FAQs

General

1. What is the difference between a "Registered Breeder" and a "Registered Breeder with Dogs SA"?

A person may advertise as a “Registered Breeder” but this does not necessarily mean they are a member of Dogs SA or breeding purebred dogs.

They may be registered with their local council as a Domestic Animal Business and breed unregistered or cross breed dogs only.

As a registered Dogs SA breeder, a member is bound to rules, regulations & a code of ethics in regards to breeding, must register all puppies bred by them and must only breed the pure breeds recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC Ltd) trading as Dogs Australia.

Should you encounter any problems with a breeder, Dogs SA may only be in a position assist if you purchased your puppy from a registered Dogs SA breeder.

2. How many recognised breeds are there in Australia?

There are over 200 recognised breeds in Australia and each was bred for a specific purpose and has a breed standard, some of which have been in existence for hundreds of years.

A full list of all Recognised Pure Breeds in Australia can be found on the Dogs Australia website.

3. Do you deal with Cross Breeds?

The purpose of Dogs SA as dictated by the Constitution and Rules of the Association is to protect and promote the Pure Breed varieties of dogs.

Members are not permitted to breed crossbred dogs but members may own unregistered purebred or crossbreed dogs to compete in performance events. To compete in these events non-pedigree dogs must be registered on the Associate Register and be desexed and microchipped.

4. Can you put me in touch with a breeder?

If you contact the Dogs SA office or visit the website, you will be directed to registered breeders or the relevant breed club if it exists.

5. How do I become a Registered Breeder?

To become a registered Dogs SA breeder you need to own a Main Register bitch with no breeding restrictions in place.

You must become a member of Dogs SA and apply for a Kennel Prefix (Kennel Name) and to ensure all health testing requirements are met for your chosen breed.

Ensure the sire (stud) dog is also registered on the ANKC Main Register, is owned by a Dogs SA Member or interstate equivalent and all health testing requirements are completed.

6. How do I enter a dog show?

To exhibit at a Dog Show your dog must be registered on the ANKC Main Register and the owner/s as recorded on the pedigree certificate must be financial Dogs SA member/s.

Show schedules are published in the Dogs SA magazine available on the Dogs SA website:
View Magazine Online Here

If your Main Register dog is desexed, you are eligible to enter Neuter classes at Dogs Shows provided your dog is transferred to the Neuter Register.

7. When is the next dog show or performance event?

For more information visit our Shows and Trials Calendar page on the Dogs SA website.

Certified Pedigree Certificates & Registrations

1. What is a Certified Pedigree Certificate?

A Certified Pedigree Certificate issued by the ANKC Ltd is essentially a birth certificate for your dog showing the three generation family tree and proves that your dog is in fact a purebred.

The ANKC Ltd is the only internationally recognised registry in Australia able to issue Certified Pedigree Certificates for purebred dogs.

There are two distinct Registers that breeders elect to register puppies on at the time of litter registration:

Main Register Certified Pedigree (Blue)
This is the full Main register which allows a dog to be shown in conformation shows and performance events. If there are no conditions placed on the dog, the dog can also be used for breeding or exported overseas.

Limited Register Certified Pedigree (Orange)
Dogs registered on the Limited Register are not eligible for breeding, exhibiting at conformation shows or being exported. However, the dog can compete in performance events. Dogs may be transferred to the Main Register with the permission of the breeder.

2. Do I need to transfer my dog into my name?

Yes, even if you do not plan to breed, exhibit at shows or compete with your dog, it is recommended your dog is transferred into your ownership. In the event your dog is lost, a search on the ANKC database using the microchip number will identify you as the owner of the dog making it possible for the return of your dog.

If your dog was bred by a Dogs SA registered breeder, it is compulsory for the breeder to arrange the transfer of ownership on your behalf.

Transferring the dog into your ownership also identifies you as the legal owner. Should you ever decide to breed, exhibit at shows or compete in trials, the dog must be transferred into your name prior to lodgement of litters or entry to exhibitions.

3. How do I transfer an Interstate bred dog into my name?

If you purchased your dog from an Interstate Registered breeder and have received the Certified Pedigree Certificate, check the reverse of the pedigree is signed then complete your name and address details. Lodge the original certificate at the Dogs SA Office with the appropriate fee.

A revised Certified Pedigree Certificate will be reissued by Dogs SA in your name.

4. How do I transfer my dog between the Main & Limited registers?

To transfer a dog from the Limited to Main register, written authorisation from the breeder is required by completing the appropriate form. The dog must be in the ownership of a financial member of Dogs SA or other State Controlling Office and be lodged in the State where the dog was initially registered.

A dog may be transferred from the Main to Limited Register by completing the appropriate form completed by the registered owner only.

5. What is the Neuter register?

After your dog is desexed and you decide to enter your Main Register pedigree dog in the Neuter Class at Shows, your dog must be transferred to the Neuter Register prior to entry.

The original Main Register pedigree certificate is required together with a copy of the sterilisation certificate from your Vet. A Main Register Pedigree certificate will be reissued to you and the sex altered to ‘Neutered’ for dogs and ‘Spayed’ for bitches.

You are then eligible to enter your dog in Neuter Classes at Shows and gain points towards Neuter Champion or Neuter Grand Champion.

6. Can I get a pedigree certificate if my dog was not purchased from a Dogs SA breeder?

If you did not purchase your puppy from a Dogs SA Registered breeder or interstate equivalent, you will not be able to obtain a Certified Pedigree Certificate.

7. What is the Associate Register and how can I register my dog for trials?

If you intend to enter Trials (performance) events with your non-pedigree purebred or crossbreed dog, your dog must be registered on the Dogs SA Associate Register to obtain a registration number. All dogs registered on the Associate Register must be desexed and microchipped and the owner/s must be financial Dogs SA member/s.

To register your dog for trials, complete the Associate Registration application form and attach a copy of your dog’s desexing certificate including the dog’s microchip number, and forward it to the Dogs SA Office with the appropriate fee.

An Associate Certificate will be issued with the dog’s details and registration number.

When entering trials, a Membership number is required for the owner/s and a registration number is required for the dog on each entry form.

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

A dog that is registered with an ANKC Ltd recognised Working Dog organisation may be registered on the National Database Sporting Register.

A certified copy of the dog’s registration certificate issued by the recognised Working Dog Body must be provided which records the member as the registered owner.

9. How do I register a litter?

To register a litter, the owner/s of both the dam and the sire must be financial Dogs SA members and hold a financial Prefix (Kennel name). The owner/s of the sire must be financial members of Dogs SA or equivalent interstate Office.

The litter registration form must be correctly completed and include an original microchip sticker for each puppy registered. The original form may be lodged at the Dogs SA Office in person, by post or emailed to info@dogssa.com.au.

10. How can I submit health testing requirements?

As per ANKC regulations, the original health testing certificate or a certified copy of the original certificate of the mandatory testing, must be submitted to the Dogs SA Office prior to or at the time of lodgement of the litter registration.

Results of the mandatory testing are required once only as the results are recorded on the National ANKC database.

11. How can I register a Natural Bob Tail?

To register puppies as a Natural Bob Tail (NBT) the dog must be DNA tested to certify that the dog is carrying the Bob Tail gene or otherwise a Certified Vet Certificate where puppies have been examined by 4 days of age.

12. What overseas Canine Controlling Bodies Pedigree’s do you recognise?

Dogs SA and the ANKC Ltd recognises all FCI Member Bodies, the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club, and the Kennel Club UK. Dogs SA and the ANKC Ltd recognises all FCI Member Bodies, the American Kennel Club, Canadian Kennel Club, and the Kennel Club UK.

13. I’ve lost my pedigree, what can I do?

If you have lost your pedigree certificate, you can apply for a duplicate by completing the required form and payment of the applicable fee. A duplicate pedigree certificate may only be requested by the current owner as recorded on the national database.

Please note, that a duplicate pedigree certificate cannot be issued simply as a copy when a current pedigree exists.

14. The Local Council wants my dog desexed, can Dogs SA help?

Dogs SA can only help if you have the following:

  • ANKC Certified Pedigree Certificate
  • Dogs SA Financial Membership

Financial membership of Dogs SA, in addition to the ownership of a Pedigree dog, allows exemption from current State Government regulations requiring all dogs to be desexed at six months of age.

You will need to be recorded on the Dog and Cat Management Board of SA’s database (DACO) as a financial member of Dogs SA and provide proof as required.

Dogs SA Registered Breeders

The purpose of becoming a Dogs SA registered Breeder is to abide by and improve the standards of your chosen breed by striving to breed healthy sound dogs, both in temperament and construction, and to test breeding stock for any hereditary diseases which may affect the breed.

In some breeds, compulsory health testing is an ANKC requirement prior to registering a litter.

The individual breed requirements are described on the ANKC website at www.ankc.org.au.

For breeds without compulsory health testing, it is advisable to gain knowledge from Breed Clubs or experienced Breeders of health requirements or hereditary diseases applicable to your breed, prior to considering breeding from your dog or bitch.

It is imperative registered Breeders ensure health testing is conducted to ensure any dogs bred do not suffer from any diseases which may have been prevented by simply testing breeding stock.

Becoming a Dog SA Registered Breeder

To become a registered Dogs SA Breeder, you must own an ANKC Main Registered bitch, transferred into your ownership as recorded on the Certified Pedigree Certificate.

If you own an ANKC Main Registered male (stud) dog, this does not entitle you to become a registered breeder.

The owner/s of the ANKC Main Register bitch must become financial Dogs SA member/s and make an application for a Kennel Prefix.

Following approval of your Kennel Prefix by the National Office, the Prefix name becomes the first word of the pedigree name of any puppies bred by you.

When selecting a stud dog, ensure the stud dog is registered on the ANKC Main register, is transferred into the owner/s name and the owner/s are financial members of Dogs SA or other Interstate Controlling Office. Where health testing is compulsory or recommended ask to view the original testing results documents.

Further Information

Once you become a registered Dogs SA registered breeder, all puppies bred by you must be registered and the ownership transferred into the new owner/s names within 14 days of disposition. The Breeder has the choice of registering puppies bred on the Main or Limited Registers.

Main Register allows the puppy to be shown at Dog Shows, used for breeding, compete in Trials or be exported overseas.
There is the option of allowing the puppy to be exhibited at Dogs Shows or compete in Trials only by completing and signing the conditions section on the reverse of the pedigree certificate indicating ‘Not for Breeding’ or ‘Not for Export’.

Limited Register allows the puppy to compete in Trials only, with the option of transferring to the Main Register with both the breeder/s and new owner/s consent at a later date.

Interested to become a Dogs SA Member?

Learn more about our Membership Benefits and Plans or Sign Up when you are ready to proceed

Learn More

Sign Up

Check a registered Dogs SA breeder

Looking for a new dog? Check out the breed options and the registered breeders in SA. 

Search

Dogs SA Events

Next Event

Next Championship Show

View more events

DACO Council Registration

Need to start or renew with DACO Council? Register Here.

Learn More

Register