AKC Field Trial Titles
The Field Championship titles appear before the name. They are AKC's competitive Field work titles-simulating hunting. Similar to the Hunt Tests but usually much further distances and more demanding tests.
Titles appearing before a dog's name
FC - Field Champion
AFC - Amateur Field Champion
NAFC - National Amateur Field Champion
NFC - National Field Champion
A letter preceding the title indicates the place of origin if a foreign title i.e. CFC - Canadian Field Champion.
These titles are awarded to the retrievers winning a required number of points in competitions against the best field dogs of the entire retriever breeds. These titles are difficult and expensive to attain and indicate the dogs are of superior intelligence, athletic ability, and have a very high desire to retrieve.

FC = Field Champion, dog can be handled by either a professional trainer or an amateur handler. A total of 10 points is needed to earn this title with at least one win in the Open division.
AFC=Amateur Field Champion. The amateur refers to the status of the person handling the dog. A total of 15 points plus a win are required to earn this title.
NFC = National Field Champion, only 1 dog per year earns this title - a sort of Super bowl playoff between top dogs of the year.
NAFC=National Amateur Field Champion. Only 1 dog per year earns this title and is handled by a person with an amateur status (not a professional that received money for training).
*** or QAA = Qualified All-Age. This is not a title but indicates a dog has earned either a 1st or 2nd place in the Qualifying event and is now capable of running the FC or AFC events.
DERBY= division for dogs under 2 years of age. Points are accumulated and a derby dog of the year is noted with the highest points. Generally those with 10 or more points will make the annual Derby list.

The Letter "C" before any of the following titles indicate that the titles were earned in the Canadian Kennel Club sponsored events rather than AKC. For Example CNFC is Canadian National Field Champion. This is not the official CKC manner of titles, it is the Americanized version.

Field Trial titles are the highest competitive AKC test for a hunting retrieving dog. They simulate difficult hunting situations often at long distances requiring excellent marking, trainability and drive from the dog. Dogs retrieve multiple land/water marks at the higher levels and are handled with whistle commands to retrieve birds that the dog has not seen fall (blinds). Points are awarded for placements and the dog needs at least one win and enough points to title. Points are assigned for placements. Only the best dogs title. There are different divisions for amateur handlers, young dogs and an Open division which is open to all, including professional trainers. Each year a National test is held for the Amateur and Open divisions for qualified dogs. The winner of that test is essentially the American retrieving dog of the year. All Field trial titles appear before the dogs official AKC name.

AKC Conformation titles
CH - Champion - Conformation or Bench Champion - this title indicates that the dog has won a required number of points in competition judging conformation, against the best looking dogs in its breed group. The dog is an almost perfect looking specimen and moves correctly according to the breed standard. It gives no verification of field ability.

DC - Dual Champion (Show & Field - CH & FC) The most coveted title awarded to retrievers. The dog is both a Field Champion and Conformation Champion, this indicates that the dog is among the best looking and best performing in the field. There has not been a DC in AKC for over 30 years.
TC - Triple Champion (Show, Field, & Obedience - CH, FC, OTCH)
OTCH - Obedience Trial Champion

AKC Titles appearing after a dog's name
JH - Junior Hunter
SH - Senior Hunter
MH - Master Hunter
These titles indicate that the retriever has passed a required series of retrieving and hunting exercises in a field situation at AKC regulation meets. Real hunting situations are closely simulated. Although not competitive, the dogs are tested thoroughly on land and water and must do blind retrieves responding to hand signals. Hunt test titles appear after the name of the dog. These are titles given to a dog for achieving a standard of simulated hunting performance. Any dog that meets the required level in a Hunt Test will earn a ribbon as opposed to only 1 dog in Field Trials winning. Hunt test titles do not differentiate whether a professional or amateur handler runs the dog.

JH = Junior Hunter. Requires basic retrieves of singles (one shot bird) to hand.
SH = Senior Hunter. Requires dog be steady to shot, retrieves double marks to hand, capable of running blinds to retrieve birds the dog has not seen fall by taking commands and hand signals, ability to handle diversion shot birds, hidden guns.
MH = Master Hunter. Requires ability to handle multiple shot birds at once as well as all of the Senior Hunter requirements.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:

United Kennel Club, Inc. maintains all records of Championship points and titles. Points are not recorded until the Official Hunt Test Reports are received from the Club by the Hunting Programs Department at UKC. Phone calls or participant’s copies of pass receipts are not official notification of points.

In order to receive UKC Championship points recognition and titles, an individual must be in good standing with UKC, Inc. and all dogs must be permanently registered with UKC, Inc.

See the section “How Does A Dog Receive Credit For Its Hunt Test Points” on page 11 for more information on non-UKC (unregistered) dogs’ points.

Once Championship points have been earned in any category, except Grand, a dog cannot earn additional Championship points in a lower category. They may continue to participate in these lower categories if desired. Championship points are earned as follows:

STARTED: Five (5) Championship points per UKC Licensed Hunt are awarded for those dogs who pass all Started Hunting Retriever tests. Four (4) Started passes are required for the Started Hunting Retriever (SHR) title. Once points are earned in a higher category, the retriever may not return to Started and earn the SHR title.

A maximum of ten (10) Championship points towards a higher degree can be earned in this category.

SEASONED: Ten (10) Championship points per UKC Licensed Hunt are awarded for those dogs who pass all Seasoned Hunting Retriever tests. A maximum of forty (40) Championship points towards a degree can be earned in this category. Unless ten (10) Started Championship points were
earned, then, a maximum of thirty (30) Championship points can be earned toward a degree in this category.

FINISHED: Fifteen (15) Championship points per UKC Licensed Hunt are awarded for those dogs who pass all Finished Hunting Retriever tests.

GRAND: Forty (40) Championship points per UKC Licensed Hunt are awarded for those dogs who pass all Grand Hunting Retriever tests.

UPLAND HUNT: Ten (10) Championship points per UKC Licensed Hunt are awarded for those dogs who pass all Upland Hunt tests.

The Upland Hunt Test is a separately licensed event and not to be confused with an Upland test that may be included in a Seasoned or Finished test or the Upland series of the Grand Hunt.

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES:

STARTED HUNTING RETRIEVER (SHR) - The Started Hunting Retriever (SHR) title is attained by earning four (4) passes in the Started category. Points/passes earned in a higher category do not count towards this title. A maximum of ten (10) Championship points can be earned in the Started category towards a higher degree. Once points are earned in a higher category, the retriever may not return to Started and earn the SHR title.

HUNTING RETRIEVER (HR) - The Hunting Retriever (HR) title is attained by earning forty (40) Championship Points.

Points can be earned in Started, Seasoned or Finished. Dogs are not required to earn points in Started and/or Seasoned to earn this title. If only five (5) points are earned in the Started category, then forty (40) points may be earned in the Seasoned and/or Finished categories. If ten (10) points are earned in the Started category, then thirty 30 points may be earned in the Seasoned and/or Finished category.

HUNTING RETRIEVER CHAMPION (HRCH) - The Hunting Retriever Champion (HRCH) title is attained by earning one hundred (100) Championship Points. Sixty (60) of the one hundred (100) points must be earned from the Finished category. Points can be earned in Started, Seasoned or Finished. Dogs are not required to earn points in Started and/or Seasoned to earn this title.

A maximum of forty (40) points can be earned in the Seasoned category towards the Hunting Retriever Champion (HRCH) title, unless ten (10) Started Championship points were earned, then, a maximum of thirty (30) Seasoned Championship points can be earned toward the HRCH degree.

GRAND HUNTING RETRIEVER CHAMPION (GRHRCH) - The Grand Hunting Retriever Champion title is attained by earning two hundred (200) additional points in the Finished, Grand or Upland - forty (40) points max from Upland - categories after the HRCH title is earned for a total of three hundred (300) points. Eighty (80) of the additional two hundred (200) points, above the HRCH title, must be earned from passing two (2) Grand Hunts.

UPLAND HUNTER (UH) - The Upland Hunter (UH) title is attained by earning forty (40) Upland Hunter Championship Points. Upland points only count toward the Upland Hunter title and HRC’s Point Club Recognition Programs.

TITLE CERTIFICATES

The SHR, HR, HRCH, GRHRCH and UH certificates will be automatically mailed by UKC to the registered owner of the dog on file at UKC when they have completed the requirements for these titles. These titles shall be carried as a prefix to the dog’s name on the UKC registration certificate and pedigree.

HRC Members 500 Point Clubs Recognition Programs

These Clubs are HRC recognition programs which are administered by the HRC Administrative Secretary.

Memberships in the HRC Point Club Recognition Programs are exclusive to current members of HRC, Inc.

These programs recognize HRC Members for their support of Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. through their membership and who own dogs achieving 500, 1,000, 1,500 and/or 2,000 UKC Championship points in the HRC Hunt Test & Upland Hunt Programs.

The HRC member-owner of the dog must be a member in good standing with HRC, Inc. for a minimum of 12 months immediately PRIOR to the time that the Member’s dog earns the qualifying Championship Points (500th for 500 Club and 1000th for 1000 Club, etc.) Continued Membership in the Point Club Recognition Programs shall be in effect for the term of the individuals HRC, Inc. membership.

HRC recognizes the 100 Championship points that UKC recognizes for the retriever’s HRCH title, plus all additional points earned in Finished, Grand and Upland Hunt Tests toward the Point Club Recognition Programs.

HOW DOES A DOG RECEIVE CREDIT FOR ITS HUNT TEST POINTS?

Correctly and completely fill out the Hunt Test Entry Form when entering the dog in the hunt test.

When a dog passes a Licensed hunt, the owner and/or Handler should be furnished with a point receipt by the host club. Get the points receipt at the hunt before leaving. Do not lose these receipts. If there is ever a question of the pass the owner/handler will be able to provide proof of the tests passed.

If the dog is not UKC registered prior to the Hunt, register the dog within 60 days of the date of the Hunt and include a copy of the passed point slip along with the UKC Application for Registration for the dog. See Non-UKC Registered Dog below.

UKC Registered Dog - The easiest way to make certain a dog receives credit is to make sure the UKC Registration number and the UKC Registered name of the dog entered is correct on the point slip. If there are any discrepancies, see the Hunt Test Secretary immediately to correct any problems.

Non-UKC Registered Dog - A dog that is entered and runs the day of the hunt that does not have a UKC Registration number on their dog is considered a non- UKC Registered Dog. This includes those dogs whose owners have applied for Registration but have not been officially notified of UKC Registration.

1. Non-UKC registered dogs may be entered in any of the following categories: Started, Seasoned, Finished or Upland Hunter. If the dog is not UKC Registered when entering and passing a Licensed Hunt Test, the owner has 60 days to get the dog UKC registered.

2. UKC register the dog within 60 days. Attach a copy of the passed points receipt to the completed Application For Single Registration or Limited Privilege Form being sent to UKC.

3. If the dog is not UKC registered within 60 days of an event, the earned points will expire. However, the owner may reinstate the expired points by UKC registering the dog and submitting to the Hunting Programs Department a fee of $50 along with copies of the expired points receipts.

4. If prior to the hunt, the owner has sent an Application For Single Registration to UKC but has not received their dog’s Registration papers, do not write “Pending” in the area for the registration number on the Hunt Test Entry Form.

Once the owner receives the dog’s Registration papers, make a copy of the passed point receipt. Insert the registration number on the copy of the point receipt and mail it to UKC, Attn.: HUNTING PROGRAMS. If the dog has met the 60-day registration requirement, the points will be applied to the dog’s record. The owner will be notified if the points are expired.