Glossary

Pedigree

A written family tree of a dog showing its ancestors over several generations, usually with registered names, titles and sometimes health results.

Also called: pedigree chart, family tree, bloodline, lineage, pedigree papers

A pedigree is a dog's family tree on paper. A typical pedigree lists the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, usually three to five generations, with each ancestor's registered name, registration number and any titles earned in shows or sports. Some also include health clearances, such as results recorded with Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.

Breeders read a pedigree to see who is related to whom, to repeat strengths and to avoid close doubling of the same ancestors, which raises the inbreeding coefficient. A pedigree is issued through a kennel registry and is different from a registration certificate, though they are often supplied together.

In everyday speech people also say a dog is a pedigree to mean it is a purebred, especially in the UK. A long list of champions does not prove that a particular puppy is healthy or well tempered, so ask about the parents themselves.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

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. Kennel registry An organisation that keeps records of dogs and their parentage, issues registration papers and pedigrees, and often runs shows and sports. Inbreeding coefficient A percentage showing how likely a dog is to carry two identical copies of a gene from a shared ancestor, a measure of how closely related its parents were. Dog breeder A person who plans and raises litters of puppies; a responsible breeder health tests the parents, follows a breed standard and stays involved with each puppy.