NetKennel Weekly Website Wednesday – Week #17

The Importance of Listing Reference Dogs on Your Website

This week I want to talk about the importance of putting reference dogs on your website.

So, what exactly is a reference dog? Reference dogs are the dogs that show up frequently in your pedigrees — the famous ones, the foundational sires and dams, the dogs from other kennels you’ve bred to, or influential ancestors that shaped your lines. It’s a bit of a catch-all category for the dogs that aren’t currently owned by you but are still important to your breeding program.

Most NetKennel websites include a “Reference Dogs” section by default, unless the owner chooses to remove it. But why keep it? Because those dogs can help generate organic traffic for your site. When someone searches for a well-known dog that appears in your pedigrees, your website has a better chance of showing up in those results. In other words, it’s a subtle way of telling search engines, “These dogs matter to my breeding program — connect me to anyone searching for them.”
Think of it like backlinking within the dog-breeding world — by associating your kennel with well-known dogs, you’re reinforcing credibility and authority around your bloodlines.

The Etiquette Side of It
Is there a downside? Possibly. Some owners or breeders might not appreciate you using their dog’s name to promote your kennel — especially if they’ve invested years into building that dog’s reputation. It’s understandable; from their point of view, you could potentially siphon off attention or traffic meant for them. So what’s the right way to handle it?

• If the dog is alive and you’ve bred to it, always ask permission to feature that dog. It’s a simple courtesy and something you can even include in your breeding agreement.
• If the dog has passed away but plays a major role in your pedigrees, it’s generally acceptable to include them, especially if they’re foundational to your bloodline. Still, a quick message to the original breeder is a nice touch.
• If the dog isn’t connected to your breeding program, skip it. The goal isn’t to name-drop famous dogs for clout — it’s to honestly represent the bloodlines behind your kennel.

Reference dogs are more than just placeholders — they tell a story. They give visitors (and search engines) context about the history and direction of your breeding program. Done thoughtfully, they add legitimacy, improve SEO, and celebrate the great dogs that helped make your kennel what it is today.