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Registration papers, sales contracts, and guarantees can be very confusing to the new Pug owner. There are several independent registries that offer “papers,” but are they all equal? Contracts and guarantees are as varied as the breeders and sellers who put them together.

What Are Papers?

Registration papers are simply a certificate that identifies your individual puppy by its sire (father) and dam (mother), birth date, and litter or individual registration number. Registration papers are not a guarantee of health or quality and they are not the same as a pedigree. A pedigree is your Pug’s family tree, listing three to five generations of his ancestry.

The American Kennel Club, or AKC, has long been considered the gold standard of registries. The AKC offers registration of puppies, pedigree services, and inspection of breeders. The American Kennel Club is currently the only registry that offers a DNA program. The DNA program can be used to verify parentage, and Pugs that have been DNA tested will appear in a pedigree with their DNA number. The AKC also licenses kennel clubs, which promote conformation events and performance events. If you intend to show your Pug in conformation, agility, or obedience, your Pug puppy should have a litter registration from the AKC.

You may be able to pick your Pug puppy from a litter, or he might pick you!

There are several other registries that offer papers for purebred Pugs. Show breeders will always offer AKC-registered Pug puppies for sale, but you may find puppies from other sources are registered with one of the following:

∎ Continental Kennel Club (CKC) offers registration of purebred Pugs, pedigree services, and limited performance event competitions.

∎ United Kennel Club (UKC) offers registration of purebred Pugs, pedigree services, and conformation and performance event competitions.

∎ American Dog Breeder Association (ADBA) offers registration of purebred Pugs only with a verifiable three-generation pedigree.

∎ American Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI), offers registration of purebred Pugs.

∎ Dog Registry of America offers registration of purebred Pugs and Pug mixes.

Because some of the registries will issue “papers” for Pugs without verifying a pedigree, it is possible that puppies that are registered and come with “papers” may not be purebred Pugs. If the puppy you purchase is not purebred he may not have the laid-back, amiable Pug personality.

Contracts

A purchase contract is a written agreement between the breeder or seller of a Pug puppy and the buyer. It should be a requirement before you agree to purchase any Pug. Without a purchase contract, you will have no legal recourse should your new Pug become ill, or worse yet, die, from an inherited medical condition. A proper contract should include all of the following:

Ask your breeder for a copy of your Pug’s pedigree.

∎ The breeder’s name, address, and phone number.

∎ The seller’s name, address, and phone number (if seller is not the breeder).

∎ The puppy’s name, sex, date of birth, and color.

∎ The puppy’s breed and litter or individual registration number.

∎ The sire’s name and registration number.

∎ The dam’s name and registration number.

∎ A short-term health guarantee.

∎ A long-term health guarantee.

∎ Replacement or refund information.

∎ Buyer’s name, address, and phone number.

∎ Purchase price.

∎ Requirements or obligations of the buyer.

∎ Spay/neuter requirements.

If a written contract is not offered, it is buyer beware. You may be purchasing a puppy that is not purebred, or has a known medical condition. Reputable breeders always use a purchase contract and will provide a copy when asked. A written contract is a safeguard for both the buyer and the seller.

How Good Is a Guarantee?

Health guarantees should be a part of the written contract. A well-written contract, from a reputable breeder, will include both a short-term health guarantee, usually seven to ten days from the purchase date, and a long-term guarantee, usually one to two years from the puppy’s date of birth.

The contract should clearly state what the breeder’s responsibility is should your puppy become ill. Does she intend to replace the puppy, offer a full or partial refund, or pay for medical expenses? Which medical expenses are covered, and which are not, should be clearly stated. Will a second opinion, from a veterinarian of the breeder’s choice, be required before any treatment is started?

Make sure that you are familiar with your Pug’s health guarantee.

As part of the guarantee, the contract should also list any specific requirements that you must fulfill as the puppy’s new owner. Some breeders require an initial visit to a veterinarian within a specific period of time after you take your puppy home. You may also be asked to feed a specific diet to your puppy, or give nutritional supplements. You may need to maintain receipts for those products, in order for the health guarantee to be valid.

If you should ever find it necessary to find a new home for your Pug, whether it is due to a personal issue or a behavioral problem, what is the breeder’s responsibility? A contract should state whether or not the breeder will willingly take back your Pug should you be unable to take proper care of him or find that you can no longer live with him.