About OpenStudbook
A community pedigree archive for animals outside the closed-registry world
Mission
OpenStudbook is a community-maintained pedigree archive for animal populations that have no access to closed kennel registries — rare breeds, village dogs, constructed breeds, working-dog populations, and conservation programs. We believe that honest data is more valuable than institutional gatekeeping, and that pedigree knowledge belongs to the breeders and communities who created it.
What makes us different
- Evidence levels. Every parent link carries a source label — papers, breeder record, oral tradition, or assumed. No other open registry distinguishes these. A dog with a paperwork-documented pedigree and a dog with an orally-transmitted pedigree both deserve a record — but they deserve different honesty labels.
- Open to any species. Dogs, cats, horses, cattle, sheep — if it has a pedigree, it can have a record here.
- COI display. Inbreeding coefficient (COI) and ancestor loss (AVK) are calculated and shown on every record and mating plan, helping breeders make health-conscious decisions.
- No gatekeeping. Any breed can be added immediately. No kennel club membership required. No fees for individual breeders.
- 32 languages. Multilingual by design — because the breeders who most need this platform are rarely English speakers.
What a record here is — and is not
A record on OpenStudbook is a community data entry — not an official breed certificate, not FCI registration, not AKC papers. It is the digital equivalent of a breeder's notebook made searchable and shareable. Evidence levels tell you exactly how trustworthy each pedigree link is. We do not verify claims; we label them.
Anyone relying on OpenStudbook records for purchase decisions, veterinary care, or legal purposes should treat them as community information and conduct their own verification where needed.
Data philosophy
- Oral tradition is valid knowledge. A community that has bred dogs for 200 years without paperwork is not less credible than a kennel club founded in 1873.
- COI from pedigrees is an estimate, not a measurement. We are explicit about this. Genomic inbreeding (ROH-based F) and pedigree-based COI differ, especially in populations with unrecorded history.
- Missing data is information. A pedigree completeness of 30% tells you something important about what is not known.
- Breeders own their data. We do not sell or commercially exploit any data entered on this platform.
Methodology
COI is calculated using Wright's (1922) Path Coefficient method, implemented as a server-side recursive pedigree traversal up to 10 generations. See our Methodology page for the full technical description, algorithm, and known limitations.
Contact & feedback
OpenStudbook is a personal project. For data corrections, breed additions, or partnership inquiries, use the suggestion feature on any breed record, or open an issue on GitHub.
Legal
Personal data is processed under GDPR. See our Privacy Policy for full details on data collection, your rights, and how to request deletion of your data.