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Can Sheepadoodles Be Registered?

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Can Sheepadoodles Be Registered?

Registration in the canine world can be a bit complicated. Usually, when someone talks about registering a dog, they’re referring to registering them with the American Kennel Club. This is one of the most prominent kennel clubs in America, so many people register their dogs through this club. 

However, there are other clubs in the United States that you can register your dog through. In many cases, registration can actually mean different things depending on who you’re registering with. The AKC is a bit strict on what dogs can register with them, while other clubs are much laxer in their requirements. 

The AKC only allows some breeds to be registered with them. They must belong to a breed that the kennel club recognizes. Currently, this does not include any mixed breeds. The Sheepadoodle can’t be registered through the AKC. 

The Sheepadoodle can be registered through some other clubs, though. These are usually not as prominent or popular, but they are good options for those that want to track their dog’s pedigree.

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Why Can’t You Register a Sheepadoodle?

What counts as a “registered” dog varies depending on the kennel club. In most cases, registration simply means that your dog comes “with papers.” These papers confirm the dog’s birthdate, breed, parents, and ownership. If you want to show your dog at shows and trials, they must be registered. Often, registration works to “prove” that your dog belongs to a specific breed. 

However, to register a dog with a kennel club, it has to come from a breed that the kennel club recognizes. Currently, the AKC does not recognize the Sheepadoodle as their own breed. They’re a mixed breed. A lot goes into making the AKC recognize a new breed, so we don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.  

Therefore, even if both the dog’s parents are registered, the AKC will not recognize the mixed-breed puppies.

Can Sheepadoodles be CKC Registered?

You can register non-purebred dogs with the CKC. It doesn’t matter what your dog is mixed with, as they recognize all mixed breeds. This will include the Sheepadoodle. Many breeders register their Sheepadoodles with the CKC for this reason. It also helps “prove” that their dog is a Sheepadoodle and not some other mixed-breed dog. 

Registration with the CKC provides many different benefits. You won’t be able to show your dog, as mixed breeds are not qualified for the show ring. You can’t compete for the best of a certain breed when your dog isn’t a certain breed. 

Registration does provide proof of ownership. Many dogs will microchip their dogs and connect them to their registration. Therefore, it proves that your dog will always be recognized as yours, even if they get stolen or lost. You’ll also be able to track your dog’s pedigree and lineage. This can help determine that your dog is a Sheepadoodle since you’ll be able to see who their parents were exactly. 

You’ll also be able to access other services through CKC, such as the puppy training program. 

Registering a dog is quite simple. If the dog’s parents were CKC-registered, then an application followed by copies of the parent’s applications are the only documents required. Most breeders will take care of this before you adopt the puppy, but be sure to ask. 

If there are no registration documents available for the parents, you will be required to submit a bit more evidence. Your dog will need to be at least six months old, and you will need to fill out a registration form. You must then also submit two witness signatures and photographs. This prevents people from registering dogs that don’t actually exist.

sheepadoodle closeup

Can I Register My Sheepadoodle to the CKC without Papers?

In some cases, you may not receive the correct papers from the breeder to register your dog. In general, any high-quality breeder is going to have these papers available. Their own dogs should be registered with some kennel club, and this will provide you papers for registering your puppy. However, if you adopt your puppy or receive them from a family member, you may not always receive the appropriate papers. 

In these cases, there are a few ways you can register your puppy. Since your dog is purebred, you will likely want to use the Non-Purebred Canine Registration Application. This will help you work through the process of registering your dog as a mixed breed. All mixed breeds can be registered, including the Sheepadoodle. 

The CKC is one of the few kennel clubs that allow dogs to be registered from mixed breeds. This allows you to access certain services, like proving your ownership or partaking in their training program.

Should I Buy a Sheepadoodle without Papers?

In many cases, Sheepadoodles will be registered with the CKC, while their parents will be registered with either the CKC or AKC. Some are registered with both. However, you may come across puppies that are without any papers at all. 

In all honesty, registration isn’t that important, especially if you aren’t going to show your dog. Registration is mostly just a stream of numbers. A dog is registered because their parents were registered, and they were registered because their parents were registered. That’s how registration works. 

Registration is not a sign that the puppy is high quality. No quality checks are involved in registering a dog. No health or genetic testing is required. In the case of mixed breeds, you just have to prove that your dog is a dog. Any dog can be registered through the CKC. The AKC has some tougher requirements, but there are still no quality checks involved. The puppy simply has to have two parents that are registered. 

In some cases, papers aren’t even proof that dogs are purebred. If a breeder owns two dogs of the same breed – let’s say a Poodle, for instance -, then any puppy that they breed could technically be listed as a purebred Poodle. They could simply (dishonestly) list their two Poodles as the parents, even if they aren’t. The CKC and AKC aren’t going to check the puppies. It is simply reliant on the information submitted by the breeder. 

For purebred dogs, registration can be important to ensure that the dog is not overly inbred. For instance, you can check to ensure that the same dogs weren’t continuously bred together on the puppy’s family tree. 

However, this is less useful for dogs that are mixed breeds like the Sheepadoodle. The fact that they have parents of two different breeds means that they are inheriting from a pretty large gene pool. Your Sheepadoodle will be a smart and loyal companion, regardless of his registration status!

happy sheepadoodle running

Conclusion

You can register a Sheepadoodle with the CKC – but not the AKC. The AKC only allows certain purebred dogs to be registered, while the CKC has a system for registering mixed breeds. Many Sheepadoodles come with registration papers straight from their breeder. 

Usually, the Poodle and Sheepdog used to produce the puppies will be AKC or CKC registered. Therefore, the puppies will automatically be able to register with the CKC. It only takes a few simple steps in this case, as the organization will already have the parent’s information on hand. 

In some cases, your dog may not come with any papers. Truthfully, papers aren’t extremely important for mixed breeds. There is no quality check when a dog is registered, so having papers doesn’t mean that your puppy is high-quality. In the case of mixed breeds, it simply means that they are a dog. Therefore, many breeders simply don’t bother. 

You can still register your puppy with the CKC if your dog didn’t come with papers at the breeder. This often takes a bit more work, as the organization will need to prove that your dog exists. This usually occurs with some notarized signatures and a photograph of your dog. You do get some benefits from registration, such as having proof of ownership. 

However, many people decide not to register their mixed breed dogs. If you’re planning on breeding more Sheepadoodle puppies, you may want to consider it just so the lineage can be traced. If you’re only planning on having your dog as a companion, there is little reason for registration.

Author: Kristin

Author: Kristin

Kristin was born in Tennessee and currently lives there with her husband and children. She is passionate about educating pet parents and helping them make the best possible decisions for their pets. She currently owns one dog, two cats, a lizard, and a variety of fish.