How to check a dog's pedigree: the easiest ways

December 22, 2019
Dogs and hunting with them
Ekaterina Gordeeva

Once upon a time there was a man who dreamed of a dog with all his soul. Only this person was sincerely perplexed: what is the difference between dogs from elite nurseries and the most ordinary ones bought at the “bird” market or through an advertisement on the Internet? Why pay more for a puppy when you can get it cheaper?

And one day a man bought a dog from an advertisement. Together with the pet, the owner was given a small piece of paper with a seal, explaining that this was a real pedigree. But over time, it turned out that our hero was “cheated”, his dog was a cross between a “bulldog and a rhinoceros”, and his pedigree was “fake”.

Due to the fact that such situations occur quite often in everyday life, the question arises: how to check the pedigree of a dog? This is what we will talk about.

Pedigree is...

When planning to get a puppy, it is worth studying not only the characteristics of the desired breed, but also the nurseries that sell its representatives. Why nurseries with their sky-high prices? Yes, because when buying a puppy there, the owner will receive a real pedigree and will not find himself in the situation described above. It is unlikely that such an owner will have to think about how to check the dog’s pedigree in the future.

Let's start with the very concept of "pedigree". This is a document confirming the purebred of the animal. There are several types of pedigrees.

Where do dog pedigrees come from?

Born from a purebred male and female, a puppy that does not have developmental defects or deviations from breed standards is purebred. This is confirmed by an official document - a pedigree. A kind of family tree - a pedigree - does not guarantee the suitability of a particular dog for service, training, or performing assigned tasks or work. The pedigree only indicates that the puppy was obtained through the breeding line, and there are no other impurities in its “blood”.

Such an official document is necessary in order to gain access to matings, participation in specially organized exhibitions, and further registration of the dog, if the owner wishes, in a dog club of a certain breed. The confirmed origin of the puppy and its purebred allows the offspring obtained from it to be sold at a higher price, which is invariably more profitable for professional breeders.

It is worth noting that getting access to breeding even a purebred puppy with a dog that has a good pedigree is not so easy. A male or female dog that is planned to be used in the future to produce purebred offspring, in addition to its pedigree, must participate in special dog shows, taking prizes at least 2 times.

Regular breeding examinations and passing tests for disciplines appropriate for a particular breed are also mandatory. This is necessary to confirm the working and physical qualities of an individual animal. Puppies will be valued higher, their cost will be higher if the parents are of high rank.

Changes and strict compliance with breed criteria are monitored by specialists from cynological federations and clubs.

Types of pedigrees

We'll talk about how to check a dog's pedigree a little later. Now it’s worth considering the types of this document:

An international pedigree is required to take a dog abroad. As a rule, such a document is needed for foreign exhibitions, matings and traveling with your pet.
RKF pedigree is the most common option. RKF is the Russian Cynological Federation, in which nurseries engaged in breeding one or another breed are registered. The presence of the RKF pedigree confirms the purebred of the pet.
Pedigree SKOR (Union of Cynological Organizations of Russia). Often, newbie dog lovers have a question: why are SKOR dogs worse than RKF dogs? The fact is that the RKF does not recognize pedigrees obtained from SKOR, therefore dogs from there are prohibited from taking part in exhibitions held under the auspices of the RKF. And SKOR dogs are much simpler in appearance than RKF dogs. To get a SCOR pedigree, it is enough to take the animal to a couple of exhibitions and get positive marks.

What is a puppy card and how is it different from a pedigree?

Before the puppies are 2 weeks old, the breeder notifies the Belarusian Cynological Association (member of the FCI - International Cynological Federation) about their birth. At the age of 30 - 60 days, puppies are examined by experts or the head of the club (if the club does not have BKO experts). Before sale, puppies are branded or microchipped. If the puppy was sold before being examined by an expert, a pedigree will not be issued for it.

Each puppy is given a puppy card. This is not a pedigree. In Western Europe, a puppy card contains information about 3 generations of ancestors. The puppy cards issued by BKO indicate the name of the puppy itself and the names of the parents, without mentioning more distant ancestors.

The breeder gives the puppy a nickname before examination by an expert. In one litter, all nicknames begin with the same letter and should not be longer than two words. All puppies in the litter must have different names.

The breeder may provide a puppy card or pedigree with the puppy. If you are issued a puppy card, it will be exchanged for a pedigree before the dog is 12 months old. The pedigree is drawn up by the BKO (at the request of the club in which the breeder is a member) and issued by the breeder. Often information about pedigrees is presented on nursery websites.

The breeder enters the surname and initials of the new owner and his address into the pedigree.

Obtaining a pedigree

Before you think about how to check a dog's pedigree, you need to understand how to get it.

The pedigree is obtained through the breeder after the dog reaches 15 months of age. Before this, the main document is the “puppy card” - a kind of pet birth certificate. Once the animal reaches the stated age, the “puppy” changes to pedigree.

By appearance

How to check the authenticity of a dog's pedigree? If the owner holds a document of a certain type in his hands, then he can be sure that the pedigree is real. It's all about the hologram and watermarks, which are noticeable upon closer inspection of the pedigree, as well as in the profile image of the greyhound.

Let's talk a little about deciphering the RKF pedigree. In the center are the dog's details: name, breed, date of birth, brand, color, breeder and owner. The document must contain information about the pedigree and its serial number in the RKF.

Under the numbers “1” and “2” are the dog’s father and mother, followed by grandparents, great-grandparents.

Decoding the dog's pedigree

The dog's pedigree externally represents a field divided into 3 parts. The middle part consists of information about the dog itself: the pedigree number of the dog registered in the RKF, the number of the brand (chip) assigned to the dog in the All-Russian Book of the RKF, information about the owner who got the puppy, and the current one. If after the dog’s registration number there is a letter “P” or “R” - “Register”, then the dog is not purebred.

At the top of the form, information about paternal ancestors is indicated: nickname, color, champion regalia. At the bottom there is the same information about the mother.

There are numbers on the form. They mean the following:

1—the name of your dog's father.
2 is the name of your dog's mother.
3 is the nickname of the paternal grandfather.
4 is the nickname of the paternal grandmother.
5 is the nickname of the maternal grandfather.
6 is the nickname of the maternal grandmother.
7 is the nickname of the paternal grandfather's great-grandfather.
8 is the nickname of the paternal grandfather's great-grandmother.
9 is the nickname of the paternal grandmother's great-grandfather.
10 is the nickname of the paternal grandmother's great-grandmother.
11—the nickname of the maternal grandfather's great-grandfather.
12—the nickname of the maternal grandfather’s great-grandmother.
13 is the nickname of the maternal grandmother's great-grandfather.
14 is the cry of the great-grandmother of the maternal grandmother.

According to the application to the RKF

Is it possible to check the pedigree of a dog (RKF) using the brand number? We will talk about this below. Now let’s talk about such a moment as an application to the specified organization.

Attention! An application can be written only if the pet has the RKF mark, otherwise the owner will be denied consideration of his application.

The application can be submitted electronically on the official website of the RKF, but it is better to go to the organization and write it in person. Of course, this option is only suitable for residents of Moscow and the surrounding Moscow region. RKF is located at:

Moscow, st. Gostinichnaya, 9.

How to check a dog's pedigree: the easiest ways

December 22, 2019
Dogs and hunting with them
Ekaterina Gordeeva

Due to the fact that such situations occur quite often in everyday life, the question arises: how to check the pedigree of a dog? This is what we will talk about.

Pedigree is...

Let's start with the very concept of “pedigree”. This is a document confirming the purebred of the animal. There are several types of pedigrees.

Types of pedigrees

We'll talk about how to check a dog's pedigree a little later. Now it’s worth considering the types of this document:

An international pedigree is required to take a dog abroad. As a rule, such a document is needed for foreign exhibitions, matings and traveling with your pet.
RKF pedigree is the most common option. RKF is the Russian Cynological Federation, in which nurseries engaged in breeding one or another breed are registered. The presence of the RKF pedigree confirms the purebred of the pet.
Pedigree SKOR (Union of Cynological Organizations of Russia). Often, newbie dog lovers have a question: why are SKOR dogs worse than RKF dogs? The fact is that the RKF does not recognize pedigrees obtained from SKOR, therefore dogs from there are prohibited from taking part in exhibitions held under the auspices of the RKF. And SKOR dogs are much simpler in appearance than RKF dogs. To get a SCOR pedigree, it is enough to take the animal to a couple of exhibitions and get positive marks.

Obtaining a pedigree

Before you think about how to check a dog's pedigree, you need to understand how to get it.

Pedigree check

Unfortunately, doubts about the purebred of an animal are not so rare, especially when the pet was purchased not from a professional nursery, but second-hand. How is the pedigree of a dog checked if it is given to the owner?

Let's start with the fact that there are several ways:

By the appearance of the pedigree.
According to a statement to the RKF.
By stamp number.

Now let's take a closer look at each method.

By appearance

Under the numbers “1” and “2” are the dog’s father and mother, followed by grandparents, great-grandparents.

According to the application to the RKF

Is it possible to check the pedigree of a dog (RKF) using the brand number? We will talk about this below. Now let’s talk about such a moment as an application to the specified organization.

Attention! An application can be written only if the pet has the RKF mark, otherwise the owner will be denied consideration of his application.

Moscow, st. Gostinichnaya, 9.

Checking via the Internet

How to check a dog's pedigree number? Many beginners wonder whether it is possible to do this via the Internet, especially since there are a great many positive answers to this question.

In fact, it is impossible to check a dog’s pedigree (RKF) by number via the Internet.

It’s scary to imagine what will happen if an organization makes all dog data publicly available, because dishonest people can easily take advantage of it.

By brand

How to check a dog's pedigree by brand? It's not that easy, but it's quite possible. There are two ways:

Directly in the RKF itself.
Via the Internet on special sites dedicated to certain breeds.

If you need to check the pedigree of a dog using the brand number through the RKF, you can call this organization, provide the brand and ask for the pedigree number. This method exists, but rarely leads to positive results.

It is much easier and more effective to check the pedigree of a pet using the brand via the Internet. There are a great many websites - databases that contain information about representatives of a particular breed, and indicate nurseries in whose stud books these animals are registered.

If you find a dog on the street

So we found out how to check the pedigree of a dog by the number (RKF) of the mark. One of the easiest ways is a database available on the Internet. Therefore, if you find a purebred (at first glance) dog on the street, first of all you need to examine it for the presence of a brand. For large dogs, it is usually placed in the ear or on the stomach. For small breeds - only on the stomach.

What is a brand?

Usually the brand is the first three letters of the name of the kennel, followed by the serial number of the dog.

This serial number is entered into the pedigree, and the pet receives it at birth from the breeder. The breeder registers the newborn puppy in the nursery's stud book, recording its serial number.

For example, if the puppy is the 200th born in this kennel, then its number will be “200”.

An example of a nursery brand: LIN 123. We have found out what the numbers and letters mean.

“Breaking through” the stigma

You now know how to check a dog’s pedigree using the brand number. After this mark is found on the animal, go to the Internet and type the following words in the search bar: “kennel mark”, then its letters.

We are looking for owners

You are lucky, the dog has a mark, and we managed to find out which kennel your find came from. The next step is simpler: we find the website of this nursery and the phone number of the breeder, call him and find out who the owners of the animal are.

If you advertise online that you have found a dog, be careful. “Owners” will come running for free, many want to take a purebred pet “for free,” but you are not a mistake either. Ask potential owners to check the dog's name and brand number.

What if there is no mark?

Unfortunately, such cases are not uncommon. Another possible option for checking a dog’s pedigree (RKF) by number is going to a veterinary clinic and identifying the chip. The chip is implanted under the skin of the animal and carries information about the nursery where it was purchased.

A little about SKOR pets

Do you need to check the pedigree of a dog registered with SKOR? In fact, there are much more problems with such animals than with those registered in the RKF. Why? Yes, because SKOR has simplified requirements for obtaining pedigrees for its dogs, unlike the Russian Cynological Federation.

But this is a small digression. In order to check information about the dog's pedigree number in SCOR, you must follow the verification algorithm in RKF. The ideal option would be to search for the mark in the appropriate database, contact the breeder and subsequently the owner of the animal. But this is the case when we are talking about a found dog.

Problems when checking pedigree

Who will provide passport data to a stranger? The same is true with the pedigree; it is easier to check the data on an animal by brand than to check the dog’s pedigree using the RKF number. After all, each such document has a specific number assigned to the animal in a given organization.

If, of course, the nursery where the dog was born is registered with the RKF.

If there's nothing

What to do when you find a dog on the street, but there is no mark or chip? Moreover, it is clear that the animal is purebred, as evidenced by its exterior, but it is impossible to check the presence of a pedigree and find out which kennel the dog is from. In this case, it will not be possible to check the pedigree; you will have to look for the owners in other ways.

One option is to post about the found dog on social networks, taking several photos of the animal. It is advisable to post this post in local city public pages (groups), as well as on free city bulletin boards. You just have to be vigilant, because you never know who will want to introduce themselves as the owner.

In correspondence or telephone conversation with the owner, be sure to ask for the animal’s name, age, and special features. The owner wants to come pick up the dog? Very cool, just let him take his passports with him, both his own and the veterinarian’s. Isn't there any of this? To no, as they say, there is no trial.

What if the owner threatens to write a statement to the police, considering the person who found the dog guilty of stealing it? If there are no documents confirming that the animal is the property of this person, the latter will not be able to do anything. Be that as it may, a dog is property, and property requires certain documents. In our case, a pedigree indicating the initials of the owner.

If your dog is missing

Be prepared for the fact that those who find them will ask for a certain reward for the capture and maintenance of the animal. Of course, you can be indignant, and even contact the police, but anything can happen in life, and there are no guarantees that the dog will not disappear again. And then, if the animal is found by the same people, everything can turn out very badly.

So prepare a reward, the animal’s pedigree, your passport and name the distinctive features of the dog, its name and age.

Why do you need a pedigree at all?

First of all, in order to have proof of the purebred dog and its belonging to a certain breed. Pedigree is not a panacea for all ills; there are dogs from good kennels with an excellent pedigree, but a problematic psyche. However, this document gives at least some kind of guarantee to the owner.

The second point is what is described above. Pedigree is the main canine document. If an animal is lost or stolen, it will be much easier to return the pet. Dogs registered with the RKF must have a mark, which can be used to identify the nursery where the animal was taken from, contact the owner and return the pet to him.

Summing up

Now you have a clear idea of what this document is, its pedigree, what it is needed for and how to check its availability.

When getting an animal, do not skimp on acquiring a pedigree. Yes, it costs money, but not that much. Oh yes, the puppy card changes to a pedigree when the animal reaches 15 months of age, it's worth remembering.

By brand

How to check a dog's pedigree by brand? It's not that easy, but it's quite possible. There are two ways:

Directly in the RKF itself.
Via the Internet on special sites dedicated to certain breeds.

In accordance with the requirements of the RKF, the Puppy Metrics (Puppy Card), issued by the kennel, are exchanged for a pedigree only by representatives of clubs that are part of the RKF structure.

The price of a puppy from our kennel includes the service of registration of the first version of the pedigree - a CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION OF THE DOG IN THE RKF Verktser.

This procedure usually takes about a month from the moment the litter is registered with the RKF.

At the owner’s request, we can issue a second version of the pedigree for an additional fee of 3,000 rubles (in accordance with the prices for RKF services).

The pedigree of the Russian Canine Federation (RKF) is a document confirming that your dog is purebred and that it is registered in the All-Russian Unified Pedigree Book (VERK), that is, it is an extract from the VERK RKF. This document also states that you are the owner of this dog.

Information about Pedigrees on the RKF website (https://rkf.org.ru/rodoslovnye)

The Russian Canine Federation has decided to issue new breeding documents (Pedigrees) for dogs born on June 1, 2019, starting December 1, 2022. All old-style Pedigrees are valid indefinitely.

The new Pedigree form (extracts from the Verkhovna Rada of the Russian Federation) is issued in two versions.

First option.

CERTIFICATE OF DOG REGISTRATION IN VERK RKF.

It is issued in two languages (Russian and English) and contains the following information: registration number, dog breed, dog name, date of birth, gender, letter code and brand number, microchip number, color, surname, name and registration address of the breeder, surname, first name and the registration address of the dog's owner and about one generation of its ancestors (with pedigree numbers, full names, titles, working tests, health test results).

This version of the pedigree gives the right to participate in zootechnical events (exhibitions, competitions, etc.) at the national level and to obtain national titles. Does not give the right to participate in breeding. It is not a basis for registering a dog in the stud book of another country (in the event of the owner leaving for permanent residence abroad or transferring the dog into the possession of a foreign citizen).

In the upper right corner of the document there is a QR code, which makes it possible to view an electronic copy of the document in the Verk RKF database. (QR code explanations for pedigrees).

Sample Certificate of registration of a dog in the Verkhovna Rada of the Russian Federation

Second option

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN OF A SINGLE SAMPLE - extract from the Verkhovna Rada of Verkhovna RKF.

It is issued in two languages (Russian and English) and contains the following information: registration number, dog breed, dog name, date of birth, gender, letter code and brand number, microchip number, color, surname, name and registration address of the breeder, surname, first name and the registration address of the dog's owner, basic information about three generations of the dog's ancestors (pedigree numbers, full names, titles, working tests, health test results).

Such a pedigree gives the right to participate in any zootechnical events (exhibitions, competitions, etc.) in Russia and abroad, to obtain any national and international titles. If the necessary admission conditions are met, a dog with such a pedigree can be used in breeding.

In case of transfer of a dog into the possession of a foreign citizen, the mark “Export” is affixed to the Certificate of Origin of a single sample.

In the upper right corner of the document there is a QR code, which makes it possible to view an electronic copy of the document in the Verk RKF database. ( QR Code Explanations for Pedigrees).

Sample Certificate of Origin of a single sample

If you find a dog on the street

So we found out how to check the pedigree of a dog by the number (RKF) of the mark. One of the easiest ways is a database provided on the Internet. Therefore, if you find a purebred (at first glance) dog on the street, first of all you need to examine it for the presence of a brand. For large dogs, it is usually placed in the ear or on the stomach. For small breeds - only on the stomach.

How to restore a pedigree if it has been lost

Restoring a dog’s pedigree can be important for various reasons. If all the documents were completed on time and correctly, then the easiest thing to do is contact RKF. The application must indicate the dog's name, brand number and information about the breeder. You should also attach photocopies of the owner’s passport and puppy’s registration certificate (if it is still available). If the pedigree number has been saved, you should indicate it. The local canine organization can advise you on dog branding.

If you lose your puppy's registration certificate, you should also contact the local kennel club that registered the litter. There they can issue a duplicate of the puppy's metric, which can then be exchanged at the RKF for a pedigree.

A caring owner thinks about the dog. Timely and competently received documents allow you to take part in exhibitions, carry out registered matings of purebred dogs and take an active part in the life of cynological organizations, both Russian and international.

What is a brand?

Usually the brand is the first three letters of the name of the kennel, followed by the serial number of the dog. This serial number is entered into the pedigree, and the pet receives it at birth from the breeder. The breeder registers the newborn puppy in the nursery's stud book, recording its serial number. For example, if the puppy is the 200th born in this kennel, then its number will be “200”.

An example of a nursery brand: LIN 123. We have found out what the numbers and letters mean.

What information is contained in a dog's pedigree?

Pedigrees that are recognized by the FCI contain a minimum of 3 generations of ancestors. This is a kind of family tree, which confirms that the puppy’s ancestors (in three generations) belonged to the same breed.

After examination, the expert can put a stamp “not for breeding use” on the pedigree if the puppy does not meet the standard (missing teeth, incorrect bite, non-standard color, kinked tail, etc.)

Failure to meet the standard is not a death sentence for a puppy. He may be a wonderful pet, but he won't be a show star or a proud parent. But the dog should not bear signs of genetic deformity that is incompatible with health and vital functions. In case of unacceptable deviations and deformities, neither a puppy card nor a pedigree will be issued.

We are looking for owners

A little about SKOR pets

How much does a dog's pedigree cost?

Exact information about the price for a pedigree can be found on the official Russian Canine Federation.

As of June 1, 2022, the following prices for the production of certificates are established:

Production of certificates for working qualities, kerkarts, certificates of passing a breeding inspection within 15 days 1,000 ₽
Production of certificates for working qualities, kerkarts, certificates of passing a breeding inspection within 2 hours 2,000 ₽
Production of certificates for ED dysplasia, HD dysplasia, patella, etc. within 2 months 1,000 ₽

Problems when checking pedigree

Alas, representatives of the RKF and other cynological organizations often refuse to provide information about the dog’s pedigree. This is not surprising, since the pedigree is the main document, which, if translated into human language, is the animal’s passport. Who will provide passport data to a stranger? The same is true with the pedigree; it is easier to check the data on an animal by brand than to check the dog’s pedigree using the RKF number. After all, each such document has a specific number assigned to the animal in a given organization. If, of course, the nursery where the dog was born is registered with the RKF.

What is Ingrus?

On the website ingrus.net >78 databases have been created, to which >1,800,000 dogs have been added! Attendance >22,000un.

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If there's nothing

In correspondence or telephone conversation with the owner, be sure to ask for the animal’s name, age, and special features. The owner wants to come pick up the dog? Very cool, just let him take his passports with him, both his own and the veterinarian’s. Isn't there any of this? To no, as they say, there is no trial.

How to find a dog's owner?

If you find a dog and it has a mark, then you can use it to obtain information about the animal and find the owners. Now you can do it yourself.

To find the owner you need:

1. Go to the page https://rkf.online/base-search

2. In the “Information about found dogs” field, enter the first three letters of the brand (code). For example, AAA, BBB and so on. Only Latin letters. Click on “Search”.

If the brand is registered in the RKF database, you will receive information about the Club that registered the animal. You can go there for complete information about the dog.

If your dog is missing

So prepare a reward, the animal’s pedigree, your passport and name the distinctive features of the dog, its name and age.

Is it possible to adopt a dog without documents?

If documents

you can
still buy it .
For example, when the owner simply needs a friend. In this case, the breed will not matter much. To become a family pet, a dog
does not have to have a pedigree and documents; it can even be conditionally purebred.

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Why do you need a pedigree at all?

Features of the design of a zero pedigree

If there is no mark and it is impossible to restore the puppy card, you can try to issue a so-called zero (register) pedigree. The process is lengthy and requires financial expenses.

It will be necessary to take part in at least 3 exhibitions, collect a package of relevant documents for them, then obtain the opinions of 3 independent experts in order to find out whether the animal meets the requirements of this breed. You can apply to the RKF for registration of a zero pedigree. It is important to know that it allows you to take part in exhibitions in the Russian Federation and receive diplomas, but the dog will not be able to receive the title of Champion.

Read Why puppies are branded and how it happens