A litter is eligible for registration if:
- It is the result of a mating between an AKC-registered Sire (male)
and an AKC-registered Dam (female) of the same breed.
- It is whelped (born) in the U.S.A, its possession or territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Marianna Islands).
To register a litter, the litter owner should complete an an AKC Litter Registration Application . The application requires basic information such as the date of birth, number of males and females born, and the registered names and numbers of the sire and dam. The application must be signed by all of the owners and co-owners of the dam and by one owner of the sire. Failure to complete the application properly will result in processing delays.
Processing fees are nonrefundable, and all fees are subject to change
without notice.
When completed, the application should be submitted to the AKC with the
proper fee. Applications must be mailed. You can also register
your litter online. The AKC will mail the litter owner a "litter
kit." The litter kit will include an individual registration application
for each puppy in the litter, as well as a form for record-keeping. The
litter owner should examine the kit thoroughly for errors before issuing
the papers to puppy buyers.
Each person or firm who owns, breeds, or sells dogs that are AKC-registrable
must keep accurate, up-to-date records of all transactions involving
these dogs. There must be no doubt as to the identity of any individual
dog or as to the parentage of a particular dog or litter.
The AKC recommends common-sense practices for those who regularly have
multiple dogs or litters on their premises, including:
- Permanent identification of each dog, with tattoos, microchips, marking, or tagging.
- Isolation of bitches in season.
- Segregation of litters whelped near the same date.
- Breed
- Registered name and number (or litter number if not registered)
- Sex, color and markings
- Date of birth
- Names and numbers of sire and dam
- Name of breeder
- Name and address of person from whom directly acquired
- Date of acquisition
- Date and duration of lease, if any
- Date and place of mating
- Names of persons handling mating
- Registered name and number of dog to which mated
- Name and address of its owner
- Date of whelping
- Number of puppies whelped by sex and by color and markings
- Litter registration number
- Date of sale, gift or death of each puppy so described
- Name and address of person acquiring each puppy so described
- Kinds of papers and date supplied
- Registered name and number of each puppy registered by breeder
