FAQ - Pedigrees & Registrations

What is a pedigree?

A pedigree is essentially a birth certificate for your dog showing the 3 generation family tree and also proves that your dog is in fact a purebred. 

Dogs Australia Certified pedigrees are also recognised pedigrees with the state government and local councils for the purpose or cheaper registration and desexing exemptions.

There are two different types of Certified Pedigrees–Main Register Pedigree (blue certificate) and the Limited Register pedigree (orange certificate).

Read more about the different registers and Dogs Australia (ANKC) Certified Pedigrees by clicking here

 

I’ve lost my dog's pedigree certificate, what can I do?

If you have lost your pedigree, you can apply for a duplicate certificate by completing a Duplicate request form. As this form includes a statutory declaration that must be signed in front of a witness, it is not possible to email or fax the completed form - the original must be sent to the Dogs Victoria Office.

A duplicate can only be requested by the current registered owner recorded on the Dogs Australia database. 

As only one pedigree certificate can be in circulation at any time, it isn't possible to order a n additional copy.

 

Can I get a pedigree if my dog hasn’t been registered by a breeder of Dogs Victoria?

Pedigree certificates or 'papers' are issued by Dogs Victoria when the registered breeder of the litter completes and submits a litter registration.  This usually occurs following the pups being microchipped (from approx 6-8 weeks of age).

The Dogs Victoria Regulations require all litters to be registered by time the pups are 3 months of age. 
Note: there are special circumstances where a litter may be registered with Management Committee approval after this time, however this only extends to 18 months after the whelping date.

Your puppy/dog will not be eligible for pedigree papers if:

• The Breeder of the litter is not a Dogs Victoria (or state body equivalent) 'breeder member' with a current/financial Breeding prefix.
• The parents of the litter are not registered pedigree purebred dogs of the same breed. 
• The litter was not registered within the required timeframe.

If your dog doesn’t have a pedigree certificate or is not eligible for one, you can still apply to have them registered on the Associate Register. Please find application for Associate Register dog here. 

Associate Register dogs are eligible to compete in a variety of dog sports, however they are not eligible for breeding and must be de-sexed prior to registration.  

 

What is the Associate Register and how can I register my dog?

The Associate Register is open to any dog that doesn’t hold a Dogs Australia certified pedigree - this refers to an unpapered or mixed breed dog.

Associate register dogs are able to compete in a wide variety of Dog Sport events.

To register your dog on the Associate Register you can either apply online or by downloading the appropriate form off our website. These forms can be found here.

 

What is the Sporting Register and how can I register my dog?

A dog that is registered with a Dogs Australia recognised organisation that caters for Working, Sporting or Performance Dogs may be registered on the Sporting Register.

A list of all recognised Kindred bodies can be found here.

A certified copy of the dog’s registration, issued by the recognised body, must be provided, which indicates the applicant as the registered owner, with a residential address in the state of the Member Body to whom the application is being submitted.    

The application for Sporting Register dog can be found here. 

What if I need to correct the colour of the dog, microchip or date of birth on the pedigree?

All changes are required to be made by the breeder, and a statutory declaration is required to be lodged with the affected pedigree.

If a change affects the whole litter or multiple dogs, ALL pedigrees will be required to be returned to the office for correction together with the statutory declaration. 

There is a reprint fee per pedigree, and all affected pedigree certificates must be lodged with the state controlling where the litter was originally registered.

 

Can I change my dog’s name?

Dogs Victoria can change the registered name of any dog as long as the following requirements are met:

• Authorisation letter or email is received from the registered breeder of the dog
• The dog is not over 3 months of age
• The dog has never been entered into an event or used for breeding

If all of the requirements are met we then require the original pedigree to be lodged with this request. This can be done at the same time as a transfer of ownership and must be lodged to the original state body office in which the dog was registered.  

The only exception to these requirements is when another person’s breeding prefix is being added to the registered name.