The realities of the modern world teach that you cannot trust anyone’s word if there are no documents confirming these very words. If a dog breeder decides to have a purebred pet, then the first thing you need to worry about is the attached documents of the RKF - the only branch of the internationally recognized canine federation in Russia. It is these papers that will prove the purebred of the animal.
RKF documents are an important part of the deal when buying a purebred puppy
What is RKF in dogs?
If a dog breeder has the idea of getting a purebred puppy, it’s time to find out what the RKF documents for the dog are.
Determination of purebred dogs is carried out by specialized organizations, some of which are certified. The largest is the FCI or FCI; it is recognized not only throughout Russia, but also beyond its borders. The official representative in the Russian Federation is RKF - Russian Cynological Federation.
When there is a dialogue with the aim of purchasing a kitten, the seller is obliged to provide paper confirming the purebred of the dog.
All documents without the RKF seal are invalid. The buyer needs to ask direct questions; there is no need to doubt and be afraid of giving the impression of someone who does not know what they are talking about. A breeder who breeds in good faith will provide documents in a timely manner and prove their authenticity. Attention! Each country has its own specialized institutions. If someone tries to sell a puppy from a kennel with a document that is supposedly recognized in another country, you can be sure that it is a fake.
What are documents for a dog, what should they be and why are they needed?
Documents confirming purebredness include the following papers:
- puppy card;
- pet examination report;
- the act of mating breeding dogs;
- veterinary passport of the pet;
- a certificate stating that the puppy comes from a family of purebred dogs; other names are metrics, puppy card or dog passport.
Additional Information! If a puppy has not reached six months of age, it cannot have a pedigree. If a breeder claims otherwise and tries to sell a dog under this age, we can safely conclude that he is lying.
What does the main set of documents look like?
Puppy metrics: what is it, what does a sample look like?
All purebred puppies born after a planned mating are issued a birth certificate (the card contains basic information about the dog, including its name).
Veterinary passport
It is issued by the dog handlers association or the kennel from which the dog was adopted. In addition to the metrics, the dog owner is required to:
- “Act of mating of a breeding dog” (contains the date of mating, conditions, information about the owner of the dog). The document is drawn up in 3 copies, 2 of which are transferred to the owners of the male and female, and 1 remains in the organization that registered the fact of mating;
- “Puppy inspection report” (breed qualities, color are described, and whether the dog’s external characteristics meet the requirements for a particular breed is indicated);
- originals and copies of pedigrees of RKF parents;
- diplomas from exhibitions (if the puppy’s parents exhibited);
- veterinary passport (contains information about vaccinations, microchipping, diseases and treatment).
Important! As soon as the dog turns 1 year and 3 months old, the owner applies to the Russian Canine Federation for a certificate of origin. If the dog is planned to be exported abroad, then all documents must be prepared in accordance with international standards
Why do ordinary dog breeders need a pedigree?
Pedigree puppies with documents are more expensive than others.
As mentioned earlier, only documents can confirm what people say and prove that they are telling the truth. That is why any dog breeder who wants to prove the true pure breed of their pet must provide documentation. If it is not there, then there can be no confidence in the words. Documents will help protect the honor of not only the pet, but also the owner.
In addition, any buyer of a dog that is passed off as a purebred will be interested in the documents before receiving it. After all, the fact is that such a pet will have a higher price. In order not to create problems and not to be deceived, he will take care in advance and make sure that certified documentation is available.
We must also not forget that only purebred dogs can participate in exhibitions and receive awards. Without supporting documents, the jury will not even look at the animal.
What should be included in the description of the animal
You cannot fill out the document at will; you need to buy a special form. Registration of a passport is a paid procedure, but adding new marks to an existing one is free. In addition to vaccinations, which are the subject of most of the entries, other information is also important.
Type of animal in the passport
On the first page indicate the basic data of the animal and the owner.
Information about the animal:
- species (dog);
- floor;
- date of birth (exact or approximate);
- breed;
- nickname (in full);
- coat color;
- photo.
Be sure to fill out the name and address of the owner. If desired, he can enter data about the pet’s chronic diseases, allergies, and intolerances. This is not necessary, but will be very helpful if other people need to look after the dog. This way they will be informed what actions are harmful to the pet and will not do them.
Gender of the dog in the passport: how to indicate
Veterinary terms denoting the gender of dogs have become firmly entangled with curse words. To avoid unwanted associations, documents write “male” or “female” or indicate gender with graphic icons common in biology (spear of Mars and mirror of Venus). It is permissible to use the words “male” and “bitch” if this does not cause irritation to the owner.
An international passport uses the words “male” or “female” or graphic icons.
Note! For cats, the same definitions are used - "male" and "female", but you can use the words "cat" and "cat".
Gender is indicated in the passport
Chipping
The chip allows you to quickly find your pet if it gets lost and identify it. The barcode of the chip is printed and pasted into the passport. This procedure is not required within the country, but for international travel it must be completed.
For purebred pets, other personal data is also entered - pedigree number and information about the brand. They can be valid within Russia or throughout the world.
Marks on deworming, treatment against ticks and fleas
All pets are required to be treated for parasites. This helps protect the health of the dog itself and avoid the risk of infecting others. Unlike vaccinations, such treatment cannot be carried out once and for all; it must be repeated periodically.
A sticker is pasted into the passport, which is filled out manually - the name of the drug, as well as the series and batch number, the date of processing. To confirm that the processing actually took place, the doctor certifies the data with a signature and seal.
Mating data
Pedigree dogs have a personal life according to a schedule.
Matings of purebred animals are carried out as planned, by prior agreement with the owner of the second animal. They require separate paperwork, but for the owner’s convenience, this information can be entered into the veterinary passport.
The date of mating, the name of the partner and the name of its owner are indicated. For females, the progress of pregnancy, complications, date and method of birth, number and names (if any) of puppies are important.
If mixed breeds were mated, this fact is also indicated. Such puppies do not have the right to participate in breeding and exhibitions, since they are considered out of breed. Owners for them should be sought among those who are looking for a friend with relatively predictable qualities, but do not put the purity of the breed at the forefront.
Why is the puppy first given a metric and not a full pedigree?
Among the documents for a dog, there is a metric that records the name of the pet, the date of its birth, the names and pedigree of the parents, all the numbers of the terminals and the necessary microchips. The club, certified by the RKF, issues this document immediately after birth to all puppies born to the dog.
It is important to understand that at the time the puppies are born, the parents must have their own pedigree so that this fact is recorded in the metric. Another name for this document is a puppy card.
Before the age of six months, it is difficult to check whether a puppy matches the purity of the breed and to determine disqualifying defects. Therefore, first a metric is issued, and only then a full pedigree, in which the class of the dog is recorded.
Document confirming the origin of the puppy
The paper, which is popularly called “puppy card” by dog lovers, is officially called a puppy metric or puppy card. It states the breed, nickname, date of birth, gender, brand or chip, parents' nicknames and their pedigree numbers (.), as well as the names and addresses of the breeder (owner) of the bitch and the future owner of the puppy.
The puppy's metric is divided into two parts by a cutting line. When exchanging it for a pedigree, the upper half is given to a canine organization, and the lower spine remains with the owner until the pedigree is ready.
At what age do you need to change puppy metrics to pedigree?
After some time, it will be possible to exchange this document for an official pedigree. Registration can begin from the moment the puppy reaches six months of age. And the process must be completed before one year and three months have passed.
After the puppy receives the document, he will officially be able to:
- Participate in exhibitions from the age of fifteen months.
- Take part in competitions.
- The owner can use him in breeding.
What is a zero or registered pedigree?
If the pet does not have information about its ancestors, a zero pedigree is issued instead.
The list of documents may also contain a zero document if the owner does not know what the dog’s pedigree looks like. A similar paper is drawn up even if there is no information about the puppy’s parents, if there is no certificate.
Taking into account all the exterior data that is recorded at dog shows, the document is filled out. The difference lies in the fact that these pets cannot take part in breeding. The thing is that information about the ancestors, up to the seventh generation, was not given out.
How to get a pedigree
SKOR is another canine organization in Russia.
After the owner has found out what RKF is in dogs, all that remains is to fill out a package of papers. All questions about how to obtain documents for a dog can be clarified with official representatives in Russia. As soon as you find out the coordinates of the nearest branch, you can visit them or contact them by phone or Internet.
The entire process will take Muscovites a little less than a month, while nonresidents will have to wait about three months for it to be ready. All you need is a pet card, all the information in which will help you draw up a pedigree. You will also need a litter inspection certificate and a breeding card of the puppy's parent. RKF representatives will issue document forms upon registration.
There is also an option to do this through the club in which the pet is registered, you just need to write an application. If this is an official representative of the RKF, he will easily organize the process without making the life of the owner difficult. Once the pedigree is ready, the dog breeder will be able to receive an official document.
Attention! Many people are interested in the question of what SCOR documents for a dog are - these are papers from another domestic canine organization. The Union of the Russian Canine Association is recognized only in the CIS, which blocks the owner’s path to exhibitions on a European scale.
Registration of a pedigree without metrics
In the event that before receiving the dog and after that the owner did not take care of issuing the metric, certain difficulties may arise with the registration of the pedigree. But there is no reason to panic if the puppy has a mark on its ear, which confirms the dog’s purebredness.
Important! Another document that can help replace a metric is an expert assessment. If available, the owner will be issued a registration document.
As soon as all the documents are provided and the puppy is six months old, all information about the litter will be in the RKF, the registration process will begin and will not distract the owner from necessary matters.
How much does it cost to prepare a document?
Prices for a veterinary passport depend on its class, urgency, the prestige of the clinic in which it is issued, and the number of medical procedures that the dog undergoes in parallel.
The cheapest option is an internal document at the state veterinary clinic, if it is issued for the puppy along with the first vaccinations. This will cost 900 rubles (hereinafter the approximate prices for August 2022 are indicated). You will have to wait from several working days to a week, depending on the doctor’s workload.
The most expensive option is to call a veterinarian to your home and order urgent registration. Then the procedure will take no more than 3 hours, but you will have to pay up to 5,000 rubles. This is what wealthy dog breeders or owners of newborn puppies do.
Attention! Prices differ in different regions, and even in public clinics they are not the same.
How to restore a pedigree if it has been lost
If the owner has lost his pedigree, there are several options for how to restore it. To do this, the owner must:
- ask the breeder for a copy of the document;
- the breeder independently contacts the FCI, where a copy of the document will be made.
In the event that information about the breeder is unknown, for restoration you will need a brand or a pet card, which is issued at the exhibition. As soon as the RKF stamp number is reported, the organization’s employees will describe in detail the algorithm of actions.
How much does a dog's pedigree cost?
To obtain accurate information, please visit the RKF website. The registration period depends on the amount the owner is willing to pay. The standard procedure takes at least 15 days, but the expedited procedure is completed in 1 day. The average price ranges between 1 and 2 thousand rubles for citizens of the Russian Federation and between 3 and 4 thousand rubles* for foreigners (Belarus, neighboring countries). It all depends on the timing.
At the exhibition
International veterinary passport
A veterinary passport is a small brochure of international standard, which records the vaccinations and necessary procedures throughout the pet’s life in order to protect against parasites. On the first page you can find key information about the puppy.
Additional Information! A special chip is also attached to the first page. The pet's number is stored on it.
What is recorded in the veterinary passport:
- what vaccinations and vaccinations were administered to the pet’s body;
- what treatment measures were taken, whether the absence of dysplasia was checked;
- if the animal was microchipped, what is the chip number;
- whether the pet has a mark, which is very important for traveling abroad.
They begin processing the passport from the moment the dog was first vaccinated. All details related to appearance and origin are included in the document. These are mostly depicted as stickers.
The main thing you need to know is that any clinic has the right to issue this passport. It in no way confirms the purebred of the pet. The key purpose of creating a passport is to document the fact that the pet is not dangerous to others and that it itself is not in danger of illness or danger. If the owner does not obtain this passport in a timely manner, he will not have the opportunity to travel abroad.
What to do if you have lost your veterinary passport
The most important thing in a veterinary passport is information about the latest vaccinations for the year. If you haven’t done them for your pet, then you can simply get a new veterinary passport when you visit the veterinarian. To restore complete information, contact the veterinary clinic where your pet is usually seen. Data on rabies vaccinations and required vaccinations due to outbreaks of infectious diseases are stored in the general register for at least 5 years. And once a quarter, clinics submit data to the State Veterinary Supervision Authority, where they are stored for at least 10 years.
If your dog is microchipped, it will be easier to recover the data. It can be extracted from the EDB - a single database. Make sure your doctor enters your pet's chip identification number into the EDB. On subsequent visits to the veterinarian, find out whether he has entered information about the manipulations performed.
List of documents for taking a dog abroad
In order to take your pet abroad, you need to provide a list of documents. The key paper is certificate No. 1, issued by the State Veterinary Service.
This document is issued if the dog has:
- Veterinary passport.
- The owner has a dog breeder's passport.
- The pet has a chip, the owner has a certificate with him confirming this fact.
- The dog is provided for examination by the service.
In addition to the first certificate, you need to have an international pet passport and a certificate issued in Form 5a. The latter is needed to visit Europe. You need to worry about documents and their execution at least three days before departure or trip.
Note! Some customs officers may require another certificate. This is a document confirming that your pet does not have rabies.
How to fill out a passport form correctly
If you are drawing up a certificate for yourself, the filling technique does not matter. But at customs or when issuing plane or train tickets, government officials may find fault with illegible handwriting, so it is better to fill out all lines in block letters using a black pen. You can ask for a sample form at the veterinary clinic or look it up on the Internet. The numbers of all documents and data must match and be recorded without errors. The certificate must not contain torn pages - in this case it is considered invalid. To travel abroad, everything must be filled out or duplicated in English, the nickname must be in Latin.
What document is required to participate in international exhibitions?
In order for your pet to be able to take part in an international exhibition, you must first find the first competition. As soon as the owner finds it, you can start processing the documents.
What you will need:
- microchipping a dog;
- make a metric;
- for adult pets - complete a pedigree;
- certificate according to sample No. 1;
- veterinary passport.
It would be advisable to make copies of documents, which you can also take with you to the exhibition
How to distinguish fake from real papers
Some owners decide to act in bad faith and sell a fake purebred dog to another person. To avoid falling for scammers, it is important to remember the following:
- On the metric, it is important to check the authenticity of all RKF seals. Each document is recorded with a specific set of numbers, which RKF stores in its database. To make sure, you can contact them.
- All RKF documents will be laminated. If the seller claims that this is not necessary or begins to come up with excuses, you should think about the veracity of his words. A sample of documents can also be found on the official website of the organization. In case of discrepancy with what the seller provides, the purchase of this dog should also be refused.
- It is important to study the veterinary passport, and if you don’t have it, ask for one.
- It is advisable not to purchase purebred pets from someone else if the owner wants to start making money at exhibitions. If there is no such goal, then even a simple mongrel, not a husky or a puppy of another dog breed, can become a good companion and a true friend.
It is important to remember that RKF documents are an important component when purchasing a purebred dog. All papers confirming the purebred of the pet are a guarantee of participation in exhibitions and the absence of problems when breeding the breed. When purchasing a dog, the future owner must remember this, otherwise he may find himself in an awkward situation when he is deceived by scammers.
