“He has papers”

What do these two words mean? They mean that the dog has been registered as purebred with a breed organization. In the United States, “has papers” generally means that the dog has been registered with the American Kennel Club, or AKC. There are alternative registries like the United Kennel Club and the Continental Kennel Club. To be considered and registered as a purebred dog, the dog’s parents and grandparents must have all been of the same breed, which means that the registered dog is also of the same breed. However, in the United States it is important to understand that the breed registry or organization 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 typically of the breed, does not verify the sanitary authorization of the animal and never evaluates the breeder’s knowledge. In other words, the seller probably paid money for the dog to be registered in the breed registry without the animal being checked. That is all. There is no real guarantee of quality. When it comes to knowing the dog’s work capacity, temperament, health and conformation, these “roles” mean nothing.

What about the dog’s pedigree? The dog “documents” impressively describe three or four generations of descendants, all registered in 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 as valuable as the genetic inheritance passed down from generation to generation. As we have already pointed out, the simple fact of having genealogical documents of 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 general health of the dog, including the hips, elbows, and joints, the color of the dog’s coat, and the dog’s workability. All of these aspects are recorded in the “documents” 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 should have extensive knowledge of this genetic heritage and that information should 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 and untitled dogs lacking health permits. 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 the purebred title, health certification, etc. The end result is a “purebred” puppy that lacks the specific qualities and traits for which the breed is known and valued.

The fact that the dog has pedigree “papers” does not naturally or immediately mean that it is worthy of being raised. Current American Kennel Club policy states that it is acceptable to mate two purebred dogs together and their offspring can also be registered as “purebred” and receive their pedigree “papers.” NO health checks, conformation titles, job titles, and temperament tests are required prior to breeding. Unfortunately, this means that two dogs with poor health, hip dysplasia, and undesirable temperaments can bond and that their puppies, who likely inherit many of those same traits, will be considered purebred. A dog that is afraid and bites indiscriminately with an aggressive temperament may be crossed with a shy and nervous dog. However, all puppies will be registered purebred with their pedigree documents. The only thing that can be counted on with the “papers” is that the animal will be of the same breed as its parents. You can’t count on anything else, nor can you take the roles like a breed quality assurance.

If the breeder is focused on stating that the puppies and their parents are purebred 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 traits. You must selectively breed for overall quality, including health, temperament, conformation, and work ability. These traits just don’t happen. They will disappear fairly quickly, usually in just a couple of generations, if the animal is bred indiscriminately.