How to Register a Litter with the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)

Registering a litter with the Canadian Kennel Club is a straightforward process if you have the right paperwork in order before the litter is born. This step-by-step guide covers what you need, how to submit, and what to expect.

Before the Breeding: Confirm Parent Registration

Both the dam and sire must be CKC registered before the litter can be registered. Look up both dogs at ckc.ca to confirm their registration is active. If either dog is registered with a foreign kennel club (AKC, FCI-affiliated clubs, etc.), there may be a recognition or reciprocal registration process required before they can be used to produce a CKC-registered litter. Contact CKC registration services for foreign-registry dogs.

The Stud Service Certificate

After the breeding, the stud dog owner provides a signed Stud Service Certificate to the dam owner. This document confirms the breeding took place and includes:

• Stud's full registered name
• CKC registration number
• Date(s) of breeding
• Stud owner signature

Keep this document — it is required for litter registration.

After Whelping: Submit the Litter Registration

CKC Form 1 (Litter Registration) must be submitted within 6 months of the whelping date for standard registration rates. Late registrations are accepted with additional fees.

Information required on the form:

• Dam's registered name and CKC number
• Sire's registered name and CKC number
• Date of whelping
• Number of male and female puppies born alive and total born
• Colour descriptions of each puppy

Submit the completed form, the signed stud service certificate, and the registration fee to CKC by mail or online through ckc.ca.

Individual Puppy Registration

Once the litter is registered, individual puppy registration applications can be completed. Puppies can be given registered names at this stage. Name format typically follows the kennel name (if you have a registered CKC kennel name) followed by the puppy's individual name.

Puppy registration applications are submitted by the dam's owner. After the puppy is sold, the new owner can transfer the registration to their name.

Registration Fees

CKC registration fees change periodically — visit ckc.ca for current fee schedules. Fees vary for litter registration, individual puppy registration, and transfers.