Effective for imported dogs registered on or after March 1, 2006, any imported dog registered with the AKC must have an AKC DNA profile prior to registering its first litter whelped in the United States. This requirement does not affect foreign dogs registered with the AKC before March 1, 2006. This requirement applies to both males and females and will be used to verify future generations produced by these dogs.
What breeders/owners need to do if they own a sire or dam that is subject to the requirement:
- Obtain a DNA test kit.
Previously, $50 non-prepaid DNA kits were also offered by AKC, but these kits will be phased out beginning in 2021. If you have already purchased one of these non-prepaid kits, you can still use it to submit DNA for your dog by following the original procedure of mailing your sample, payment and information to AKC DNA Operations.
Log in to the DNA Online Portal (dna.akc.org) and complete the required information to activate your Barcoded DNA test or for current non-barcoded AKC DNA test kits (both prepaid and regular $50 kits– which are being phased out in July 2021) complete the sample submission form, swab envelope and send with payment (if necessary). The DNA barcoded kits are to be mailed directly to the lab in Lincoln NE; however, the non barcoded kits are still to be mailed directly to AKC DNA Operations in Raleigh NC. To eliminate delays in processing litter applications, the completed test kits should be submitted in advance of the litter application. The Registration requirement is not met until lab confirms receipt of sample or the sample is received at the Raleigh NC office an entered into the AKC DNA database.
Breeders/owners fulfill the requirement when the DNA test kit arrives at the lab in Lincoln NE or is logged into the AKC DNA Database in Raleigh NC, even though an additional 4-6 weeks are required to obtain the actual DNA profile. The parentage verification policies of all current DNA programs will be applied to this requirement, as will the discipline policies of the Compliance Audit Program.