Creating Your Account

Everything you need to sign up, including what an invite code is and why you need one.

Already have an account? Head to the Sign In page instead.

What you'll need

Which kind of account you want — Pet Owner or Pet Breeder — you pick this yourself on the form
An invite code, if one is currently required (see below — this isn't always the case)
Your name, email address, and a password
Your mailing address (state/province and postal code are optional — not every country uses them)

Step 1: Go to the registration page

Click Create Account in the top navigation menu, or go directly to the registration page.

Step 2: Pick your account type, and an invite code if needed

Choose Pet Owner or Pet Breeder — this is your choice, not something an invite code decides for you. Whether the invite code field is required depends on a site-wide setting an admin controls:

users.xkd.org/register

Account type

Invite code

If a code is submitted, it must match the account type picked above.

Account type	What it means
Free Pet Owner	Free forever. Up to 4 pets, 3 photos per pet.
Free Pet Breeder	Free forever. Up to 8 pets, plus access to Litters.
Member	A paid tier with higher pet/photo limits — see Billing & Membership.

If an invite code is currently required and you don't have one, reach out to help@xkd.org and we'll get you one. Some codes are also linked to a specific promotional plan — using one of those gives you that plan instead of the standard free tier.

Step 3: Fill in your details

Enter your first and last name, email address, and a password. Your email is how you'll sign in — make sure it's one you check regularly.

Step 4: Answer the five security questions

These stand in for a "forgot password" email link. If you ever get locked out, you'll answer these five questions to reset your password — so pick answers you'll actually remember months from now, not necessarily the most "correct" one.

Step 5: Add your mailing address

This is kept private and is never shown on any public pet profile. State/province and postal code can be left blank if your country doesn't use them.

Step 6: Submit and you're in

Once you submit the form, you're automatically signed in and taken to your dashboard. You'll see a welcome message with your brand-new XKD number — this is your permanent, unique certified-owner ID. Write it down or take a screenshot; you'll see it again on your Profile page any time.

What's next?

Two things, in whichever order you like:

Add your first pet — see Adding Your First Pet.
Take the certification quiz for your account type so your pets can display "Passed" — see Taking the Certification Quiz.

A closer look at each field

Field	Notes
First / Last name	Last name is optional. Your first name alone is used in a few places if you leave it blank, like account activity summaries.
Email	Must be unique — you can't register twice with the same address. This is also your sign-in username, so double-check it for typos before submitting.
Password	Choose something you don't use anywhere else. You'll also set up five security questions in the same form as a backup way in.
Address fields	Only your country is required. State/province and postal code are skippable for countries that don't use them. None of this is ever shown publicly.

Frequently asked questions

My invite code says it's invalid. What now?
Double-check for extra spaces or a typo — codes are case-insensitive but still need to match exactly otherwise. Also make sure it matches the account type you picked (a Pet Breeder-only code won't work if you selected Pet Owner, and vice versa). If you're sure it's right and it's still rejected, the code may have expired or been retired; email help@xkd.org for a fresh one.

Can I change my account type later?
Not directly through self-service registration — it's locked in once you submit the form. If you registered as a Pet Owner but need Pet Breeder features (like Litters), reach out to support and an admin can adjust your account.

Do I need a credit card to sign up?
No. Self-registration always creates a free account (Free tier), whether or not you used an invite code. Paid Member plans exist but nothing is charged automatically — see Billing & Membership.

I made a typo in my security question answers. Can I fix it?
Yes — go to your Profile page any time after registering and re-save your answers under "Password recovery questions." New answers replace the old ones immediately.

Is my mailing address ever shown to other members?
Never. It's used strictly for your own account records and is never displayed on any public pet profile or visible to other members.

Tip: Bookmark the sign-in page after you register — it's the fastest way back in on future visits.