Kennel Club or Dog Lovers Registration Club?
When looking for a pedigree dog, many people get confused by the acronyms in the ads, particularly KC or DLRC. These stand for Kennel Club and Dog Lovers Registration Club. Now are you any the wiser? Didn’t think so
Founded in 1873, the Kennel Club is seen as the ‘official’ dog club for pedigree breeds in the UK and there are resident Kennel Clubs in many countries all over the world. A puppy can only be registered with the Kennel Club under some fairly strict criterion.
Both parents must be KC registered and of the same breed. The owner of the stud dog must sign a document to confirm that their dog was indeed the father. The owner of the bitch must ensure that her dog is neither too young nor too old. The age limits vary according to the breed but broadly speaking, the bitch must be over one year old and less then 8 years old. An exception can only be made if the bitch is of particularly good stock, usually a competition winner, and the owner must apply to the KC for permission.
There are also some guidelines on how often a breeder can breed from a bitch. Again, the figures vary according to the breed, but as a guideline, 5 litters in the years allowed and no more than one litter per year. Occasionally, if an accidental breeding takes place that exceeds the guidelines, the KC will allow the registration but will send a written warning to the owner that they are in danger of over-breeding the dog.
The only real additional benefits to a KC registered dog are that you are able to show your dogs at official dog shows, including Crufts if your dog’s really good, and although you can never be 100% guaranteed that the dog history is correct, it’s the best guarantee you could have.
The Dog Lovers Registration Club was formed in 1993 and is an alternative pedigree club. It was designed for dogs of all kinds, whether already registered with another club or unregistered, so that owners could buy their dog a birth certificate without any red tape. Anyone may register a dog, although the Dog Lovers Reg Club does have a code of ethics. I could send them the money and have Bailey, my shih tzu, registered as a bull mastiff if I wanted to, using their pet pedigree system, I can even register online. I have nothing against the Dog Lovers Registration Club, I just worry that some unscrupulous people could take advantage of the system if they wanted to. The DLRC do their best to stop this, but as their aim is to reduce all the (sometimes unnecessary and a downright pain!) red tape that other registrations clubs have, it is inevitable that some people may try to take advantage. 
To help stop this, there is a warning on the DLRC website that if they detect any fraudulent dealings by breeders, then they will issue a life ban and can prosecute, however, I think it would be difficult for them to detect unless it was absolutely obvious to buyers that what they thought was a terrier grew into a spaniel. Indeed, they have actually issued some life bans to members who have flouted the rules.
In my opinion, the only reasons a breeder would register their puppies with the DLRC rather than the KC would be because one of the parents is not KC registered or they could also be trying to save about £10 per puppy on registration and sell the puppies at the same price. It is also possible that they may not want their puppies to be used as show dogs. As the price of a pedigree dog can be expensive, buyers like to think they’re getting their money’s worth and they like to have a pretty certificate, so it is better than no certificate at all.
Most breeders with only a DLRC certificate will price their puppies slightly cheaper than KC registered puppies, however, some do try to get the same price. Personally, I would steer clear of DLRC or unregistered breeds. If you’ve decided you want a pedigree, personally I think you should look for a KC registered dog, but depending on the breed, you may have to wait for one so you may find a DLRC dog quicker.
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February 1st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
No puppy/puppies should be sold until at least 8 weeks old.
Mother/Dam must be over one year old before she is mated.
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Dear Ms Longworth
Thank you for changing some of the erroneous comments however you will see by our website that a DL reg dog is not cheaper than a kc reg dog, prices are same in most instances so this comment is also incorrect. Also in comparison to the number of dogs the kc register per year as compared to our numbers you are more likely to have to wait for a DL dog rather than a kc one!
Kind regards
D.A.Winters
Co Director
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Unscrupulous people can also take advantage of the kc rules too!
March 19th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
[…] wrote an earlier article about the difference between the DLRC and the KC (Kennel Club), both of which are dog registration clubs. Share this page Mar 19, 2008 | | Buying A […]
April 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
i have registered two litters with dlrc and not for any of the unscrupulous reasons you stated but because their is an endorsement on my dogs certificate. i have been nothing but satisfied with the service and it is certainly not a cheap option. i have taken offence from your comments
April 21st, 2008 at 7:47 am
If there’s an endorsement on your dogs certificate, it is surely because for one reason or another, your dog was not meant to be bred from. You knew that when you got the dog so you shouldnt be breeding from it anyway. The DLRC allows people like you to breed from dogs anyway. Personally I think the dlrc should not have been allowed to be formed
June 13th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
What on earth is the point in the DLRC? “Cutting down on red tape”? More like ensuring they don’t have ANY work to do for the money ridiculous people are sending them.. It’s a brilliant business plan; send us money and we’ll.. give you nothing in return? Bargain…
June 17th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Correct a brilliant business plan Freda just like the kc
August 6th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
i have always used the dlrc, i have found them very proffessional i would not dream of going through the kc, whats the problem, dont they like the competion? kc has had a long run of it, seems to me that now their is another big boy in town they dont like it.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Following the BBC’s relevations about the cruelty of (in)breeding dogs with health problems, I question the whole ethos of the kennel club and the DLRC. The standards are to blame, they are the root cause of these issues and the KC obviously will not or cannot deal with it. Who in their right mind would want to buy a pedigree dog ‘to the standard’ if this means the dog is unhealthy or incapable of leading a full life? Is there an alternative KC with the health of the dog as it’s main aim? There should be.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Personally, I don’t blame the Kennel Club for the inbreeding - they don’t recommend it in fact. I do blame them for some of the standards they set for the shows, which encourage breeders to allow inbreeding. They need to change the physical aspects of their champions.
Many breeders I know only breed for pets anyway and the one breeder I know who breeds Crufts champion dogs does not inbreed. Instead she pays a fortune to breed with other champions, sometimes across Europe, and checks their history. She keeps the puppies sometimes up to 3 months so she can pick the one she feels is the best.
I do think its the breeders fault on the whole. I don’t think we should all rush out to buy mongrels though either. They can have just as many problems and what would we do then? Either allow dogs to become extinct or allow mongrels to breed ending up with unwanted puppies.
August 20th, 2008 at 8:25 am
[…] were a couple of extra comments on my earlier article about whether to buy KC or DLRC puppies this morning and everybody seems quite passionate about it, so here’s my personal viewpoint […]