Bit confused about AKC registrations? Maybe someone can help beat it into my brain?

[Marmot]

Brandy's AKC papers were sent to me 2 weeks ago and I just got a chance to look at them. I have always liked to see what my labs ancestors look like so I looked up the line that the Sire comes from and the Dame, they were both imported from Europe. So how does one go about registering European Labradors with an American Kennel Club? I know it's probably something simple that my mind just can't grasp it. The good thing is Brandy's ancestors are cleared of any and all health clearances, so my girl should be a very healthy pup. One other question? If a dog from another country comes to the USA, can it compete in shows? I just read this post and I know it shows like I am ignorant, not really, just very curious to know how this pup of mine came to be.

[Annette47]

I believe that if the dog is registered under an acceptable (to the AKC) foreign registry it can be imported and given AKC registration, and if so can compete in shows. Hope that helps!

[Marmot]

Well, my little Brandy has Swedish Labrador bloodlines, kind of interesting that all of these Labradors get shipped all around the world. It must build a better gene pool for serious breeders? Thank you, I just thought AKC was for only American Bred dogs.

[barry581]

I imported two Labs from the UK. There are several ways to register them with the AKC. With Sophie I did the Purebred Alternate Listing (PAL). Basically you take a couple pictures, from the front and side if I remember correctly, pay $20 and they send you a certificate with the PAL number. This allows you to enter performance dog sports (obedience, rally, agility, hunt tests, etc). I don't believe you can do conformation with a PAL. I wanted an AKC registration for my boy Bruce, as I was considering doing conformation with him. I had to have a certified 3 generation pedigree from the Kennel Club in the UK, sent this in with the application, and a fee (can't remember the cost) and got an AKC registration for him. If I had wanted to breed him, I would have had to have a DNA test done.

I do believe you can do most dog sports with certain foreign registered dogs, with an AKC registration.

[Marmot]

All I want is a healthy pup this time around, after having two chocolates that passed away at early ages, finding a special breeder was very important to me. I think I found one this time around, my vet was very impressed with Brandy's overall appearance, health and vitals, she checked her out quite well, I don't recall having a puppy exam that lasted a good 45 minutes.

[Marmot]

BTW, Annette I love the "Blonde" in their registered names.

[windycanyon]

Well, my little Brandy has Swedish Labrador bloodlines, kind of interesting that all of these Labradors get shipped all around the world. It must build a better gene pool for serious breeders? Thank you, I just thought AKC was for only American Bred dogs.

No the AKC is a registry for pure bred dogs. So all legitimate foreign registered dogs (ie w/ paper trails etc) are eligible. I too have Swedish imports behind some of my girls.

[Annette47]

BTW, Annette I love the "Blonde" in their registered names.

LOL ... that came from the emergency vet where they were born (Chloe needed an emergency c-section as she never went into labor. We lost 3 black pups out of the 5 she was carrying). When the vet came out to tell us the results of the surgery he said that "2 blondes survived" and then proceeded to refer to the yellows as blondes, so we had to incorporate that into their names!

[Shelley]

Brandy's AKC papers were sent to me 2 weeks ago and I just got a chance to look at them. I have always liked to see what my labs ancestors look like so I looked up the line that the Sire comes from and the Dame, they were both imported from Europe. So how does one go about registering European Labradors with an American Kennel Club? I know it's probably something simple that my mind just can't grasp it. The good thing is Brandy's ancestors are cleared of any and all health clearances, so my girl should be a very healthy pup. One other question? If a dog from another country comes to the USA, can it compete in shows? I just read this post and I know it shows like I am ignorant, not really, just very curious to know how this pup of mine came to be.

If you have AKC Papers, all you have to do is fill them out and mail them in, or register the puppy online.

Like Bruce said, you have to provide a 3 generation pedigree and appropriate paperwork to register a foreign dog with AKC, as long as they are registered with the foreign kennel club. One of my lines, the chocolate line goes straight back to Swedish lines too, actually the same Swedish lines as Anne's.

A foreign registered dog can compete, and win, in AKC events under their foreign registration number, but they have to be eligible for, and have to, complete the AKC registration in a certain time frame to be awarded the points or Q etc... The Potomac catalog has a lot of foreign registered dogs, especially in conformation. Once they have their AKC registrations, they can compete in everything AKC offers, (as long as the registration is full, not limited, for conformation and breeding)

A foreign born dog that acquires AKC registration must have DNA on file at AKC for their offspring to be eligible for registration. I imported a Canadian bitch 13 or 14 years ago, and I had to send in a swab before I bred her. I had to send AKC her Canadian pedigree, and pictures of her from the front and side, and they approved her AKC registration. She also had her CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) registration, UKC registration (when I dabbled in UKC), and her AKC registration.

Another thing, many breeders I know are either shipping the stud dog to the USA from Europe or all over the world, on a lease for a year or more, or importing frozen semen on important dogs overseas, so that also opens up the gene pool, and makes the dog world a bit smaller.