|
AKC Conformation, Performance & Companion Titles for Golden Retrievers
Our golden retrievers compete in a wide array of sports--hunting, agility, obedience, tracking and conformation--under the auspices of many national and international organizations, such as dog registries like the American, Canadian or United Kennel Clubs or activity-specific organizations, like the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA).
In each of these activities, dogs can earn "titles" after passing one or more set tests. Depending upon how they accomplish these titles, they can also earn honors that distinguish particularly high achievement. Titles are represented by acronyms either before or after the dog's name. Although many poo-poo titled dogs, we believe they represent something very important to the owner, the dog and the breeder of that animal.
Goldens were created as working animals and thus true goldens need a job. As we've stated elsewhere in this website, we do not believe that golden retrievers are the great American pet, happy to lie around on the couch all day. That is what toy dogs were created for. Goldens originated as the partners of humans in their search for food, thus the characteristics that make them successful in this endeavor are the hallmark of the breed. The work ethic, desire to work with people (biddability), intelligence and stability represented by performance titles is one of the ways that we assess our dogs and breeding program. We think Sandy Mowery said this very well:
Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores; a title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory, for about as long as anything in this world can remain.
And though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.
A title says your dog was intelligent, adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.
In addition, a title says that you love your dog. That you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed and in the end your faith was justified.
A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return.
And when that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend. Volumes of praise in one small set of initials after the name.
An obedience title is nothing less that the true love and respect, given and received and recorded permanently.
Here is a listing of some of the titles you may see either on our dogs or in their pedigrees. The first table gives AKC titles since that is the venue that most of our dogs compete within. The second table gives other titles you may also see on our dogs.
| AKC Prefix Titles (Championship): |
AKC Suffix Titles: |
| Ch. |
Champion (conformation) |
CD |
Companion Dog (obedience) |
| FC |
Field Champion (field trial) |
CDX |
Companion Dog Excellent (obedience) |
| AFC |
Amateur Field Champion (field trial) |
UD |
Utility Dog (obedience) |
| MACH |
Master Agility Champion (agility) |
UDX |
Utility Dog Excellent (obedience) |
| NFC |
National Field Champion (field trials) |
TD |
Tracking Dog (tracking) |
| NAFC |
National Amateur Field Champion (field trial) |
TDX |
Tracking Dog Excellent (tracking) |
| OTCH |
Obedience Trial Champion (obedience) |
VST |
Variable Surface Tracking Dog (tracking) |
| NOC |
National Obedience Champion (obedience) |
JH |
Junior Hunter (AKC hunt test) |
| DC |
Dual Champion (Ch. and FC) (no golden in the U.S. has achieved this title in 30 years) |
SH |
Senior Hunter (hunt test) |
| TC |
Triple Champion (Ch., FC, or HC & OTCH) (no golden in the U.S. has yet achieved this title) |
MH |
Master Hunter (hunt test) |
| CT |
Champion Tracker (TD, TDX and VST) (tracking) |
NA |
Novice Agility
(NAP = Preferred) |
| |
|
NAJ |
Novice Agility Jumper w/Weaves
(NJP = Preferred) |
| |
|
OA |
Open Agility |
| |
|
OAJ |
Open Jumper w/Weaves
|
| |
|
AX |
Agility Excellent |
| |
|
AXJ |
Agility Excellent Jumper w/Weaves |
| |
|
MX |
Master Agility Excellent |
| |
|
MXJ |
Master Excellent Jumper w/Weaves |
| |
|
NF |
Novice FAST |
| |
|
OF |
Open FAST
|
| |
|
XF |
Excellent FAST |
| |
|
MXF |
Master Excellent FAST |
| |
|
FTC |
FAST Century |
| |
|
TQX |
Triple Q Excellent |
| |
|
RN |
Rally Novice |
| |
|
RA |
Rally Advanced |
| |
|
RE |
Rally Excellent |
| |
|
RAE |
Rally Excellent |
| |
|
CGC |
Canine Good CitizenŽ certificate (not an actual title) |
Golden Retriever Club Of America (GRCA), United Kennel Club (UKC), International and Other Titles & Honors
(Note:
AKC-certified pedigrees only include AKC titles, but Golden Retriever Club of America, Canadian Kennel Club, United Kennel Club and other titles and additional abbreviations may be shown on custom pedigrees for an individual dog. UKC titles are shown before the dog's name, preceded by a U- if there is a similar title from the AKC.)
| Titles/Awards (Suffix) |
Commonly Used Abbreviations: |
| SDHF |
Show Dog Hall of Fame (GRCA conformation) |
BOB |
Best of Breed (conformation) |
| OBHF |
Obedience Hall of Fame (GRCA) |
BOS |
Best of Opposite Sex (conformation) |
| FDHF |
Field Dog Hall of Fame (GRCA) |
RWD/ RWB |
Reserve Winners Dog/Bitch |
| ADHF |
Agility Dog Hall of Fame (GRCA) |
WD/WB |
Winners Dog/Bitch |
| OS |
Outstanding Sire (GRCA) |
BW |
Best of Winners |
| OD |
Outstanding Dam (GRCA) |
Group 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th (conformation) |
Sporting Group Placements |
| VC |
Versatility Certificate (GRCA) |
BIS |
Best in Show (conformation) |
| VCX |
Versatility Certificate Excellent (GRCA) |
BISS |
Best in Specialty Sweepstakes |
| WC |
Working Certificate (GRCA & GRCC) |
BOSS |
Best of Opposite Sex Specialty Sweepstakes |
| WCI |
Working Certificate Intermediate (GRCC) |
JAM |
Judge's Award of Merit (Conformation or Field) |
| WCX |
Working Certificate Excellent (GRCA & GRCC) |
Res. JAM |
1st Judge's Award of Merit (field trial) |
| CCA |
Conformation Certificate Assessment (GRCA) |
200 |
Perfect Score of 200 points in obedience |
| *** |
"Qualified All Age Dog" 1st or 2nd
placement in Qualifying Stake, or any placement or a JAM in Open All-Age State at an
AKC Licensed or Member Field Trial giving championship points. (GRCA) |
HIT |
High in Trial (Obedience - regular classes) |
| ** |
Any placement or a JAM in Derby or a 3rd or
4th placement or a JAM in a Qualifying Stake, in an AKC Licensed or Member Field Trial. (GRCA) |
HC |
High Combined (Obedience-Open B & Utility B) |
| * |
Placement in sanctioned Field Trial (GRCA) |
OAA |
Open All-Age (Field) |
| UH |
UKC Upland Hunter (UKC) |
AAA |
Amateur All-Age (Field) |
| SHR |
Started Hunting Retriever (UKC) |
Qual. |
Qualifying (Field) |
| HR |
Hunting Retriever (UKC) |
NQ |
Not Qualifying |
| HRCH |
Hunting Retriever Champion (UKC) |
QQ |
Agility Double Qualification |
| GRHRCH |
Grand Hunting Retriever Champion (UKC) |
ptd. |
Pointed (conformation) |
| GMH |
Grand Master Hunter (Canadian) |
maj ptd. |
Major Pointed--dog has won one or more major awards (conformation) |
| |
|
Am. |
American |
| |
|
Bda. |
Bermuda |
| |
|
Can. |
Canadian |
| |
|
Eng. |
English |
| |
|
Int. |
International |
| |
|
Jap. |
Japanese |
| |
|
Mex. |
Mexican |
| |
|
PR |
Puerto Rican |
| |
|
CC |
Challenge Certificate (England) |
| |
|
Sh.Ch. |
Show Champion (England) |
|