diff --git a/client/src/components/DogForm.jsx b/client/src/components/DogForm.jsx
index 34a2b20..3eac5be 100644
--- a/client/src/components/DogForm.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/DogForm.jsx
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ function DogForm({ dog, onClose, onSave, isExternal = false }) {
   const effectiveExternal = isExternal || (dog && dog.is_external)
 
   useEffect(() => {
+    fetchDogs()
     if (!effectiveExternal) {
-      fetchDogs()
       fetchLitters()
     }
     if (dog) {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ function DogForm({ dog, onClose, onSave, isExternal = false }) {
 
   const fetchDogs = async () => {
     try {
-      const res = await axios.get('/api/dogs')
+      const res = await axios.get('/api/dogs/all')
       setDogs(res.data || [])
     } catch (e) {
       setDogs([])
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ function DogForm({ dog, onClose, onSave, isExternal = false }) {
         ...formData,
         is_champion: formData.is_champion ? 1 : 0,
         is_external: effectiveExternal ? 1 : 0,
-        sire_id: effectiveExternal ? null : (formData.sire_id || null),
-        dam_id: effectiveExternal ? null : (formData.dam_id || null),
+        sire_id: formData.sire_id || null,
+        dam_id: formData.dam_id || null,
         litter_id: (effectiveExternal || useManualParents) ? null : (formData.litter_id || null),
         registration_number: formData.registration_number || null,
         birth_date: formData.birth_date || null,
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ function DogForm({ dog, onClose, onSave, isExternal = false }) {
             gap: '0.5rem',
           }}>
             <ExternalLink size={14} />
-            External dog — not part of your kennel roster. Litter and parent fields are not applicable.
+            External dog — not part of your kennel roster.
           </div>
         )}
 
@@ -250,32 +250,31 @@ function DogForm({ dog, onClose, onSave, isExternal = false }) {
             </div>
           </div>
 
-          {/* Parent Section — hidden for external dogs */}
-          {!effectiveExternal && (
-            <div style={{
-              marginTop: '1.5rem', padding: '1rem',
-              background: 'rgba(194, 134, 42, 0.04)',
-              borderRadius: '8px',
-              border: '1px solid rgba(194, 134, 42, 0.15)'
-            }}>
-              <label className="label" style={{ marginBottom: '0.75rem', display: 'block', fontWeight: '600' }}>Parent Information</label>
+          {/* Parent Section */}
+          <div style={{
+            marginTop: '1.5rem', padding: '1rem',
+            background: 'rgba(194, 134, 42, 0.04)',
+            borderRadius: '8px',
+            border: '1px solid rgba(194, 134, 42, 0.15)'
+          }}>
+            <label className="label" style={{ marginBottom: '0.75rem', display: 'block', fontWeight: '600' }}>Parent Information</label>
 
-              {littersAvailable && (
-                <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: '1.5rem', marginBottom: '1rem', flexWrap: 'wrap' }}>
-                  <label style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.5rem', cursor: 'pointer', fontSize: '0.95rem' }}>
-                    <input type="radio" name="parentMode" checked={!useManualParents}
-                      onChange={() => setUseManualParents(false)} style={{ width: '16px', height: '16px' }} />
-                    <span>Link to Litter</span>
-                  </label>
-                  <label style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.5rem', cursor: 'pointer', fontSize: '0.95rem' }}>
-                    <input type="radio" name="parentMode" checked={useManualParents}
-                      onChange={() => setUseManualParents(true)} style={{ width: '16px', height: '16px' }} />
-                    <span>Manual Parent Selection</span>
-                  </label>
-                </div>
-              )}
+            {!effectiveExternal && littersAvailable && (
+              <div style={{ display: 'flex', gap: '1.5rem', marginBottom: '1rem', flexWrap: 'wrap' }}>
+                <label style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.5rem', cursor: 'pointer', fontSize: '0.95rem' }}>
+                  <input type="radio" name="parentMode" checked={!useManualParents}
+                    onChange={() => setUseManualParents(false)} style={{ width: '16px', height: '16px' }} />
+                  <span>Link to Litter</span>
+                </label>
+                <label style={{ display: 'flex', alignItems: 'center', gap: '0.5rem', cursor: 'pointer', fontSize: '0.95rem' }}>
+                  <input type="radio" name="parentMode" checked={useManualParents}
+                    onChange={() => setUseManualParents(true)} style={{ width: '16px', height: '16px' }} />
+                  <span>Manual Parent Selection</span>
+                </label>
+              </div>
+            )}
 
-              {!useManualParents && littersAvailable ? (
+            {!useManualParents && littersAvailable && !effectiveExternal ? (
                 <div className="form-group" style={{ marginTop: '0.5rem' }}>
                   <label className="label">Select Litter</label>
                   <select name="litter_id" className="input"
@@ -313,8 +312,7 @@ function DogForm({ dog, onClose, onSave, isExternal = false }) {
                   </div>
                 </div>
               )}
-            </div>
-          )}
+          </div>
 
           <div className="form-group" style={{ marginTop: '1rem' }}>
             <label className="label">Notes</label>