Sire and dam: reading the parent labels

Read the relationship literally

A pedigree’s parent labels identify a claimed relationship, not the current owner, trainer or handler. For example, a breeder may advertise a pup by a named sire, while a result sheet lists the person who handled that sire. Those are different connections and should be stored as such rather than turning everyone mentioned into an owner.

An evidence example

If two records use the same short parent name, retain the issuing registry and registration reference where available. Do not attach a famous dog’s pedigree because the call name matches. The underlying record should identify which dog was intended, and a correction should be traceable if a later certificate changes the relationship.

What ancestry cannot promise

A parent’s own achievement remains the parent’s achievement. It does not award the same title to offspring or establish their health, temperament or future working suitability. Use pedigree labels to understand ancestry, then seek the relevant individual evidence for the claim actually being made about a pup or adult dog.

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• Royal Kennel Club — stud dog terminology and records (opens in a new tab)

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