration papers and pedigrees, and often runs shows and sports.

Also called: registry, dog registry, kennel club, AKC, American Kennel Club, stud book, registration papers, breed registry

A kennel registry, or kennel club, keeps a stud book that records the parentage of each registered dog. Breeders register litters, and owners register individual dogs. In the United States the main ones are the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club. The Kennel Club serves the UK, and the FCI links national clubs in many other countries.

Registration proves who a dog's parents were. It does not prove the dog is healthy, well raised or good tempered. Registries also set the rules for dog shows and sports, recognise breeds and publish breed standards.

Do not confuse a registry with a dog license from your town or with microchip registration. Those serve different purposes. A registered dog can be sold with papers while the breeder is still a poor one, so use papers as one piece of information, not proof of quality.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Pedigree A written family tree of a dog showing its ancestors over several generations, usually with registered names, titles and sometimes health results. Purebred A dog whose parents and ancestors belong to one recognised breed and are recorded in a registry, so its ancestry can be traced on paper. Foundation Stock Service An AKC record-keeping program for rare breeds not yet fully recognised, letting breeders register dogs on the way to full recognition. United Kennel Club A US registry founded in 1898 that registers many working and hunting breeds and also runs sports, with its own breed groups and standards.