Retriever Titles: What do these Letters
Mean?
- NFC -
National Field Champion - This title
is awarded once yearly to the dog that wins the National Open. It is the
most coveted 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
only retriever breed that currently has a DC is the Chesapeake Bay
Retriever.
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 situations. Each organization has different
requirements yet is equally difficult and resembles 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 (4 with a JH title) 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 (5 with a SH title) 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 acquiring 40 points. 30 of those points must be at
the Seasoned or Finished level. A 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 acquiring 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 acquiring 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 acquiring 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 acquiring 300 points at
the Senior level. This is the highest possible title offered by NAHRA.