The realities of the modern world teach that you cannot trust anyone’s word if there are no documents confirming these very words. If a dog breeder decides to have a purebred pet, then the first thing you need to worry about is the attached documents of the RKF - the only branch of the internationally recognized canine federation in Russia. It is these papers that will prove the purebred of the animal.
RKF documents are an important part of the deal when buying a purebred puppy
What is RKF in dogs?
If a dog breeder has the idea of getting a purebred puppy, it’s time to find out what the RKF documents for the dog are.
Determination of purebred dogs is carried out by specialized organizations, some of which are certified. The largest is the FCI or FCI; it is recognized not only throughout Russia, but also beyond its borders. The official representative in the Russian Federation is RKF - Russian Cynological Federation.
When there is a dialogue with the aim of purchasing a kitten, the seller is obliged to provide paper confirming the purebred of the dog.
All documents without the RKF seal are invalid. The buyer needs to ask direct questions; there is no need to doubt and be afraid of giving the impression of someone who does not know what they are talking about. A breeder who breeds in good faith will provide documents in a timely manner and prove their authenticity. Attention! Each country has its own specialized institutions. If someone tries to sell a puppy from a kennel with a document that is supposedly recognized in another country, you can be sure that it is a fake.
What could be the pedigree?
There is a Russian version, which is valid only within the country, and an export version - it will be useful for those who regularly export their pets abroad.
A sample of an export pedigree for a dog looks like this (the form below is filled out in English):
photo from website: possessingdonjite.blogspot.nl
What are documents for a dog, what should they be and why are they needed?
Documents confirming purebredness include the following papers:
- puppy card;
- pet examination report;
- the act of mating breeding dogs;
- veterinary passport of the pet;
- a certificate stating that the puppy comes from a family of purebred dogs; other names are metrics, puppy card or dog passport.
Additional Information! If a puppy has not reached six months of age, it cannot have a pedigree. If a breeder claims otherwise and tries to sell a dog under this age, we can safely conclude that he is lying.
What does the main set of documents look like?
Puppy metrics: what is it, what does a sample look like?
All purebred puppies born after a planned mating are issued a birth certificate (the card contains basic information about the dog, including its name).
Veterinary passport
It is issued by the dog handlers association or the kennel from which the dog was adopted. In addition to the metrics, the dog owner is required to:
- “Act of mating of a breeding dog” (contains the date of mating, conditions, information about the owner of the dog). The document is drawn up in 3 copies, 2 of which are transferred to the owners of the male and female, and 1 remains in the organization that registered the fact of mating;
- “Puppy inspection report” (breed qualities, color are described, and whether the dog’s external characteristics meet the requirements for a particular breed is indicated);
- originals and copies of pedigrees of RKF parents;
- diplomas from exhibitions (if the puppy’s parents exhibited);
- veterinary passport (contains information about vaccinations, microchipping, diseases and treatment).
Important! As soon as the dog turns 1 year and 3 months old, the owner applies to the Russian Canine Federation for a certificate of origin. If the dog is planned to be exported abroad, then all documents must be prepared in accordance with international standards
Why do ordinary dog breeders need a pedigree?
Pedigree puppies with documents are more expensive than others.
As mentioned earlier, only documents can confirm what people say and prove that they are telling the truth. That is why any dog breeder who wants to prove the true pure breed of their pet must provide documentation. If it is not there, then there can be no confidence in the words. Documents will help protect the honor of not only the pet, but also the owner.
In addition, any buyer of a dog that is passed off as a purebred will be interested in the documents before receiving it. After all, the fact is that such a pet will have a higher price. In order not to create problems and not to be deceived, he will take care in advance and make sure that certified documentation is available.
We must also not forget that only purebred dogs can participate in exhibitions and receive awards. Without supporting documents, the jury will not even look at the animal.
Breeding certificates
Such a document is issued to dogs with a purebred pedigree, with confirmation in the form of certificates of the absence of dysplasia and other joint anomalies, and necessarily after passing a breeding examination. Applicants over 9 months of age and meeting all the characteristics of the breed are subject to this procedure. To issue a breeding certificate, RKF specialists need to check the dog’s pedigree, make sure that all documents are available, that the exterior and working qualities comply with breed standards.
To do this, you need to get positive marks at certificate shows and during breeding inspections.
Why is the puppy first given a metric and not a full pedigree?
Among the documents for a dog, there is a metric that records the name of the pet, the date of its birth, the names and pedigree of the parents, all the numbers of the terminals and the necessary microchips. The club, certified by the RKF, issues this document immediately after birth to all puppies born to the dog.
It is important to understand that at the time the puppies are born, the parents must have their own pedigree so that this fact is recorded in the metric. Another name for this document is a puppy card.
Before the age of six months, it is difficult to check whether a puppy matches the purity of the breed and to determine disqualifying defects. Therefore, first a metric is issued, and only then a full pedigree, in which the class of the dog is recorded.
Who has the right to issue metrics?
Only the kennel club in which the female mother of the puppies was registered has the right to register. Also, a nursery that has undergone official registration may have the right to registration. In the second case, the document must be certified by the signature of the responsible person and the seal of the club.
A prerequisite for obtaining a card is the parents' permission to breed, and for this they must obtain official permission from the club. In a situation where the mating was carried out without the knowledge and permission of the club, the metric is not issued, since such mating is considered unscheduled and incorrect.
At what age do you need to change puppy metrics to pedigree?
After some time, it will be possible to exchange this document for an official pedigree. Registration can begin from the moment the puppy reaches six months of age. And the process must be completed before one year and three months have passed.
After the puppy receives the document, he will officially be able to:
- Participate in exhibitions from the age of fifteen months.
- Take part in competitions.
- The owner can use him in breeding.
What is a zero or registered pedigree?
If the pet does not have information about its ancestors, a zero pedigree is issued instead.
The list of documents may also contain a zero document if the owner does not know what the dog’s pedigree looks like. A similar paper is drawn up even if there is no information about the puppy’s parents, if there is no certificate.
Taking into account all the exterior data that is recorded at dog shows, the document is filled out. The difference lies in the fact that these pets cannot take part in breeding. The thing is that information about the ancestors, up to the seventh generation, was not given out.
Registration procedure
To get a puppy's certificate, you will have to go through the appropriate procedure. If you comply with all the requirements specified in the club’s conditions, then it will not take much time. The main condition is the availability of all documents and applications. In this case, the documents and application must be correctly drawn up and free of errors.
The first stage of registration is submitting an application for litter registration. To do this, you must have a document confirming that the mating was carried out with the permission of the club in which the mother of the puppies is registered. This document is called a mating permit.
The following condition is the presence of a certificate of breeding inspection of the parents before mating. Also, both parents must have all the necessary vaccinations, which is reflected in their veterinary records.
In addition, the owner of the dog must inform the club that he has no claims against the owners of the bitch and that all agreements have been respected.
The bitch must have a record card for all her litters.
It is also worth mentioning that only those children who have been examined and have not been rejected are allowed to receive a card.
If all of the above conditions are met, then the kennel club issues a puppy for each individual admitted for registration. At the same time, the breeder must apply an advisory mark to each pet at his own expense. This is done in a veterinary clinic. after which the stamp numbers are placed on the cards. They allow you to verify the authenticity of the document and also prevent the sale of another puppy using someone else’s card.
You can also subject your children to microchipping (optional), which must be indicated on the card.
Important! When receiving a metric, you should check it for errors directly at the club in order to avoid misunderstandings later.
How to get a pedigree
SKOR is another canine organization in Russia.
After the owner has found out what RKF is in dogs, all that remains is to fill out a package of papers. All questions about how to obtain documents for a dog can be clarified with official representatives in Russia. As soon as you find out the coordinates of the nearest branch, you can visit them or contact them by phone or Internet.
The entire process will take Muscovites a little less than a month, while nonresidents will have to wait about three months for it to be ready. All you need is a pet card, all the information in which will help you draw up a pedigree. You will also need a litter inspection certificate and a breeding card of the puppy's parent. RKF representatives will issue document forms upon registration.
There is also an option to do this through the club in which the pet is registered, you just need to write an application. If this is an official representative of the RKF, he will easily organize the process without making the life of the owner difficult. Once the pedigree is ready, the dog breeder will be able to receive an official document.
Attention! Many people are interested in the question of what SCOR documents for a dog are - these are papers from another domestic canine organization. The Union of the Russian Canine Association is recognized only in the CIS, which blocks the owner’s path to exhibitions on a European scale.
Pedigree
To obtain a pedigree for a dog, you must contact the Russian Canine Federation, since kennel clubs and dog breeders’ associations do not issue such documentation. By the way, here you can also check the dog’s pedigree based on entries in the VERK - the All-Russian Unified Pedigree Book.
This document confirms that the animal fully complies with the breed standard, has pure roots without blood impurities, that is, it is a purebred offspring of its ancestors on the maternal and paternal lines.
How to make and receive a pedigree for a dog from the RKF?
To register a dog’s pedigree, several conditions and requirements must be met:
- the pet must be 6 months old;
- it must not be older than 15 months;
- the owner and the animal must be members of one of the kennel clubs, or the puppy must be taken from an official kennel. At the same time, clubs, federations and nurseries must be members of the RKF;
- from the first weeks of life, you need to make documents for the dog - puppy registration and veterinary passport;
- if the dog is an adult and has already participated in exhibitions and has certain differences, then it must have certificates of title assignment, which are included in the pedigree.
Upon reaching six months, the puppy’s metric can be exchanged at the canine center, federation, kennel club and receive a pedigree for the dog at the RKF. This can be done directly in the Russian Cynological Federation itself or in clubs and centers that are its members.
The document is issued after payment for RKF services, upon presentation of the receipt. At the same time, the metric is handed in, and the tear-off coupon from it remains with the dog’s owner.
Two pedigree options
Before registering a dog and receiving the necessary documents for it, you will have to choose one of the options for obtaining a pedigree:
- Certificate of origin of a single sample - this form is issued in English and Russian. Holders of such a document have the right to participate in international exhibitions and national exhibitions. This certificate confirms the right to use the dog for breeding. And if such a pedigree standard is available, the dog can be assigned all exhibition titles and issued certificates of national and international format. Such a pedigree indicates absolutely all information about the animal - name, date of birth, gender, color, owner data, titles, brand number and letter code, pedigree numbers of ancestors, test results.
Certificate of origin of the new sample (Rkf.org.ru)
- Certificate of registration of the dog in the All-Russian Unified Pedigree Book. If such a pedigree is available, a dog with an RKF passport has prospects only on a national scale: participation in domestic exhibitions, obtaining national titles and certificates. Such individuals do not participate in breeding activities, and their offspring cannot be registered in the records of the VERK.
New sample registration certificate (Rkf.org.ru)
To make a pedigree for a dog using one of the two available options, you must contact the management of the local canine center, dog breeding federation or dog breeding club, which are members of the Russian Canine Federation. The owner submits a written application, which is immediately accepted for consideration. You can find out whether a cynological organization belongs to such membership from the unified register on the RKF website.
The application must be accompanied by one more document – the puppy’s birth certificate. If you request a pedigree for a puppy purchased from one of the breeders in the RKF system, you will also need a veterinary passport received from the nursery along with the birth certificate.
Registration of a pedigree without metrics
In the event that before receiving the dog and after that the owner did not take care of issuing the metric, certain difficulties may arise with the registration of the pedigree. But there is no reason to panic if the puppy has a mark on its ear, which confirms the dog’s purebredness.
Important! Another document that can help replace a metric is an expert assessment. If available, the owner will be issued a registration document.
As soon as all the documents are provided and the puppy is six months old, all information about the litter will be in the RKF, the registration process will begin and will not distract the owner from necessary matters.
How to make a pedigree for a dog: preparing documents for your pet
photo from website: elitkovka.ru
The document issued by the RKF can be obtained by Moscow residents at the organization’s office, which is open on weekdays from 10 am to 6 pm. For those who live in other cities of Russia, all that remains is to negotiate with the owners of the nursery or club. They send the necessary information by courier for a fee.
For Muscovites, the entire process will take 4 weeks, for nonresidents – up to 3 months. Here's how to register and receive a dog's pedigree in the RKF. The owners are only required to provide the necessary document - a card, which is given to the owner of the animal when purchasing it from a nursery or private club.
How to restore a pedigree if it has been lost
If the owner has lost his pedigree, there are several options for how to restore it. To do this, the owner must:
- ask the breeder for a copy of the document;
- the breeder independently contacts the FCI, where a copy of the document will be made.
In the event that information about the breeder is unknown, for restoration you will need a brand or a pet card, which is issued at the exhibition. As soon as the RKF stamp number is reported, the organization’s employees will describe in detail the algorithm of actions.
How much does a dog's pedigree cost?
To obtain accurate information, please visit the RKF website. The registration period depends on the amount the owner is willing to pay. The standard procedure takes at least 15 days, but the expedited procedure is completed in 1 day. The average price ranges between 1 and 2 thousand rubles for citizens of the Russian Federation and between 3 and 4 thousand rubles* for foreigners (Belarus, neighboring countries). It all depends on the timing.
At the exhibition
International veterinary passport
A veterinary passport is a small brochure of international standard, which records the vaccinations and necessary procedures throughout the pet’s life in order to protect against parasites. On the first page you can find key information about the puppy.
Additional Information! A special chip is also attached to the first page. The pet's number is stored on it.
What is recorded in the veterinary passport:
- what vaccinations and vaccinations were administered to the pet’s body;
- what treatment measures were taken, whether the absence of dysplasia was checked;
- if the animal was microchipped, what is the chip number;
- whether the pet has a mark, which is very important for traveling abroad.
They begin processing the passport from the moment the dog was first vaccinated. All details related to appearance and origin are included in the document. These are mostly depicted as stickers.
The main thing you need to know is that any clinic has the right to issue this passport. It in no way confirms the purebred of the pet. The key purpose of creating a passport is to document the fact that the pet is not dangerous to others and that it itself is not in danger of illness or danger. If the owner does not obtain this passport in a timely manner, he will not have the opportunity to travel abroad.
Puppy metric (“puppy”)
To obtain a pedigree, it is necessary to present the so-called “puppy” - this is how dog handlers and dog owners call the puppy’s metric. This form is a kind of equivalent of a birth certificate for people. It is issued when the puppy reaches the age of 45 days and only after examination and evaluation by a dog handler.
Puppy metrics (kazvet.ru)
This document contains key information about the puppy:
- breed;
- nickname;
- Date of Birth;
- information about the breeder;
- data on origin - about both parents and place of birth;
- floor;
- color
Such a document is drawn up by the breeder himself, and all the hassle and expenses associated with this procedure fall solely on the shoulders of the nursery. Such a “puppy” for a dog is provided when it is necessary to make a pedigree for the dog at the kennel club.
The metric is filled out in Russian and English.
List of documents for taking a dog abroad
In order to take your pet abroad, you need to provide a list of documents. The key paper is certificate No. 1, issued by the State Veterinary Service.
This document is issued if the dog has:
- Veterinary passport.
- The owner has a dog breeder's passport.
- The pet has a chip, the owner has a certificate with him confirming this fact.
- The dog is provided for examination by the service.
In addition to the first certificate, you need to have an international pet passport and a certificate issued in Form 5a. The latter is needed to visit Europe. You need to worry about documents and their execution at least three days before departure or trip.
Note! Some customs officers may require another certificate. This is a document confirming that your pet does not have rabies.
What documents are needed to register a litter?
In order to register a litter, you will need:
- An inspection report of puppies with the obligatory indication of the date of birth of the babies, the date of inspection, the presence or absence of rejected individuals or pets that were left for review.
- Application for litter registration. The address of the nursery is indicated here, as well as the signature of the owner.
- Litter cards of the puppies' parents.
- Direction for mating, about which a corresponding entry must be made in the general litter registration card.
Read How to take a dog abroad: 3 basic documents for hassle-free travel
What document is required to participate in international exhibitions?
In order for your pet to be able to take part in an international exhibition, you must first find the first competition. As soon as the owner finds it, you can start processing the documents.
What you will need:
- microchipping a dog;
- make a metric;
- for adult pets - complete a pedigree;
- certificate according to sample No. 1;
- veterinary passport.
It would be advisable to make copies of documents, which you can also take with you to the exhibition
How to distinguish fake from real papers
Some owners decide to act in bad faith and sell a fake purebred dog to another person. To avoid falling for scammers, it is important to remember the following:
- On the metric, it is important to check the authenticity of all RKF seals. Each document is recorded with a specific set of numbers, which RKF stores in its database. To make sure, you can contact them.
- All RKF documents will be laminated. If the seller claims that this is not necessary or begins to come up with excuses, you should think about the veracity of his words. A sample of documents can also be found on the official website of the organization. In case of discrepancy with what the seller provides, the purchase of this dog should also be refused.
- It is important to study the veterinary passport, and if you don’t have it, ask for one.
- It is advisable not to purchase purebred pets from someone else if the owner wants to start making money at exhibitions. If there is no such goal, then even a simple mongrel, not a husky or a puppy of another dog breed, can become a good companion and a true friend.
It is important to remember that RKF documents are an important component when purchasing a purebred dog. All papers confirming the purebred of the pet are a guarantee of participation in exhibitions and the absence of problems when breeding the breed. When purchasing a dog, the future owner must remember this, otherwise he may find himself in an awkward situation when he is deceived by scammers.
Why do dogs need documents?
When buying a purebred dog (puppy), it is advisable to ask the owners for help with paperwork for it, and check whether they themselves have them. Many owners, including dogs with a good pedigree, do not understand how to obtain a pedigree for a dog, or why they need any papers. After all, animals do not make any decisions on their own; they cannot break the rules, for example, of the road.
Dog metric
But documents are really necessary and are not a whim of the state:
- if the exact age and breed of the puppy are known, you can find out in advance about all the problems associated with raising this breed (genetic diseases are inherited);
- Some mongrels in their early stages have an external resemblance to purebred dogs. Documents that indicate the puppy’s parents and the time of his birth help to avoid deception;
- If the dog does not have a pedigree or is not registered, then it will not be possible to exhibit it in various competitions.
If they buy a pet for themselves, do not plan to export it abroad, or crossbreed it in order to obtain purebred puppies for sale, then there is no need to worry about how to make a pedigree for the dog. But it is advisable to go to a veterinary clinic with the seller before purchasing. This will help protect you from purchasing a sick dog.
