Toy Poodle Puppy Documents: ENCI/FCI Pedigree, Microchip, Pet Passport and Parents’ Health Tests

Alma Lady Kennel, Villanova Mondovì, Piedmont, Italy

When a Toy or Miniature Poodle puppy leaves the kennel, it comes with a set of documents that certify its identity, its pedigree and its health, together with the checks carried out on its parents and the terms of the sale. Knowing how to read these documents is the most practical way to recognise a reputable Toy Poodle breeder.

In this guide Jonathan Marini, Master Breeder (Master Allevatore Cinofilo) and owner of Alma Lady Kennel (kennel affix recognised by ENCI/FCI, veterinary authorisation ASL CN1 no. 245CN029), explains which documents are issued, what they are for, how to check them and which ones may arrive after the puppy goes home. Alma Lady is a professional kennel, run as a registered farm business with veterinary authorisation from ASL CN1.

The legal references reflect the rules in force in Italy and in the Piedmont region at the time of writing.

Summary table: who issues each document and what it is for

1. Microchip and the SINAC national pet registry

The microchip is the dog’s official identification system. It is a small capsule placed under the skin by a veterinarian, containing a unique 15-digit code.

This code, comparable to the dog’s “tax code”, links the individual animal to its health, pedigree and contractual documents.

In Piedmont, Regional Law 16/2024 as amended (art. 5) governs the identification and registration of dogs, requiring microchipping and registration within sixty days of birth and in any case before the sale.

Since 10 March 2025 the former regional registry ARVET has been merged into SINAC, the Italian national information system for companion animals, as explained on the Piedmont Region page on the new national pet registry.

The change of ownership must be notified to SINAC within 15 days of the sale (Piedmont Regional Law 16/2024, art. 5, paragraph 3).

Buyers from outside Piedmont are advised to check with their competent health authority that the transfer of ownership registered by the breeder has been correctly recorded. Buyers living abroad should check the registration requirements of their own country.

2. ENCI/FCI Pedigree: the certificate of ancestry

The ENCI/FCI Pedigree certifies that the puppy is a purebred Poodle, registered in the Italian stud book kept by ENCI (Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana, the Italian Kennel Club), which is recognised by the FCI.

It contains the dog’s identification details, its registration number, its ancestry back to the great-great-grandparents, the titles and health screenings of its ancestors, the breeder’s and owner’s details and any changes of ownership, as described on the ENCI page on the pedigree certificate.

Why the pedigree arrives after the puppy

Litter registration follows a two-step ENCI procedure.

The breeder submits Form A within 25 days of birth and Form B within 90 days, after identifying each puppy with a microchip.

The pedigree is then issued and printed exclusively by ENCI’s head office and sent to the breeder or to the ENCI Delegation of the new owner.

Because Alma Lady normally hands puppies over at around 90 days, the document may not be available yet. In that case it is sent as soon as ENCI issues it.

What matters is that the litter has been correctly registered according to the procedure.

The ENCI/FCI Pedigree does not state Toy or Miniature size

Under FCI Standard No. 172, the Poodle is a single breed with four sizes: Toy, Miniature, Medium and Standard.

The puppy’s pedigree does not state the size.

Since 1 April 2023, size confirmation has been recorded directly in the stud book after assessment by an expert judge and, for the Poodle, not before 12 months of age.

Until then, size remains a forecast based on the parents and on the puppy’s growth, not an official fact.

Further reading: the four Poodle sizes according to the FCI standard and at what age a Toy Poodle stops growing.

Transferring the ENCI/FCI Pedigree to the new owner

To register the pedigree in the new owner’s name, the original document signed by the seller and the change-of-ownership form signed by both parties must be submitted to an ENCI Delegation.

This can be done by the breeder or by the buyer.

A transfer recorded in the pet registry does not automatically update the pedigree: they are two separate procedures handled by different bodies.

For buyers living abroad, the kennel club of the destination country normally requires a document marked “Export Pedigree” to register the dog in its own stud book, following the same principle that ENCI applies to dogs imported into Italy.

3. Vaccination booklet

The vaccination booklet collects the records of vaccinations, parasite treatments and veterinary procedures carried out on the puppy.

Each entry shows the date, the product used, the batch label and the veterinarian’s signature.

4. Veterinary health certificate

The certificate documents a clinical examination carried out by the veterinarian a few days before handover and put in writing.

Piedmont Regional Law 16/2024 as amended, art. 18, governs the obligations of breeders when animals are sold.

The certificate issued for Alma Lady puppies shows the veterinarian’s name and signature, the date of the examination, the microchip number and the outcome of the examination.

Any particular features found during the check, such as an umbilical hernia or a testicle not yet descended, are also recorded in the “Condition of the dog at sale” annex to the contract.

5. EU pet passport

The EU pet passport is used for the movement of pets within the European Union and is not normally required for a sale within Italy.

It is issued by the ASL veterinary service to dogs already identified by microchip and registered in the pet registry. It contains the owner’s details, the animal’s identification details and its vaccinations, including rabies.

Since 22 April 2026, non-commercial movements of pets have been governed by the new EU framework, which includes Regulations (EU) 2026/131 and 2026/705.

As a general rule, the first rabies vaccination can be given from 12 weeks of age and, for movements subject to this requirement, at least 21 days must pass before it is valid for travel.

Whether a puppy can travel also depends on the destination country, the type of movement and any conditions or exemptions provided for by the applicable rules.

Before arranging an international move, it is therefore advisable to check the current requirements with the competent veterinary authorities.

More practical advice in our guide with tips for traveling with a Toy Poodle.

6. Parents’ genetic tests and health certificates

Many inherited diseases cannot be detected in a puppy during its first months of life. Choosing the breeding dogs on the basis of specific genetic tests reduces the risk of passing on the inherited conditions tested for.

For this reason, an important part of the health documentation concerns the puppy’s parents.

For the Toy Poodle, Alma Lady Kennel carries out the following on its breeding dogs:

• Genetic tests at specialised laboratories (Laboklin or Vetogene): progressive retinal atrophy prcd-PRA and rcd4-PRA, von Willebrand disease type 1, neonatal encephalopathy (NEwS) and degenerative myelopathy.
• Certificate for patellar luxation and avascular necrosis of the femoral head (Legg-Calvé-Perthes), issued by the FSA or CeLeMaSche screening centres.
• DNA deposit at an ENCI-accredited laboratory.

Each report must identify the breeding dog by name and microchip and state the laboratory or screening centre that issued it, together with the date.

A report without a microchip number does not prove which dog it refers to.

At handover, Alma Lady provides copies of the parents’ results. The kennel’s breeding dogs are also presented on the pages of our Toy Poodle stud males and Toy Poodle breeding females.

DNA deposit

The deposit consists of storing a biological sample, taken from blood or a swab, at an ENCI-accredited laboratory.

All Alma Lady breeding dogs have their DNA on deposit. The same procedure is carried out for each puppy, and its certificate is given to the new owner.

The stored samples allow any parentage stated on the pedigree to be verified.

7. Sales contract and condition of the dog at handover

The contract identifies the seller, the buyer and the dog by its microchip, setting out the terms of the sale and the documents handed over.

At Alma Lady it comes with the annex “Condition of the dog at sale”, completed together with the buyer while examining the puppy.

The annex describes the dog’s characteristics, records any particular features noted by the veterinarian and includes the list of documents handed over.

This way both parties have a written record of the puppy’s condition at the time of sale.

8. Care instructions and puppy needs

At handover, Alma Lady gives the new owner instructions for caring for the puppy, information on its behavioural needs and on legal obligations, as required by art. 18, paragraph 2, of Piedmont Regional Law 16/2024 as amended.

The instructions accompany the puppy through its first weeks with the family and complement the information in the vaccination booklet.

How to recognise a reputable Toy Poodle breeder from the documents: 7 checks

1. Same microchip everywhere. The 15-digit code must match on the booklet, health certificate, passport, contract and, once available, the pedigree.
2. Microchip scan. At the first visit, ask your veterinarian to check it with a scanner.
3. ENCI registration. Check that the litter has been correctly registered. In Italy, “breed certificates” issued by private associations are not a substitute for the ENCI/FCI Pedigree.
4. Parents’ reports. Check that the certificates show name, microchip, laboratory and date.
5. Health certificate. Check that it is recent, dated, signed and refers to the puppy’s microchip.
6. Age at handover. Not before two months. A very young puppy with a passport from another country is a warning sign.
7. Changes of ownership. Make sure the pet registry procedures are completed and keep the pedigree for the subsequent transfer at ENCI.

What changes with EU Regulation 2026/1818

Regulation (EU) 2026/1818 on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 10 August 2026 and entered into force on 30 August 2026.

It applies in stages: some provisions will apply from 31 August 2028, while other obligations have later deadlines, depending on the activities and the parties concerned.

The regulation introduces a more uniform European framework for the identification, registration and traceability of dogs and cats, including verification tools for online sales listings.

For buyers of a puppy in Italy, where identification and registration are already mandatory, the new rules may help make information on the animals’ origin and on the people who sell them more transparent.

The actual application of each obligation will have to be assessed according to its deadline and the relevant implementing provisions.

The documents provided by Alma Lady Kennel

Every Toy and Miniature Poodle puppy is normally handed over at around 90 days of age, with the following documents:

• microchip and registration in the SINAC national pet registry;
• vaccination booklet with the vaccinations and treatments given;
• EU pet passport for buyers living abroad;
• veterinary health certificate;
• copies of the parents’ genetic tests and orthopaedic certificates;
• DNA deposit certificate for the individual puppy, from an ENCI-accredited laboratory;
• sales contract with the annex “Condition of the dog at sale”;
• care instructions and information on the puppy’s needs.

The ENCI/FCI Pedigree is handed over with the puppy if it is already available. Otherwise it is sent later, as soon as ENCI issues it.

Current and planned litters are on the page of Toy Poodle puppies available at Alma Lady Kennel.

Families’ experiences are collected in the family reviews of Alma Lady Kennel, while the history of Alma Lady Kennel since 1996 is told on the About us page.

To see a sample of the documents before booking, you can contact Alma Lady Kennel by WhatsApp, phone or email.

Frequently asked questions about puppy documents

Why can the ENCI/FCI Pedigree arrive after the puppy?

ENCI issues the pedigree once the litter registration procedure is complete, which requires Form B to be submitted within 90 days of birth and after the puppies have been identified.

The document is printed at ENCI’s head office and then posted.

Because Alma Lady normally hands puppies over at around 90 days, the pedigree may not be available yet and is therefore sent to the owner as soon as it is issued.

Does the Poodle’s ENCI/FCI Pedigree state whether it is Toy or Miniature?

No. The pedigree states the breed, Poodle, but not the size.

Since 1 April 2023, size confirmation has been recorded in the ENCI stud book after assessment by an expert judge, which for the Poodle takes place no earlier than 12 months of age.

A puppy’s size is therefore a forecast, not a pedigree entry.

Does a change of ownership in the pet registry also update the pedigree?

No. They are two separate registrations.

The transfer in the pet registry (SINAC) concerns the dog’s legal identity, while the pedigree transfer is made at an ENCI Delegation by submitting the original document signed by the seller and the change-of-ownership form signed by both parties.

Has the puppy had all its vaccinations when it arrives home?

It depends on the age at handover.

A puppy handed over at around 90 days arrives with at least its first two vaccinations recorded in the booklet, in line with the kennel’s protocol drawn up by the kennel’s veterinarian.

Any subsequent boosters should be scheduled with your own veterinarian.

How soon can I take the puppy abroad?

The requirements depend on the destination country and on whether the movement is commercial or non-commercial.

For travel subject to the standard EU rabies rules, the first vaccination can be given from 12 weeks of age and at least 21 days must pass before it is valid.

In these cases the minimum age is generally about 15 weeks. Special conditions and possible exemptions apply, to be checked with the competent veterinary authorities before departure.

Why are the patella certificates for the parents and not for the puppy?

The official patella assessment is carried out on adult breeding dogs: for ENCI purposes the check is only allowed after 12 months of age, so it cannot be performed on a puppy.

The check documents the dog’s orthopaedic condition at the time of the examination and is an important element of breeding selection.

The best guarantee is to have the certificates of both parents, issued through a screening centre such as FSA or CeLeMaSche.

What is the DNA deposit certificate for?

It certifies that a biological sample of the dog is stored at an ENCI-accredited laboratory.

Alma Lady deposits the DNA of all its breeding dogs and of each puppy, and gives the new owner the certificate for their own dog.

The samples allow any parentage stated on the pedigree to be verified.

If the parents are tested, is the puppy guaranteed to be healthy?

When both parents are genetically clear of the variants responsible for the specific inherited diseases tested, the puppy is not expected to develop those diseases because of the variants tested.

However, the results are not a general guarantee against genetic or acquired diseases and do not cover non-inherited or untestable conditions.

The parents’ checks are therefore complemented by the puppy’s veterinary health certificate and the guarantees provided by law.

How can I tell whether a pedigree is genuine?

In Italy, the pedigree of a purebred dog is issued exclusively by ENCI, which is recognised by the FCI.

The document shows the stud book registration number and the dog’s identification microchip.

“Breed certificates” issued by private associations do not have the same value and do not allow entry to official dog shows.

What does the new EU regulation change for puppy buyers?

Regulation (EU) 2026/1818 introduces new rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, applying in stages according to the set deadlines.

The new measures include tools to make information on the animals sold and on online sales listings verifiable.

For buyers, these measures may bring greater transparency about the animals’ origin and the people who sell them.

More answers on the breed’s temperament, care and characteristics are collected in our Toy and Miniature Poodle FAQ.

Legal sources: Piedmont Regional Law no. 16 of 10 April 2024 as amended (arts. 5, 7, 16, 18, including art. 18, paragraph 2); State-Regions Agreement of 24 January 2013; Regulations (EU) 2026/131, 2026/705 and 2026/1818; ENCI FAQ and stud book regulations.
Last updated: October 2026.