Guidelines
Alterations:
Any cross out, white-out, or erasure made to the new registrant and new co-registrant fields on a UKC Application for Permanent Registration or Permanent Registration Certificate voids the document.

If this occurs, then new registrant (and new co-registrant) can complete and submit an Affidavit with the original certificate. The information provided on the Affidavit will over-ride the altered information on the original certificate. The Affidavit does require a fee of $15.00 in addition to the registration fees.

Notes: Corrections (cross out, white out, or erasure) are acceptable in the dog name, new owner address and fees sections of the Application for Permanent Registration or Permanent Registration Certificates.

"AND" vs. "OR" partnerships:

UKC recognizes the nature of a co-ownership as either an "AND" or an "OR" partnership. An "OR" partnership means either the Owner or the Co-Owner can sell, transfer or register a litter out of the dog. This means either the Owner or Co-Owner may sign the paperwork. An "AND" partnership means it will take both the Owner and Co-Owner, to sell, transfer or register a litter out of the dog. This means both the Owner and Co-Owner must sign the paperwork.

When registering a dog in co-ownership you will be asked to indicate the nature of the co-ownership on the registration application, which confirms whether or not the signatures of both the owner and co-owner will be required to sell, transfer, or register a litter out of the dog.

Changing the Name of a Dog:

United Kennel Club allows an owner to change the name of a dog unless one or both of the following has occurred:

1. Once a dog has earned a UKC title, no part of the dog's name can be changed. The reasoning behind this is once the dog has earned a title it creates difficulties in tracking ongoing records of that dog.

2. Once the dog becomes a sire or dam of a UKC registered litter, no part of his or her name can undergo any sort of change. The reasoning behind this is that the puppies from this sire or dam have their parent's names listed on their pedigree. If their sire or dam's name is changed they now have incorrect names listed as their parent.

To change your dog's name, the current or new registrant can fill in the exact name on the back of the original Registration Certificate and submit the certificate to UKC with a fee of $16. We will send you a new registration certificate with three-generation pedigree reflecting the name change.

UKC reserves the right to deny a dog's requested name if the name is deemed lewd, offensive or inappropriate.

Deceased Dog:

To record a dog as deceased, UKC must receive a signed, written statement from the current registrant of record. No information will be taken over the phone.

UKC requests the Original Registration Certificate be returned to us with "Deceased" written on the front and a date we should use as reference in our records. If the current registrant should wish to keep the original certificate for sentimental reasons, or has lost the certificate, the current registrant can submit a written and signed statement with the UKC number of the dog indicating the dog is deceased and a date.

UKC will register/transfer a deceased dog only if that registration is to facilitate the litter or single registration of that dog's offspring. All fees apply and the papers will be immediately marked as deceased. The registrant must also submit a written, signed statement that fully explains the situation.

Disqualifying Faults:

UKC does not knowingly register dogs with disqualifying faults. Any attempt to register a dog that has color(s) not accepted within its Breed Standard will be denied registration with UKC.

Dogs with disqualifying color / faults can enroll in the UKC Limited Privilege Program.

Laminated papers:

UKC strongly advises a dog's registrant to NOT laminate their Original UKC registration certificate. This hinders the ability of a current registrant to sign the back and transfer the dog to another person.

If the certificate is laminated, the new registrant can submit the original registration certificate, a written and signed statement from current registrant(s) of record authorizing the dog to be transferred. This statement MUST include the name and UKC # of the dog, the purchase date for the new registrant, the name and address of the new registrant (and co-registrant), the new name of the dog (if applicable) and the name and signature of the current registrant(s).

An Affidavit and additional fee are NOT required to transfer a dog using laminated papers (12/12/07)

Legal name Change (Marriage/Divorce):

UKC must receive legal documentation in order to update the name of a dog's registrant, due to marriage or divorce.

If the registrant has had a legal name change due to marriage or divorce, a signed statement must be submitted by registrant of record confirming UKC is to recognize the registrant under the new name. This statement must be accompanied by a copy of the marriage/divorce certification.

To update a dog's UKC registration certificate to show the changed name of the registrant, return the Original UKC registration certificate with a signed statement and corresponding marriage/divorce documentation and a fee of $8.00 per paper to update and reprint.

Replace Lost or Stolen Papers:

If a dog's original registration certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, the dog's current Owner of Record can request replacement papers. Only the registered owner of a dog may apply for duplicate papers. See: Replacing UKC Registration Certificates.

Unfortunately because the "ownership" of a dog is considered a civil matter,in the case a dog or registration papers are stolen, owners may want to consider seeking legal assistance to determine how to pursue their rights in a court of law. UKC will uphold all decisions made in a court of law once documentation has been provided.

Purple Ribbon:

"Purple Ribbon" is a distinction UKC gives to a dog if all 14 ancestors within a dog's three generation pedigree (parents, grand parents, great grandparents) are each registered with United Kennel Club.

Purple Ribbon is indicated by the letters “PR” at the beginning of a dog’s name and also by a comma (,) instead of a dash (-) within the dog’s UKC number.

In order to receive a complete Seven Generation pedigree (showing 254 ancestors), the dog’s parents must both be registered as Purple Ribbon. A Six Generation pedigree for the dog that was not produced by Purple Ribbon parents may have some “Open” entries depending on the availability of pedigree information on record with UKC.

UKC will automatically add the letters 'PR' to the beginning of the dog's registered name and the 'PR' will not count toward the 30 characters and spaces limitation for the allowable length of the dog's registered name.

U.S. Funds:

All payments made to UKC must be paid in United States funds only. Out of country personal checks are acceptable; however, the words “PAYABLE IN U.S. FUNDS” must appear on the check, and International Money Orders must be negotiable in U.S. Funds.

Due to the fact it can not be tracked, we recommend you do not send cash.