Verified answer

First of all, there is no such thing as an AKC registered breeder. Breeders are people and the AKC is a record keeping organization of purebred dogs. So, if you look at the AKC site, there will be a list of breeders who breed AKC dogs of that breed, which doesn't mean the breeder is registered, just that their dog's are. Now, about the breeder in your town.....it means that they are breeding AKC registered purebred dogs, not that they would be listed on the AKC site, unless they signed up to be, so to speak. If every single breeder of AKC registered dogs was listed on the AKC site, you would have to live to be 3000 years old in order to read them all. I know this probably sounds confusing, so let me try to give you a few more examples: Purebred does NOT always mean well bred and any dog is only as good as it's breeder. Any person on this planet can take two AKC registered dogs of the same breed and breed them, but that doesn't mean that they are free of genetic health issues. That is NOT a concern of the AKC. Another example would be if you looked at adds in the back of Dog Fancy magazine, thinking that they are all good breeders. That magazine does NOT endorse these adds, but they are PAID for by the people who want to advertise in such a place, which COULD make them a BACK YARD BREEDER or even a small scale puppy mill. What you really should do is to go to the website of the National breed club of that breed, and look at the breeder referral list in your area, and research those breeders listed. It would be nice if you would tell us the breed, and therefore maybe we could help you more. If you are looking for a Doberman Pinscher, for example, you would Google the Doberman Pinscher Club of America and look at their breeder referral list, and the same would apply for what ever breed you're interested in.

Add: I'm going to refrain from giving someone a TD tonight, just because, but there is someone who needs it. ANYONE who breeds two AKC registered dogs of the SAME breed, are entitled to register their litter IF both parents have FULL AKC registration vs. LIMITED registration on one or both parents. If EITHER parent of an AKC registered dog is on LIMITED registration, the litter can NOT be registered with the AKC. Along with CONTRACTS, reputable breeders put LIMITED registrations on PET QUALITY pups, meaning they should NEVER be bred because they ARE sub-standard. NO breeder has to jump through hoops to register a litter. They just turn in the infomation that's needed to register their litter, send in the $$$$ and THAT'S IT. So, sorry for typing in caps, but I did that to refrain from giving someone a TD.

A registered breeder is someone, as in a person, who breeds dogs and registers their dogs with the AKC.

An AKC registration is a dog who is registered with the AKC. Not all dogs are listed on the AKC website. But if you look up mom and dad's full names and number you will probably find them.

Remember make sure the breeder is showing the dogs and has titles. And the dogs have working lines, if it's a working breed. Also meet mom AND dad to know what your dog will probably behave like.

A dog is AKC registered if BOTH it's parents are AKC registered. If this is the case, the breeder will HAVE AND PROVIDE copies of the AKC registration of both parents of the pups. AND... the breeder will have registered the litter with the AKC so as to receive paperwork to give new owners so they can choose to register the pups that they purchase.

Not all owners of AKC registered dogs register to be listed as AKC breeders. The AKC has a LOT of regulations they put on breeders before they are allowed to become AKC registered breeders. Some of their regulations are considered over-controlling, overbearing and inappropriate by some breeders and those breeders choose to breed without registering with the AKC as AKC breeders. This does not mean they are not good breeders. It just means they don't like all the heavy regulations put on them by the AKC to be listed as an AKC breeder. Noone is required to be an AKC registered breeder in order to breed two AKC registered dogs.

That's why they are not listed. They don't pay the AKC for being registered breeders. They don't do 100% of the things the AKC demands of AKC breeders. You have to meet them and judge them for yourself. My breeders were not AKC registered breeders and my dog is just what he should be for his breed. -!-

There is no difference. If a dog is AKC, then it's Dam, Sire and Litter are all registered with the AKC. Even if you never send in the AKC papers and pay the registration fee to transfer the puppy to you, it's still AKC.

If you want to find a dog I'd actually suggest going to the parent club and finding a breeder near you that way. Anyone(even bad breeders) can post on the AKC site.

There is an AKC breeder of Merit. This page goes over that: https://www.akc.org/breederofmerit/index.cfm

I believe it just means those are breeders who are producing dogs that match breed standard. Look into how to choose a reputable breeder. This goes over the difference between reputable breeders and BYB: http://www.boxermap.com/reputablebreeder.html

Whether or not they pay for an ad on AKC.com. The breeders you see listed on AKC paid $35 to have their name there. If you read the site, the AKC does not recommend any specific breeder.