Pedigree dogs
What is a pedigree dog?
We all know breeds of dogs such as German Shepherd, Bull Mastiff, Jack Russell and Golden Retriever, but what is it that makes them pedigree?
Long-haired German Shepherd
Basically, a pedigree dog in the UK is a breed recognised by the Kennel Club [KC]. Breeders know the bloodlines of their dogs and a puppy bought from a KC registered breeder will have a pedigree certificate showing it's parents, grandparents and great grandparents, more than many humans know about! But it is no guarantee your dog will be healthy or not suffer from one of the ailments caused by inbreeding.
If you just want a dog as a family dog and companion, the pedigree certificate is really only of minor interest and will mean very little in terms of dog beaviour and all round health. It only has any importance if you decide to breed from your dog, as then his or her details being recorded at the Kennel Club will vouch for the puppies' pedigree status, and provide the necessary ancestor names to qualify with the KC. Apart from that, a dog is a dog, and there is no absolute advantage in having one with a pedigree. A rescued pedigree breed won't have papers, but will have the same breed characteristics as others of that breed, and often cross-bred dogs are indistinguishable from pedigree ones. For information on pedigree breeders and pedigree breeds click here.
Our section on breed rescue centres has a list of centres by breed and we would recommend you contact one of these first if you fancy a particular dog breed. They will require a donation, but it will be far less than the price a breeder will require. You may not get a puppy this way although they do sometimes have them for rehoming, but puppies can be destructive and demand a lot of attention, and a rescued dog is often very affectionate out of gratitude for being taken from a horrible situation, and they are likely to bond very quickly with anyone who gives them a home. Sometimes they may have behavioural problems, but these can be sorted out with patience once the animal is safe and secure in a loving home. Once problems associated with being in kennels have gone, it's easier to deal with any others. But don't let all this talk of problems put you off, many if not most of the dogs are fine, it was just their owners who didn't shape up, and they will be fine with you.
As Grouch Marx once said 'Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend, inside a dog it's too dark to read.'