faq & registry basics

PCR (Prestige Canine Registry) is a private, members-only canine registry dedicated to preserving the integrity and lineage of purebred, pedigree, and designer/purpose-bred canines through verified registration, DNA-confirmed parentage, and transparent bloodline records.

No. PCR is 100% private. Accessing any content — including browsing registered canines — requires at minimum a free Associate membership. This ensures a trusted community with no unknowns or time wasters.

Sign up for a free Associate membership to access the platform. From there you can browse registered canines and upgrade to Core or Prestige Ambassador to begin registering your canines.

Embark reads over 200,000 genetic markers — more than twice as many as any other test. More markers means tighter, higher-confidence breed percentages instead of rough guesses.

Other consumer tests read far fewer markers and produce less consistent results. Standardizing on the single strongest test keeps every result held to the same bar. That may change as other labs improve.

No. PCR is an independent, neutral registry. We are not affiliated with any breed club, kennel club, or external registry. PCR's verification standards are based on DNA science and documentation, not organizational affiliation.

Yes. PCR is a U.S.-based platform available to members in all 50 states. All registration, verification, and record access is handled digitally through the platform.

PCR offers three memberships: Associate (free), Core ($80/year), and Prestige Ambassador ($150/year, slot-limited). Each membership unlocks progressively more features and registration capabilities.

Associate members can browse registered canines and explore the platform. To register canines, list litters, or initiate ownership transfers, you must upgrade to Core or Prestige Ambassador.

Log in and navigate to Account Settings or the Membership page. Select your desired membership, review the benefits, and complete the upgrade. PA upgrades are subject to available slots.

Yes. The Associate membership is free and provides access to browse registered canines and explore the platform. Canine registration and listing features require a paid Core or Prestige Ambassador membership.

Yes. Core and PA memberships are billed annually and renew automatically. You will be notified before renewal and can manage or cancel your membership from your Account Settings.

Your canine records remain in PCR's registry regardless of membership status. However, access to registration tools, stud and dam listings, and other active member features requires a current paid membership.

Prestige Ambassador slots are strictly limited. Once all slots are filled, PA membership closes until one becomes available. This preserves the quality and integrity of the PA community for serious, committed breeders only.

PA members receive all Core benefits plus priority placement in search results, access to PA-exclusive features, and ambassador status within the PCR community — recognizing commitment to excellence in the breed.

No. PA memberships are non-transferable and tied to the individual member account. If a PA member does not renew, their slot returns to the available pool for others to claim.

PA applications are submitted through the PCR platform. You'll provide your kennel name, breeding program details, and complete the membership payment. Applications are reviewed and approved by PCR. Slots are strictly limited.

Your kennel name is your official breeding identity within PCR. It is permanent, exclusive to your account, and tied to your public PCR profile. It signals to buyers and other breeders that your program operates under a documented, recognized identity.

Yes. PCR reserves the right to revoke PA status if a member's conduct, documentation, or practices are found to be inconsistent with PCR's standards. PA status reflects a commitment to verified, responsible breeding practices.

Navigate to your dashboard and begin a new canine registration. You'll provide the canine's basic details, parentage information, and supporting documentation. DNA verification is required for all canine registrations.

You'll need the canine's name, breed, date of birth, sex, color, and parentage details. If parents are PCR-registered, they can be linked directly. DNA results are required and must be submitted at the time of registration. Supporting photos may also be included.

Yes. PCR supports standalone registrations for canines without PCR-registered parents. However, lineage integrity scoring is higher for canines with verified, PCR-registered ancestry on both sides.

It depends on the canine's record status. If you purchased a pup from a PCR-registered litter, the pup already has a preliminary record created at litter registration — complete the pup's individual registration under your account to claim ownership and unlock the full record. If you purchased an adult with an existing individual PCR registration, ownership is transferred through PCR's ownership transfer process — not re-registered. The existing record, lineage, and PCR ID remain intact.

Most registrations are reviewed within a business day of submission. Ensuring all required documentation — DNA results — is complete at submission will avoid delays.

If submitted DNA results do not meet the required breed percentage thresholds, the registration will not qualify. PCR recommends verifying your DNA results before submitting. An updated DNA report may be required.

PCR registers purebred and pedigree canines across all recognized breeds. Eligibility is based on verified parentage and breed documentation rather than a restrictive closed breed list.

DNA testing is required for all individual canine registrations and is the foundation of PCR's verification standard. Microchip and health documentation are encouraged but not required for core registration. PCR currently accepts DNA results from approved providers.

Gold tier is for purebred canines confirmed at 90% or above for a single breed through DNA reports. Blue tier is for designer purpose-bred canines — intentional crossbreeds where parent breed DNA meets PCR's thresholds. Both tiers are equally valid within PCR's registry.

No. PCR does not register general mixed breeds. Eligibility is limited to purebred canines (Gold tier) and intentional designer crossbreeds with verifiable, documented parentage meeting PCR's DNA thresholds (Blue tier).

Navigate to Litter Registration from your dashboard. You’ll provide the sire and dam information, whelp date, and puppy details. Both parents should ideally be PCR-registered for full lineage integrity.

When a litter is registered, PCR creates an individual record for each puppy. Once a puppy is placed, the breeder initiates a transfer to the new owner. The new owner claims the transfer and the canine's full record is unlocked on their dashboard — no additional registration required.

All puppies from the litter can be included in a single registration. Each puppy receives their own individual PCR ID, linked to the litter record and both registered parents.

When registering a litter, each puppy is designated either Dynasty Rights (full breeding rights, the default) or Companion Rights (limited rights for non-breeding placement). This designation is recorded on the puppy's PCR record and visible to future owners and breeders.

Yes. PA members can post a Coming Soon litter listing as a preview through their Breeder Program profile. This is a marketing preview — not an official PCR registration — and both parents must be PCR-verified to post.

Initiate a Transfer Request from the canine’s registration page. The current owner submits the request and specifies the new owner. The recipient must have an active PCR membership to accept the transfer.

Yes. At minimum, a free Associate membership is required to receive a transfer. Recipients do not need a Core or PA membership to accept ownership of a canine.

The seller generates a one-time transfer code (OTTC) and shares it with the buyer. The buyer enters it to claim the dog — no second step is required from the seller.

Yes. A transfer fee applies to all ownership transfers. The fee covers the permanent update of the canine's PCR record to reflect the new verified owner.

No. Completed transfers are final and permanently recorded in PCR. We strongly recommend confirming all details with the receiving party before initiating a transfer.

Once a transfer is initiated, the canine's PCR record enters a pending state. The original owner has relinquished their claim — the record is no longer theirs. The new owner has 3 months to create a free Associate account and claim the transfer. Once claimed, the canine's full record is unlocked on their dashboard with no additional registration required. If the 3-month window passes without the transfer being claimed, it expires. At that point, the new owner would need to register the canine through the standard registration process, which requires at minimum a Core membership. It's important to understand that PCR record status does not determine real-world ownership — a canine may be in the possession of someone who is simply unaware of PCR. Should they become aware within the window, claiming the transfer is the fastest and simplest path to accessing their canine's full record.

PCR issues official Registration Certificates for individually registered canines. Each certificate includes the canine's PCR registration number and lineage details.

Once a registration is approved, the certificate is available from the canine’s profile page in your dashboard. You can download it as a PDF for printing or digital sharing.

A pedigree report displays your canine's verified ancestry across multiple generations within PCR records. It is automatically generated from linked registrations and accessible from the canine's profile page.

Yes. Physical certificate delivery is available for an additional fee and can be requested through your canine's profile within your dashboard. Digital certificates are always accessible at no cost.

Yes. Every registered canine has a public PCR ID that can be looked up to verify the registration is authentic. At minimum, a free Associate membership is required to perform a lookup.

An LCR allows a member to formally claim that a canine is the offspring of specific PCR-registered parents, establishing a verified lineage link. It is used when parentage was not established at the time of original registration. The process is a collaborative one — both the claimant and the owner of the claimed parent canine are notified. The existing owner may accept or dispute the claim. If the matter is not resolved between parties, or goes unanswered within the required timeframe, PCR serves as the final authority and makes the determination based on the submitted evidence.

You'll need supporting evidence such as DNA parentage results, breeder documentation, or other verifiable records. PCR reviews each claim individually and may request additional information before approving.

Core or Prestige Ambassador members with a PCR-registered canine may submit an LCR if they believe a verified lineage connection to another PCR-registered canine exists.

Processing times vary depending on the complexity of the claim and the documentation provided. PCR will notify all parties of the outcome once the review is complete.

PCR reviews the submitted DNA documentation, the claimed parentage relationship, and the supporting records of both canines involved. Claims are approved only when the genetic evidence is consistent with the lineage being claimed.