Pedigree Legend
I added this page to help everyone out with dog pedigree terminology. A lot of people like to look at a pedigree and see a lot of red writing which means the dog has some sort of title but they have no idea what the letters before or after the name stand for so here is a legend you can use, please copy and print it and use for your own records so when you are looking at puppies, you can understand more about the pedigree that the dog has.
For the most part, if you find a puppy that has a lot of titles in it’s pedigree that should tell you that the dog/puppy has the genes to be good at retrieving. However, some of the best retrievers in the world have never run a hunt test and never earned a title because they don't get the opportunity. I have seen many outstanding retrievers that no one even knows about due to the lack of time or money to get the dog trained and shown. There is absolutly nothing wrong with that. A great dog that you can get out of bed in the morning and go on a successful bird hunt with is a wonderful addition to any family no matter what it's pedigree looks like.
UKC (United Kennel Club)
Started (SHR)
Seasoned (HR)
Finished (HRCH)
AKC( American Kennel Club) CKC (Canadian Kennel Club)
Junior (JH)
Senior (SH)
Master (MH)
Is there a difference between a hunt test & a field trial? YES -- the field trial system is set up much different than a hunt test. The marks and blinds are much longer and difficult. Also, in hunt test your dog & you are competing against the test alone. In a field trial you are competing against every other dog running. Field trial titles are AFC, FC, NAFC, NFC, etc.
NFC National Field Champion - This title is awarded once yearly to the dog that wins the National Open. It is the most desired of all retriever field titles.
NAFC National Amateur Field Champion - This title is awarded once yearly to the dog that wins the National Amateur. This competition is much like the National Open except that all handlers are amateurs.
FC Field Champion - This title is awarded to dogs that have won an Open at a licensed field trial and have acquired 5 additional Open points.
AFC Amateur Field Champion - This title is earned as above (FC) when handled by an amateur or by winning an Amateur stake at a field trial and acquiring 10 additional Amateur points.
DC Dual Champion - This title is awarded to dogs that have both a FC and have earned its' bench Ch.
The above titles are reserved for only the best retrievers as they can only be earned by WINNING through competition. It is estimated that less than 1% of all retrievers have earned the FC/ AFC title. These are the dogs to look for in your pedigree!
Hunt Test Titles - Hunt Test titles can be earned thorough the AKC, UKC and NAHRA. Hunt Tests are Non-Competitive tests in which the dog (and handler) is measured against a standard. If the dog (and handler) meet the standard, a "pass" is earned. The AKC, UKC and NAHRA Hunt Tests are designed to resemble actually hunting. Each organization has different requirements yet is equally difficult and resemble different hunting scenarios. Hunt Tests are the most popular field events.
JH Junior Hunter - This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 4 passes at the Junior level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the beginning level in the AKC Hunt Test program.
SH Senior Hunter - This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 5 passes at the Senior level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the level at which most hunting retrievers run.
MH Master Hunter - This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 6 passes at the Master level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the highest possible Hunt Test title offered in the AKC.
The UKC offers a stake for beginning (Junior/Started) level dogs, but does not offer a title for this level. A started pass is worth 5 points.
HR Hunting Retriever - This is a UKC title that is earned by aquiring 40 points. 30 of those points must be at the Seasoned or Finished level. An Seasoned pass is worth 10 points.
HRCH Hunting Retriever Champion - This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 100 points, 60 of which must be earned at the Finished level. A Finished pass is worth 15 points.
GHRCH Grand Hunting Retriever Champion - This is a UKC title that is earned by aquiring 220 points at the Finished level and 80 points from the HRC Grand Hunt. 1 Grand pass is worth 40 points. This is the highest possible hunt test title offered in the UKC.
UH Upland Hunter - This is a UKC title that is available for those that train their dogs for upland bird hunting. 40 points must be acquired. A pass is worth 10 points.
SR Started Retriever - This is the entry level NAHRA title. This title is earned by acquiring 10 points. At this level, a pass is worth 2.5 points.
WR Working Retriever - This is a NAHRA title that is earned by aquiring 20 points in the Intermediate level. At this level and higher, a pass is worth 5 points.
MHR Master Hunting Retriever - This is a NAHRA title that is earned by aquiring 100 points, 80 of which must be earned at the Senior level.
GMHR Grand Master Hunting Retriever - This is a NAHRA title which is earned by aquiring 300 points at the Senior level. This is the highest possible title offered by NAHRA.
QAA- This stands for a dog that has qualified all age or All age qualified meaning the dog placed first or second in a qualifying division Field Trial or received a Judges Award of Merit placing or better in any amateur or open event and is now able to compete in a Limited Open event (meaning that dogs running in these “Limited” events are restricted to those having obtained QAA status).
Here is also a section that will include all of the AKC awarded titles along with where they are located in the name and what they mean.
| Abbreviation | Placement | Translation | Description |
| CH. | before name | Champion of Record | the dog has beaten enough other members of its breed to be awarded the championship certificate |
| SBIS | before name | Specialty Best in Show winner | the dog has won Best of Breed at a specialty (show where only that breed is entered - usually a highly prestigious win) |
| BIS | before name | All-breed Best in Show winner | the dog has won BIS at an All-breed dog show |
| AOM | before or after name | Award of Merit winner | AOM is one of the highest awards that is given at a specialty or championship show. It signifies that the dog was in the final running for Best of Breed, and, in the judge's opinion, a top quality specimen worthy of wins at a National level. |
| PAW | before name | Pedigree Award Winner | the dog was ranked #1 in the national rankings for the year, having defeated the most dogs of its breed for the year. There is only 1 PAW per breed, per year. |
| Abreviation | Placement | Translation | Description |
| CD | after name | Companion Dog | first obedience title, earned in the novice class |
| CDX | aftername | Companion Dog Excellent | second title, open class |
| UD | after name | Utility Dog | third title, utility class |
| UDX | after name | Utility Dog Excellent | higher than both UD and CDX, includes both classes |
| OTCH | before name | Obedience Trial Champion | highest obedience honor, very difficult to achieve. Earned on a point system, with points being awarded for double-qualifying scores and dogs defeated at the open and utility levels. |
| Abreviation | Placement | Translation | Description |
| NA | after name | Novice Agility Dog | earned in Novice Standard titling (3 legs) |
| OA | after name | Open Agility Dog | earned in Open Standard titling (3 legs) |
| EA | after name | Excellent Agility Dog | earned in Excellent Standard titling (highest class) (3 legs) |
| MX | after name | Master Agility Excellent | for earning 10 additional legs in Excellent level |
| NAJ | after name | Novice Jumpers With Weaves | earned in Novice gaming (3 legs) |
| OAJ | after name | Open Jumpers With Weaves | earned in open gaming (3 legs) |
| EAJ | after name | Excellent Jumpers With Weaves | earned in excellent gaming (3 legs) |
| MXJ | after name | Master Agility Excellent Jumpers | for earning 10 additional legs in Excellent Jumpers |
| MACH | before name | Master Agility Champion | earned on a point system (points accrued by qualifying scores and dogs defeated) |
| Abbreviation | Placement | Translation | Description |
| RN | after name | Rally Novice | dog has earned 3 legs (qualifying scores) in the Novice Rally class |
| RA | after name | Rally Advanced | dog has earned 3 legs (qualifying scores) in the Advanced Rally class |
| RE | after name | Rally Excellent | dog has earned 3 legs (qualifying scores) in the Excellent Rally class |
| RAE | after name | Rally Advanced Excellent | dog has earned 10 double-Qs in BOTH the Advanced and Excellent classes. Every 10 double-Qs counts as another RAE title (RAE-2, RAE-3, and so on) |
| Abbreviation | Placement | Translation | Description |
| TD | after name | Tracking Dog | passed a standard tracking test after pre-certifying |
| TDX | after name | Tracking Dog Excellent | passed a tacking excellent test |
| Abbreviation | What it is |
| UDT | Dog has earned both a TD and a UD |
| UDTX | Dog has earned both a TDX and a UDX |
| Abbreviation | Placement | Translation | Description |
| JC | after name | Junior Courser | dog has passed two coursing instinct tests |
| SC | after name | Senior Courser | earned by four clean runs in competition |
| MC (MC2, MC3, etc.) | after name | Master Courser | each Master Courser is earned by 25 clean runs |
| FC | before name | Field Champion | dog has defeated enough other running hounds to be awarded this certificate |
| Abbreviation | Translation | Placement | What it is |
| DC | Dual Champion | before name | combination of conformation CH and a working championship (i.e. FC or OTCH) |
| TC | Triple Champion | before name | A dog with a CH, FC, and OTCH |
| Abbreviation | Placement | Translation | Description |
| FCH | after name | ASFA Field Champion | dog has earned 100 points (including mandatory 1st and/or 2nd placements) in competition |
| LCM (LCM2, LCM3, etc.) | after name | Lure Courser of Merit | in addition to the FCH, dog has earned 300 points and necessary 1st and 2nd placements in competition |
| Abbreviation | Translation |
| NAC | Novice Agility Certificate |
| OAC | Open Agility Certificate |
| EAC | Elite Agility Certificate |
| NJC | Novice Jumpers Certificate |
| OJC | Open Jumpers Certificate |
| EJC | Elite Jumpers Certificate |
| NGC | Novice Gamblers Certificate |
| OGC | Open Gamblers Certificate |
| EGC | Elite Gamblers Certificate |
| NATCH | NADAC Agility Trial Champion |
| Abbreviation | Placement | Translation | Description |
| CGC | after name | Canine Good Citizen | AKC-sponsored title given for successfully demonstrating basic obedience and manners training in a test situation (available to all breeds, and mixed breeds) |
| TT | after name | Temperament Tested | given for passing a variety of tests aimed at assessing natural/inheritable temperament (available to all breeds) |
| HIC | after name | Herding Instinct Certified | for passing a herding instinct test (available to all breeds) |
| VC | after name | Versatility Certificate | A parent club-sponsored award Exact requirements vary from breed to breed, but for Pharaoh Hounds, it is given for earning titles in three different areas of competition (usually a CH, a FCH from either ASFA or AKC, and a novice level working title [in obedience, tracking, rally, or agility]) |
| VCX | after name | Versatility Certificate Excellent | A parent club-sponsored award Exact requirements vary from breed to breed, but for Pharaoh Hounds, it is given for demonstrating advanced accomplishments in at least three different areas of competition. Higher conformation achievements (beyond the CH), plus a higher-level coursing title, or a higher-level working title, in addition to the regular VC requirements. |
| ROM or ROMX | after name | Register of Merit or Register of Merit Excellent | A parent club-sponsored award given to sires and dams based on the accomplishments of their get and on their individual health certifications. Based on a detailed point system. |