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.

CNFC or NFTCH - Canadian counter part to our NFC.

CNAFC or NAFTCH - Canadian counter part to our NAFC.

CFC or FTCH - Canadian counter part to our FC

CAFC or AFTCH - Canadian counter part to our AFC.

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 F/AFC title.  These are the dogs to look for in your pedigree!

Hunt Test Titles - Hunt Test titles can be earned through the AKC and UKC.  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 and UKC are designed to resemble actual hunting situations.  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 intermediate level at which most hunting retrievers run. If the dog has a Junior title only 4 passes are required.

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. If the dog has a Senior title only 5 passes are  required.

SHR   Started Hunting Retriever - This is an UKC title that is earned by  receiving 4 passes at the Started level. A Started pass is worth 5 points.

HR   Hunting  Retriever - This is an 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 an 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.

GRHRCH  Grand Hunting Retriever Champion - This is an UKC title that is earned by acquiring 200 additional points in the Finished and Grand categories after the HRCH title is earned for a total of 300 points.

UH  Upland Hunter - This is an 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.

Dog Shows

Ch  Conformation championship - Dog conforms to the breed standard and has gained the necessary number of points in competition with other dogs of the same breed.

Ch*  Champion with Group placements - Dog has taken placement(s) in competition with other dogs in the same Group (Sporting).

BIS  Best in Show - Dog has won the Group judging, then defeated winners of other Groups to take the top award at dog shows.

Obedience & Tracking

CD  Companion Dog - The first level of obedience. Dog must pass Novice level at obedience trials three times to receive this title.

CDX  Companion Dog Excellent - Open is the intermediate level of competition. Dog must pass Open three times to receive this title.

UD  Utility Dog - Utility is the highest level of competition. Dog must pass Utility three times to receive this title.

UDX  Utility Dog Excellent - Dog must pass Open and Utility at ten separate trials.

OTCH  Obedience Trial Champion - In Canada this is awarded to any dog that has passed the three obedience levels. In the U.S. this is a highly regarded competitive title.

TD  Tracking Dog - The first level of tracking.

TDX  Tracking Dog Excellent - The second level, much more difficulty.

VST  Variable Surface Tracking - The third level, the most difficulty.

CT  Champion Tracker - The title of Champion Tracker is awarded to a dog that earns all three tracking titles. 

GRCA - Golden Retriever Club of America Titles

OS  Outstanding Sire - GRCA award

OD   Outstanding Dam - GRCA award

FDHF  Field Dog Hall of Fame - A dog must amass 25 points at licensed field trails, or win the National Field Trial.

ODHF  Obedience Dog Hall of Fame - A dog must hold the UD title and win five High in Trails, three from an advance class.

WC  Working Certificate.  A  beginning field title through GRCA. Requires one pass.

WCX  Working Certificate Excellent. An advance field title through the GRCA.

*= A Sanctioned Field Trail Placement

** = Any Placement or a Judge's Award of Merit (JAM) in Derby, or a third or fourth placement of a JAM in a Qualifying stake in a AKC trail.

***= Qualified All-Age Dog, which means a first or second placement in a Qualifying stake, or any placement of a JAM in a Open All-Age Stake at an AKC trail.