Your Puppy's Papers

PetSmart -

If you're adopting a purebred puppy, the breeder should have the following paperwork in order for you.

The Americal Kennel Club (AKC) registration application
The breeder must have an AKC registration application for each puppy in the litter. Some breeders will hold this form until they receive proof that the puppy has been spayed or neutered from your veterinarian.

The registration application will have the puppy's breed, sex, color, date of birth on it as well as the sire and dam's registration numbers and the breeder's name and signature. The application is divided into two sections: one section must be filled in by the breeder, and the bottom section you will need to complete. Once the form is complete, mail the application back to the AKC along with the registration fee indicated on the form. AKC will mail you your puppy's AKC registration certificate, which is referred to as your puppy's 'papers.'

Pedigree
The breeder should have a copy of the litter's pedigree for you (a pedigree is like a family tree). At least three generations should be recorded on the pedigree, but some breeders list as many as five or six generations. Check the pedigree for titles. Titles show you the quality of the puppy’s bloodline.

Sales contract
In addition to the registration application and the pedigree, the breeder should ask you to sign a sales contract. Typically, a sales contract outlines the breeder's expectations. For example, the breeder may require you to spay or neuter the puppy and to keep it on a leash or in a fenced-in yard when it's outside. The breeder may want to be notified if you can no longer keep the puppy or plan to sell it. (Often the breeder will want a chance to buy the puppy back if for some reason you don't want it anymore.)

Health certificate
You should also receive a health certificate from the breeder's veterinarian stating whether the puppy has had its first series of shots and been de-wormed. Your breeder should also give you your the puppy's medical records, which is simply a recording of the puppy's vaccinations and any other medical care it has received.

Health guarantee
Reputable breeders offer health guarantees to anyone who buys one of their puppies. Health guarantees usually state that you can get your money back within 48 to 72 hours if your own veterinarian finds something wrong with the puppy. In addition, some breeders guarantee that they'll replace the puppy if it develops a congenital (hereditary) illness.

Feeding schedule and medical records
The breeder should have written down the puppy's feeding schedule for you. In addition, he or she should also give you enough puppy food for a day or two. (If you abruptly change a puppy's diet, you'll make it sick. So, you'll have to buy the same brand of puppy food the breeder uses at first.)

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