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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Jan 18, 2008 | 28 | Buying A Dog
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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 [...]
August 27th, 2008 at 9:32 am
The Dog Lovers Register is not for ’show dogs’ ,that is the whole point of it, and it is ’showing’ which has brought about this sorry situation which we saw on Pedigree dogs exposed!
August 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
The Dog Lovers club also have same rules .i.e.
The owner of the bitch must ensure that her dog is over one year old but under 8 years when breeding.
Also the bitch should only have one litter in any 12 month period.
Both parents must be of the same breed
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
I intend to register my boxers pups with the DLC, as although my bitch’s parents can be traced back well over 5 generations within the KC, some of them had activity registration only, not pedigree. I am not a breeder but I met the breeder of my dogs parents and grandparents. my dogs lineage seems to have all been good family dogs and not for show purposes, so the DLC seems to offer a good alternative to KC activity register status.
I do however agree the DLCR could be improved by showing optional KCR lineage and health/micro-chipping information.
September 12th, 2008 at 11:26 am
The DLRC just wants to take peoples money to give them a peice of paper that says the dog is now theirs ! I already knew my dog was mine as i had paid for it !! I bought my supposed pedigree shih tzu puppy from Dogs 4 us in Leeds and was assured it was “registered” i took this to be KC registered as i had never heard of any other registration for dogs. however when i went to pick up said registration i found my pup was DlCR registered which actualy meant i had bought a mongrel !! my dog came microchipped so i rang the petlog company and they told me my dog was registered with Pet Track and when i rang them they transfered the ownership into my name so i didnt have to pay the DLRC any money. Please dont let your heart rule your head like i did and buy a puppy from Pets 4 us. I have since had to pay a lot of money for vet treatment for my puppy as she has a bad tummy and something wrong with her mouth !! allthough i agree that some KCregistered pups have problems i can honestly say that the breeder i bought my previous dogs from produced lovely dogs with no problems other than those that come with old age. I have since found out that dogs 4 us get their puppies from Puppy farms and these people are breeding puppies that the K Club wouldnt touch with a bargepole ! too late for me, i fell in love with my pup and even if they would take her back i couldnt let her go. I could set up a lyns dog lovers registration site today and ask people to pay me to register their dogs with me and could probably get money off people for a certificate i can make at home ! pLEASE DONT PAY THE DLRC ANY MONEY IT JUST GIVES YOU A GLORIFIED BIRTH CERTIFICATE WITH DETAILS OF HISTORY THAT CANT BE CONFIRMED AND COULD WELL BE MADE UP. LYNN
November 7th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Both my Bitches are DLC reg, both have checks at there vets, they are in perfect health, there pups also are in perfect health, I have no problems selling any of my pups, they go to lovely homes, to people who want a pet not a show dog, I often recieve updated photographs of my pups as they grow into adult dogs from the owners who love and adore them.
All I ask anyone who is wanting a new puppy is to stay well away from puppy farms and eventually they’l have to close down,when you go to view the pups you want to be going to home, where you can see the love and affection, you’l know in your head and heart exactly what your buying.
Im very Happy to register my Dogs and Pups with THE DLClub. Ive been with them since they set up and I find them to be very thorough and efficient with any corrospondence i have had with them. And would like to Thank Deborah Winters.
December 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Many thanks Deborah
December 8th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Fao Lynn Robinson;
Just a thought,if you didn’t transfer your dogs ownership into your name then the original breeder could request duplicate papers for your dog anytime (as it will still be in breeders name) this is how kc and all Pedigree registries work,this is one reason to transfer the ownership.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I have recently purchased a DLRC Shih tzu puppy that is a very very good quality puppy with no problems at all.
My next door also purchased a Shih tzu puppy this week that is KC Reg and its parents had been bred from so much the puppy had all sorts of problems and had to be returned to the breeder who has a house and a garden full of cages that are covered over all day and night so the dogs dont bark.
Each of her cages had a dog and a litter of puppys in .All her dogs and puppys are KC Registered and all of them need the RSPCA to come and save them.
I used to be all for the KC as my other dog is a KC dog but these dogs are never checked up on and most of them are used as breeding machines to make money.
I am really really pleased that I ignored getting another KC and went for a DLRC dog as she is in 100 times better condition than that poor miserable pup my next door could have ended up with.
KC dont check up on there registered dogs or care on what state of dogs are being used so I now know that a KC dog dosnt mean you are getting a good breed or quality of dog at all.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:23 pm
The Kennel Club has a system where by a breeder can endorse a puppy/litter such that any subsequent offspring cannot be registered with the Kennel Club. A breeder would do this for one of two reasons, either the dog/bitch has serious genetic faults, in which case it should not be registered at all, or because the breeder wishes to limit the availability of good breeding stock to ensure that they limit who can breed KC pedigree dogs. I believe that most endorsements are made for the latter reason, that is, for personal gain. The only option for an owner with an endorsed pedigree is to register with DLRC.
If the Kennel Club wish to be the recognised registration club, they should ban the corrupt endorsement of pedigrees, and embark on a program that would allow DLRC registered dogs to be registered with the KC provided that the pedigree can be validated against KC records. That is, I have a DLRC dog, all of who’s grandparents were KC registered – that dog should be accepted by the Kennel Club for KC registration
May 13th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
i am not a breeder but have registered my litters with dlrc an im quite happy with the service, i have kc reg dog and my bitch isnt but my bitch.s parents were but when we come 2 breed are bitch aged 2years the kennel club said she can not be registered because she is too old! my kc dog was bought because his owners payed alot of money for him when they clearly cudnt afford to a keep or house a saint bernard both my dogs have super pedigree an my now pups have certificates from dlrc to show that there bred 4 pets not show, kc bragg about the ability 2 show bein kc reg when show dogs lives are full of miserry bein dragged pillar to post 4 a piece of coloured ribbon and the ability 2 add money on pups they sell an ownwers 2 stick there nose in the air!! atleast dlrc state clearly the dogs r 4 pets only an they care 4 any dogs to be registered van dont turn u away 4 pethetic reasions like the kennel club. i will continue 2 register my bitch and all there litters with dlrc, most of these puppy farms are kc reg dogs/puppies, fix them problems and get use to the fact ur not the only one’s in the dog regisertion business! i have seen many kc dogs that look like mongerls, kc means nothin 2 me as all i care about is providing people with a breed they love, money is no object an bein kc registered doesnt make u or ur dogs perfect! peole should care about loving there dogs not the papers i they come with!
July 15th, 2009 at 10:49 am
1. I have bred several litters of KC reg Cavaliers but was finding it increasingly difficult to find healthy dogs to breed from – I prefer mine to be fit, happy, able to see (no clouded eyes), have healthy hearts, good sized heads, walk enjoyably – that kind of thing, which in humankind we take as a basic human right.
2. The KC gene pool is now far too narrow for good health, resulting in all sorts of problems (as above – or try any of the national papers for fuller information). Failing that; do remind me why the BBC won’t film Crufts anymore?
3. With regard to not being able to fiddle the KC; as long as you’ve got pedigrees (not necessarily the dogs….), then it is just as possible as with the DLRC.
4. The only solution to keeping a pedigree and having a healthy dog, is to go wider than the KC and, the DLRC is the only other vaguely reliable alternative. This gives some kind of parental history and a wider gene pool, thus healthier dogs – looks like a no-brainer to me. Of course, if any of you readers just care about what your dog’s worth; you poor, poor things.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:35 pm
i have just been reading all your notes, and must say as yet im not a member of DLRC but i do intend to. i have found the KC far too picky and quite frankly not helpful at all. i have pedigree dogs but couldnt register one because her breeder alought they where registered and so where her parents did not register her litter. and on that i was refused… i found this very anoying and unfair. If you have a proper pedigree pooch then you should be able to register it… and i think breed it if you so wish to so long as the health and checks are kepted up to date, in my opinion the KC is more for poeple who wish to show dogs and purly get more money out of it. what about the people with pedigrees who just love thier pets and dont want to show them..AS FOR INBREEDING then they should be fined and banded from even owning any animals its sick!!!!.
So im sorry (barking up the wrong tree) but i think you out of order and quite frankly dont know what your talking about..
there are people out there that just loves thier pets you know. and i do intent to register mine with DLRC…..
September 6th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
We recently brought a puppy from a member of DLRC. On visiting the vets he was underweight and became extremely ill, spending 4 days in the vets hospital. At 10 weeks old, he looks no more than 7 weeks. The breeder was feeding him Neto’s dog food and only twice a day. I believe the mother has had many many litters hence the small puppies. Perhaps Trading Standards should have a look at some of these breeders……….
September 30th, 2009 at 2:03 am
I was a KC breeder for many many years. Please do take my word for it that when purchasing a KC breed you are NOT receiving a superior animal of that breed in ANY sense of the word!.
I could tell you endless stories about KC breeders & their underhanded escapades, plus the lack of moral & ethical care to their animals, but to be quite frank with you all the memories aren’t so pleasant that i wish to recall.
I can tell you this much though, there is, & has always been a tow-the-line or you’re shunned attitude amongst themselves as breeders. I’m 79years old now & bred pedigree’s for almost forty years as a KC member, & i experienced & witnessed throughout those years snobbish hypocrisy, fraudulant use of paperwork & animals, the outing of members who’d refuse to comply to the pressure of committing unethical practices from other breeders, crimes of cruelty against animals on an unimaginable scale, (& i say crimes because they really were/are crimes) inter-breeding on a level that really was quite obvious to any person with even one braincell as being a of huge mistake & detriment to the dogs abilities, not only to perform, yet also to function as any dog should be able too.
The Breeder of today hasn’t got better at all, if anything they’ve only got better at hiding they’re misdeeds from the world outside of the KC. All the practices that were occurring 10, 20, 30, & 40years ago are definitely still happening as i type, & will still be doing so in the decades to come.
My advice to anyone looking for a pedigree dog with all the attributes, grace, nobility & good long health that a pedigree dog should rightfully have – would be to stay well away from long established clubs such as this one is.
If your able to find pedigree animals from family home breeders, then that’s where you should be buying from. In my mind at least 80% of KC breeders are only fatcat type money making “charlatans”, who know absolutely squat about sustaining any breeds intricate characteristics.
I’d personally say that when weighing up the two sides, clubs like Dogs Lovers are most likely allowing a much healthier, & less stressed, stronger, happier pedigree to be produced from loving family calm homes.
Remember, dogs have been domesticated for over four thousand years, & our homes have been their natural environment for a very long time!. It’s where they belong now & flourish best. Not at puppy farms, Crates, kennels, breeding pens & boxes.
Think about it………. !
December 26th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I have just been given a ‘pedigree’ certificate issued by the DLRC for a friends cocker. I was amazed to read that a cocker bitch I own is the mother! She isnt. She is neutered. She is KC registered and a breeder in Cheshire has registered a dog with the same name ans same ancestry with the DLRC. The parents, grandparents, gt grandparents all bear the same name as my bitch. IT IS A FAKE, the breeder has used the DLRC to create a ficticious pedigree for a cocker spaniel. Why, I ask, couldnt the DLRC and KC talk to each other to prevent such scams, a simple Google check by DLRC would have revealed the fraud? I am left wondering how complicit the DLRC are in this subterfuge?
January 15th, 2010 at 4:28 am
Hello, great site!. How do I subscribe to your RSS feed to ensure I get notifed when you make new posts? Thank you