How to Register a Dog Without Papers

Registering your dog allows you to show proof of their purebred lineage. It also offers them the opportunity to compete in events and shows with reputable organizations like the American Kennel Club. If your dog doesn't have papers or isn't purebred, you may be wondering if it's possible to get your dog registered. Thankfully, many organizations offer registration programs for these specific situations. This article is here to walk you through the process of registering your dog with both the American Kennel Club and the Continental Kennel Club, whether your dog is purebred but lacking the papers or a mixed breed.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Registering a Dog in the American Kennel Club PAL Program

  1. Image titled Register a Dog Without Papers Step 1
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    Confirm that your dog is a registerable breed on the AKC website. In order to register with this particular program, your dog needs to be of purebred lineage.[1] Check https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/ to determine if your dog is a registerable breed with the American Kennel Club.[2]
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    Confirm that your dog is spayed or neutered and at least 6 months old. These are AKC requirements. There are several benefits to having your dog spayed or neutered, and one of them is eligibility for the PAL program. If your dog isn't, you might consider contacting your veterinarian and having the procedure done.[3]
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    Take pictures of your dog to show their facial and body characteristics. Include 1 photo with a full front view of your dog to show their facial characteristics and 1 full side profile of your dog standing on a flat surface (make sure they're not standing on grass). Submit these along with your application.[4]
    • Only photos that follow these specific requirements are considered valid.
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    Print and fill out the PAL program application. First, download the official PAL Program application by clicking this link: https://www.akc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/PAL-revised-10.8.21.pdf. Alternatively, request that the application be mailed to you by emailing PAL@akc.org. Then, fill out the application with all of the correct information. This includes a signature from the owner (you) and your credit or debit card information if you would like to use a card to pay the $35 fee.[5]
    • If you submit a request for the application to be mailed to you, make sure to provide your correct address in the email.
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    Mail the photos, fee, and application to AKC. To pay the fee, fill out a check or money order made payable to the American Kennel Club. If you decide to pay with a credit or debit card, the AKC will charge you using the card information you provided in the application. Mail your check or money order, the required photos, and your application to:
    • The American Kennel Club/PAL, PO Box 900059, Raleigh, NC 27675-9059.[6]
    • If your dog is accepted, they will be eligible for AKC Companion and Performance Events. You will also receive a certificate, a subscription to AKC Family Dog magazine, a complimentary vet visit, and 30 days of pet insurance.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Registering a Dog with the CKC PAW Program

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    Make sure your dog is an eligible breed and at least 1 year old. In order to be considered for the Continental Kennel Club PAW Program, your dog needs to be of purebred lineage. Click https://ckcusa.com/paweligiblebreeds/ to make sure your dog is eligible.[7]
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    Get the signature of 2 witnesses to confirm your dog's purebred status. Since you don't have papers for your dog, you'll need 2 people of at least 18 years of age to act as witnesses confirming that your dog is purebred. Those you choose as witnesses will need to provide their name, contact information, and signature on the registration application.[8]
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    Take 5 photos of your dog that meet the registration requirements. These photos are how you prove your dog's purebred lineage without papers. Submit 1 closeup profile of your dog's head, 1 of your dog's left side, 1 of your dog's right side, 1 of their front, and 1 of their rear. Make sure each photo shows the entire view of your dog at each angle and that they are standing on a flat surface. Submit these photos with your registration application.[9]
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    Print and fill out the PAW Program application. Click https://ckcusa.com/media/148652/paw-registration-application-web.pdf to download the application. Then, provide all of the necessary information. This includes your name and contact information, your witnesses' signatures, and your credit or debit card information if you choose to pay the $50 registration fee with a card.[10]
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    Mail the application, photos, and fee to CKC. To pay the fee, fill out a check or money order made payable to the Continental Kennel Club and attach it to your application. If you choose to pay with a card, the CKC will charge the card using the debit or credit card information you provided in the application. Mail your registration items to:
    • Continental Kennel Club, Inc. P.O. BOX 1628 Walker, LA 70785.[11]
    • It should take about 30 days for your application to be processed.
    • If your dog is accepted, you'll receive a proof of ownership certificate, discounts and special offers from the Continental Kennel Club, and free access to training guides that provide tips on caring for your dog at every stage of their life.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Registering a Dog in the AKC Canine Partners Program

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    Make sure your dog is a mixed breed that's spayed/neutered. If your dog is purebred, they may be eligible for the AKC Purebred Registration program or the PAL Program. The AKC Canine Partners Program is only for mixed breed dogs.[12]
    • A mixed breed dog is any dog that is not recognized as 1 specific breed. These dogs have 2 or more breeds in their lineage. Dogs that are intentionally bred from 2 different breeds (a Yorkipoo, for example) are considered mixed breeds as well.[13]
    • To be eligible for the AKC Canine Partners Program, your dog cannot be a wolf hybrid.
  2. Image titled Register a Dog Without Papers Step 12
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    Fill out the AKC application. Visit https://www.akc.org/register/information/canine-partners/enroll/ to complete the application online. Provide all of the necessary information, including your name, contact information and information on your dog (their name, age, breeds, and other characteristics), and payment information if you plan to pay the $35 fee with your debit or credit card.[14]
  3. Image titled Register a Dog Without Papers Step 13
    3
    Submit the application and the $35 fee to AKC. To pay the fee, write out a check or money order made payable to the American Kennel Club. If you would like to pay with a debit or credit card, the AKC will use the card information you provided in the application to charge you.
    • Mail your money order or check along with your application to: The American Kennel Club/PAL PO Box 900059 Raleigh, NC 27675-9059.
    • As an alternative, submit the application online and pay with the card information included in your application.[15]
    • If your dog is accepted, they will be able to participate in certain American Kennel Club sports and events. You will also receive 30-day pet insurance coverage, a complimentary vet visit, and enrollment in the AKC lost pet recovery program.
    • Besides this, there are clubs for certain breeds. For example, there may be a labradoodle club where you can register your labradoodle.[16]
    • But the only real registration your dog needs is a microchip that can help locate their parents if they are lost.[17]
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    How do you register your dog?
    Beverly Ulbrich
    Beverly Ulbrich
    Dog Behaviorist & Trainer
    Beverly Ulbrich is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Founder of The Pooch Coach, a private dog training business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. She has been voted the best private dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area 4 times by SF Chronicle and by Bay Woof, and she has won 4 "Top Dog Blog" awards. She has also been featured on TV as a dog behavior expert. Beverly has over 18 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. She has a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a BS from Rutgers University.
    Beverly Ulbrich
    Beverly Ulbrich
    Dog Behaviorist & Trainer
    Expert Answer
    If your dog is purebred, you can register them with the American Kennel Club. But you will have to show all the papers to prove that they are purebred.
  • Question
    What is the benefit of a microchip?
    Beverly Ulbrich
    Beverly Ulbrich
    Dog Behaviorist & Trainer
    Beverly Ulbrich is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Founder of The Pooch Coach, a private dog training business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. She has been voted the best private dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area 4 times by SF Chronicle and by Bay Woof, and she has won 4 "Top Dog Blog" awards. She has also been featured on TV as a dog behavior expert. Beverly has over 18 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. She has a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a BS from Rutgers University.
    Beverly Ulbrich
    Beverly Ulbrich
    Dog Behaviorist & Trainer
    Expert Answer
    If a dog has a microchip and is lost, the person who finds them can scan the microchip and locate their parents.
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References

  1. ↑ Beverly Ulbrich. Dog Behaviorist & Trainer. Expert Interview. 30 January 2020.
  2. ↑ https://www.akc.org/register/information/purebred-alternative-listing-pal/
  3. ↑ https://www.akc.org/register/information/purebred-alternative-listing-pal/
  4. ↑ https://www.akc.org/register/information/purebred-alternative-listing-pal/
  5. ↑ https://www.akc.org/downloadable-forms/
  6. ↑ https://www.akc.org/register/information/purebred-alternative-listing-pal/
  7. ↑ https://ckcusa.com/registration/canine-registration/paw-registration/
  8. ↑ https://ckcusa.com/registration/canine-registration/paw-registration/
  9. ↑ https://ckcusa.com/registration/canine-registration/paw-registration/
  1. ↑ https://ckcusa.com/registration/canine-registration/paw-registration/
  2. ↑ https://ckcusa.com/registration/canine-registration/paw-registration/
  3. ↑ https://www.akc.org/register/information/canine-partners/enroll/
  4. ↑ https://humanesocietyofmacomb.org/why-mutts-make-great-pets/
  5. ↑ https://www.akc.org/register/information/canine-partners/enroll/
  6. ↑ https://www.akc.org/register/information/canine-partners/enroll/
  7. ↑ Beverly Ulbrich. Dog Behaviorist & Trainer. Expert Interview. 30 January 2020.
  8. ↑ Beverly Ulbrich. Dog Behaviorist & Trainer. Expert Interview. 30 January 2020.

About This Article

Beverly Ulbrich
Co-authored by:
Beverly Ulbrich
Dog Behaviorist & Trainer
This article was co-authored by Beverly Ulbrich and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Criglow. Beverly Ulbrich is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Founder of The Pooch Coach, a private dog training business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. She has been voted the best private dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area 4 times by SF Chronicle and by Bay Woof, and she has won 4 "Top Dog Blog" awards. She has also been featured on TV as a dog behavior expert. Beverly has over 18 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. She has a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a BS from Rutgers University. This article has been viewed 25,919 times.
11 votes - 82%
Co-authors: 3
Updated: January 8, 2022
Views: 25,919
Categories: Dogs
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