Dog Show Terms: Registration Certificate, Pedigree, Owner

Registration Certificate: All dogs shown at dog shows should be registered, and the registration certificate is a piece of paper issued to the owner of a dog, by the organization with which the dog has been registered, when the dog has actually been registered. On the certificate is listed all the pertinent information regarding the dog, such as name, number, date whelped, sire, dam, breeder, owner.

Pedigree: A pedigree is that paper usually given to the owner of a dog by the breeder. It gives the names of the sire and dam, the grandparents, great grandparents, and usually the great, great grandparents. A four-generation pedigree is to be expected when purchasing a purebred dog; however, many breeders issue a five or six-generation pedigree.

Owner: The owner of a dog is the one whose name (or names) appears on the registration certificate as owner, not necessarily the one in possession of a dog. It is possible to have more than one owner, but the names of all owners should appear on the registration certificate.