AKC VS APRI: Which Is A Better Dog Registry?

Even though the American Kennel Club (AKC) is the leading dog registry in the industry, other dog registries such as America’s Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI) have their unique benefits, services, and resources to offer.

Both organizations are dedicated to providing valuable services for dog owners, hence, it is imperative that you understand how both registries compare.

Whether you’re looking to register a purebred dog, participate in events, or access educational resources, both AKC and APRI have something to offer.

Without further ado, let’s compare the two registries in terms of their history, benefits, services, and helpful resources they provide.

Quick Comparison Between AKC And APRI

AKC:

• Established in 1884
• An impeccable reputation for commitment to dogs and responsible ownership
• Offers official registration certificate, eligibility to participate in events, pet insurance coverage, 1st vet visit, additional resources
• Promotes canine health through research, instructional materials, responsible breeding
• Organizes dog shows and events and offers Good Citizen Program
• Requires proof of lineage, ownership information, payment, and processing time for registration
• Excellent customer support, reachable via phone or email

APRI:

• Established in 1992
• Committed to providing prompt, polite, and cost-effective services to pet owners
• Offers access to dog’s pedigree, ability to provide papers for future litters, proof of ownership, purebred status documentation, protection against laws, legal/custody issues, overseas travel, user-friendly educational program
• Hosts educational dog shows and events, values all dogs equally
• A straightforward registration process requires basic information and payment
• Customer support available via phone, email, website
• Dual registration is available for dogs already registered with another registry.

What Is the AKC Dog Registry?

Being the pioneering dog registry in America, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has consolidated its stance as the most reputable in the industry. The AKC maintains an extensive database of purebred dogs, provides valuable resources to dog owners, and hosts events that showcase the beauty and athleticism of canines.

History

With a common goal to establish a centralized, authoritative organization for the registration of purebred dogs in the United States, a group of committed dog aficionados founded the AKC in 1884.

The AKC has an impeccable reputation for its dedication to canine welfare and support of responsible canine ownership over the years.

The organization now has over 5,000 affiliated clubs and registers nearly one million dogs annually.

Benefits & Services

Official AKC Registration Certificate: Upon registering your dog with the AKC, you will receive a frameable registration certificate that verifies your dog’s breed and lineage. This certificate acts as a record of your dog’s name in the AKC Registry and is crucial for breeders and owners who want to uphold breed standards as well as the health and temperament of their dogs.

Participation in AKC Events: Registering your dog with the AKC grants eligibility to partake in myriads of beneficial AKC events, including agility, obedience, tracking, field trials, dog shows, junior showmanship, and many others. These events provide opportunities to showcase your dog’s skills, learn from fellow dog enthusiasts, and deepen the bond between you and your pet.

30 Days of Pet Insurance Coverage: Newly registered puppies are eligible for 30 days of pet insurance coverage with AKC Pet Insurance*. Information about this special benefit will be sent to you shortly after registration, providing peace of mind as you welcome your new furry family member.

Complimentary First Veterinary Office Visit: By submitting your email address when registering your new puppy, the AKC will email you a certificate for a complimentary first veterinary office visit, along with a list of participating veterinarians. This valuable benefit ensures your puppy starts on the right paw with professional veterinary care.

Additional Registration Packages: The American Kennel Club (AKC) provides additional registration packages that come with useful resources and services for dog owners, such as an AKC collar tag that offers lifetime recovery services, a three-generation AKC pedigree, a one-year subscription to AKC Family Dog magazine, and a video on dog care and training. These resources can be valuable in ensuring that your pet is well-cared-for and properly trained.

Canine Health Foundation: The AKC promotes canine health and welfare through a number of programs, including the AKC Canine Health Foundation. To reduce the likelihood of genetic problems in dogs, this organization supports scientific research into issues relating to canine health, offers instructional materials, and promotes responsible breeding.

Dog Shows and Events

The AKC organizes and sponsors numerous dog shows and events throughout the year, showcasing the beauty, athleticism, and skills of dogs across various categories such as conformation, agility, obedience, and rally.

The prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show and the AKC National Championship are prime examples of these events. Not only do dog shows and events offer competition, but they also help educate the public about responsible dog ownership and the importance of preserving purebred dogs

Many dog enthusiasts attend AKC dog shows to stay up-to-date on breed standards and connect with fellow dog owners.

The AKC also offers dog owners a path to their Good Citizen Program. This is designed to encourage responsible owners to train their dogs to be well-rounded. The initiative welcomes dogs of any breed or ancestry and provides an excellent chance for pet owners to establish deeper relationships with their furry friends and improve their dogs’ obedience skills to a great extent, just as humans can strengthen their connections with their peers and enhance their abilities.

Registration Process and Requirements:

To register a dog with the AKC, owners must meet specific requirements and provide the necessary documentation:

Proof of the dog’s lineage: A completed and signed registration application from the breeder, which includes information about the dog’s sire (father) and dam (mother), their registration numbers, and the litter number.

Ownership information: entails the owner’s name, address, and contact information.

Payment: The appropriate registration fee is submitted with the application. AKC registration starts from $39.99 for individual dogs.

Upon processing and approval of the application, the owner will receive an official AKC Registration Certificate verifying the dog’s breed and lineage.

Customer Support and Assistance:

The AKC is dedicated to providing excellent customer support and assistance to dog owners and breeders. Their knowledgeable and friendly staff can be reached via phone or email for assistance with registration, or events.

To reach AKC (American Kennel Club) customer support, you can call their toll-free number at 919-233-9767. You can also shoot an email to info@akc.org or use the contact form available on their website.

What Is APRI Dog Registry?

America’s Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI) is an organization committed to providing prompt, polite, and cost-effective services to pet owners. They ensure integrity in documenting pedigrees and registering purebred dogs.

The organization prioritizes animal welfare, the preservation of high-quality bloodlines, and individuals’ right to pet ownership. Additionally, they offer a user-friendly educational program on dog care, taught by veterinarians and accessible through a one-call system.

History

America’s Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI) has been in operation since 1992 and has a history of registering pets from all 50 states and foreign countries. APRI is registered with the Better Business Bureau as a corporation with 15 employees.

In its mission statement, APRI declares its aim to be the best registry of purebred dogs globally, providing high-quality documentation and exceptional customer service at a reasonable price. They are committed to educating breeders and improving the health and quality of every dog registered with their service.

APRI also sponsors dog shows with a focus on education, which sets them apart from other registries that prioritize looks and performance. The organization values all dogs equally, regardless of their performance in the show ring.

APRI has faced criticism from certain dog owners who view the organization as a front for puppy mills. These individuals claim that the lack of stringent standards and emphasis on registration over breeding quality makes APRI more susceptible to these inhumane practices.

Benefits & Services

Access to your dog’s pedigree: APRI provides you with a detailed record of your pet’s lineage, including their parents, grandparents, and other ancestors.

Ability to produce papers for future litters: With an APRI registration, you will have the necessary documentation to prove the purebred status of any future litters of your dog.

Proof of ownership: APRI provides you with proof of ownership of your pet, which can be important in the event of legal disputes.

Documentation of purebred status: APRI provides you with documentation of your dog’s purebred status, which can be important for showing or breeding purposes.

Documentation of your dog’s name, owner, and lineage: With an APRI registration, you will have a complete record of your dog’s bio-data, which can be useful for future reference.

Protection against restrictive legislation: APRI provides pet owners with protection against restrictive legislation that may be enacted in the future.

Protection against legal and/or custody issues: APRI can help protect you and your pet in the event of legal and/or custody issues.

Documentation for overseas travel: APRI provides you with the necessary documentation for your pet to travel overseas, which can be important for pet owners who travel frequently

Educational program: APRI provides a user-friendly educational program on dog care, taught by veterinarians, which pet owners can access through a one-call system. In addition, the organization hosts dog shows and events designed to be family-friendly, with an emphasis on education rather than performance and conformation.

Registration Process and Requirements

The registration process itself is straightforward. You can fill out a form on their website that asks for important information about your dog, such as breed, name, birth date, gender, and more. After submission, you will receive the certificate of registration at your mailing address. The processing and delivery time can be up to a month. APRI accepts pets without pedigree documentation.

You will need to pay a fee of $20, which covers the cost of registration and a dog tag. However, there may be additional fees for other services, such as a designer certificate, a pet photo on the certificate, 3, 4, or 5-generation pedigree packages, a microchip, or a photo pendant.

Dual Registration

APRI also offers dual registration for dogs that are already registered with another legitimate registry. Dual registering with APRI does not affect your dog’s registration with the originating registry, and it allows your dog to be registered with both APRI and the originating registry.

To dual register your dog with APRI, you will need to send a copy of its current registration certificate to APRI. If you are not listed on the certificate as the current owner, be sure to include a copy of the back of the certificate with the transfer information filled out. You can send the certificate via mail, fax, or email.

It’s important to note that APRI must be able to verify a complete 3-generation pedigree on all dual registrations. If they are unable to verify the pedigree, the dog will be registered with Pet Records of America (PRA), a subsidiary of APRI for dogs lacking complete pedigrees. Once a pedigree is obtained, APRI will upgrade the dog’s registration from PRA to APRI at no additional cost.

Dog Shows and Events

America’s Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI) is known for hosting dog shows that are focused on education, rather than just performance and conformation. These events are designed to be family-friendly, and APRI takes pride in creating a welcoming and educational atmosphere for participants.

APRI also offers events that are dedicated to specific breeds, offering breeders and pet owners the opportunity to meet and learn from experts in their respective fields. The shows often feature breed-specific demonstrations, seminars, and training sessions, providing a unique platform for learning and growth.

You can register for APRI shows by sending entries to the show clubs via address and email on the calendar page of their website.

Customer Support and Assistance

APRI offers various methods for customers to receive support and assistance. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s registration, the process, or any other aspect of the services offered by APRI, you can contact their customer support team.

Contact Information:

Phone: For a swift response, APRI’s customer support team can be reached by phone at 479-299-4418.

Email: Customers can also contact APRI via email at ca@aprpets.org.

Website: APRI’s website also offers a contact form for customers to submit their inquiries or concerns.

Please get in touch with customer service if your Certificate of Registration hasn’t arrived after 21 mailing days. They’ll be able to assist you in keeping track of your certificate and guarantee that it will arrive on time.

The customer service staff can help you with the procedure if you need to make a change to the registration of your pet.

For a $5 cost, corrected paperwork can be mailed out, but the team will be glad to assist you throughout the procedure.

Can I register my APRI dog with AKC?

An APRI-registered dog can only be registered with AKC if it can be traced back to an AKC lineage. To assess your eligibility, the AKC will require the submission of the dog’s pedigree documentation and registration certificate from APRI and any other supporting documentation from the breeder.

If the pedigree demonstrates a continuous AKC lineage, the dog may be eligible for AKC registration for a fee of $30 with no penalty fee for late registration.

Final Thoughts: Which Is A Better Dog Registry Between AKC And APRI

When choosing between AKC and APRI, it’s important to consider the benefits each registry offers. AKC is the oldest and most established registry, offering a wide range of events, resources, and services. APRI is a more affordable option with a focus on education, offering a user-friendly program on dog care and the preservation of purebred bloodlines.

Ultimately, the choice between AKC and APRI depends on personal preference and the specific needs of the dog owner.