Keeping a pedigree that survives the paperwork
Pedigree paperwork is remarkably good at disappearing. A digital family tree keeps sire and dam lines somewhere you can actually find them — and lets a rescue dog have a tree that honestly starts with question marks.
Five generations, and unknowns allowed
You can record sire and dam lines up to five generations, with registration numbers and kennel names where you have them. Most ancestors will only ever be a name on a document, which is fine — they do not need accounts.
Unknown is a legitimate entry. A tree with two known parents and eight blanks is still worth keeping.
Offspring and future generations
Breeders can attach offspring, which over time builds a living generational archive rather than a static chart. The intent is that a kennel’s record survives its record-keeper.
How it connects to genetics
A verified DNA report and a pedigree answer different questions — one is what the markers say, the other is what the paperwork says. Keeping both, clearly labelled, is more honest than merging them into one confident-looking chart.