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What Does 'PR' Mean?

UKC's definition is as Follows

Purple Ribbon ('PR') Pedigree. In the early part of the 1930s, UKC registered and trademarked with the United States Department of Commerce the Purple Ribbon Pedigree. This pedigree is only offered by the United Kennel Club, Inc., and is the mark of the United Kennel Club purebred dog. The Purple Ribbon designation is awarded to eligible dogs at birth by the United Kennel Club and is signified in all UKC records by the letters 'PR' appearing before the dog's name.

Purple Ribbon-bred dogs have six generations of known ancestors and all 14 ancestors within the last three generations must be registered with UKC (indicated by all 14 ancestors having registration numbers). The absence of a UKC registration number shows that there are some single-registered dogs in the pedigree and no 'PR' pedigree will be issued.

Breeders who wish to produce Purple Ribbon-bred puppies must either: breed Purple Ribbon-registered males to Purple Ribbon-registered females, thereby assuring that the offspring will carry this prestigious designation; or carefully research the pedigrees of potential sires and dams that are not Purple Ribbon bred. If an unregistered ancestor is in the third generation of a sire or dam's pedigree, it is possible for that sire or dam to produce a first generation Purple Ribbon-bred litter. If one or more single-registered dogs appear in the first or second generation of the sire or dam's pedigree, the offspring will not be Purple Ribbon bred.

The registration certificates and pedigrees of Purple Ribbon-bred dogs bear the official 'PR'. The ancestors of Purple Ribbon-bred dogs can be traced for six generations and possibly more-perhaps to the foundation stock of the breed

There have now in the last several years been dogs brought into UKC as Single Registration and many of them do not have all of their generations as registered or qualified in some case to be registered so the PR continues to be a prestigious designation for all breeds registered.

Prior to April of 2005 even single registered dogs could possibly be trusted but any single registered dogs after that date I would be sure to research the pedigree and/or do DNA testing.

This page was written because of recent questions on local message boards about the PR designation and what it means to the Alaskan Klee Kai. Be careful of purchasing dogs from breeders who minimize the importance of pedigree information or the lack there of.

To some the PR status of their dog is unimportant, to others it is. It is OK to not be worried about it and it is equally OK to want that designation. Don't let any one make you feel bad either way. We personally want to know our dogs lines are really registered AKK.

It is not my place as a personal breeder or by any office that I may hold now or in the future to dictate to other breeders on if they should discuss this subject or any other subject concerning their breeding programs or how they judge other breeding programs. I do not intend to be the AKK police and you might want to research those who really wish that a little more as to their motives.