UNITED KINGDOM

EXPLANATION of the ABBREVIATIONS on PEDIGREES

SH CH - Show Champion- dog must win 3 Challenge Certificates under 3 different Judges. Note- dogs who are already champions are still eligible to compete for challenge certificates, making earning a championship quite difficult.

CH - Champion - dog must win 3 Challenge Certificates under 3 different Judges and either an actual Field Trial Award or a Show Gundog Working Certificate, (SDWC).

F.T. CH. - Field Trial Champion- dog must win 2 Open Stakes (see description below).

DC - Dual Champion- dog must have been awarded both their Sh.Ch. title and their F.T. title.


Below is an excerpt from an article written by Jean Collins "The Making of a Dual Champion"

To become a Champion (CH.), you need to win 3 Challenge Certificates under 3 different Judges and either an actual Field Trial Award or a Show Gundog Working Certificate, (SDWC) which are not as difficult to obtain as a Field Trial award as you do not compete with other dogs or have to be as steady to game. It does show your dog has the ability to hunt/point and be obedient to the handler’s commands.
Less than 25 Champions have been made up in Gordon Setters in the UK over the last 50 years, the majority a long time ago, and only a handful of those gained their full title via an actual Field Trial award.
In a Field Trial in the UK, your dog will be running with another dog under the watchful eyes of 2 Judges appointed by the Kennel Club. They are both cast off in opposite directions and are expected to cover the ground on either side crossing in the middle hunting for the scent of game birds as they move to the other side. This is called ‘quartering’. The two handlers walk forward at an even pace together behind their dogs.
Trials are run either on grouse, or partridge and pheasants. All game found will be wild, i.e., not planted on the ground for the purposes of the trial, as in some countries. Which means, you may find some birds on the day, you may not!
If your dog indicates that they have found birds by pointing, it must hold that point as you and the judge on your side will walk to the point and then you will be asked to move your dog forward till the bird flushes and flies away. The dog must drop to the flush and a gun will be fired. Just imagine the control needed here as the dog’s basic instinct is to catch the bird. The frozen body posture is necessary to slowly get closer and closer to this end! And after that the reaction of most dogs is to chase the bird they didn’t catch! Clearly an eliminating fault at a Field Trial.
You will then be asked to ‘clear the ground’ and the dog will move forward carefully and check that no birds remain in the area. If there are further birds, your dog must work them out properly as if it was the first one found. While all this is going on, your brace mate will have their dog in a down position, or their dog will be ‘backing’ your dog, pointing the other dog on sight, acknowledging they have game, which is a highly prized trait.
All handling of your dog, turning their direction, dropping, recall, etc. must be done by whistle or hand signals, you mustn’t shout or touch the dog at anytime.
After the judges have seen enough, or your dog or brace mate has eliminated itself, you will be asked to ‘pick them up’ call them to you and put your lead back on. This is then repeated with all the dogs entered.
Dogs which in the opinion of the Judges, have performed well, will be called through to a second and sometimes even further rounds. Even if you have a find with your dog, this does not mean you will receive an award, as it is also extremely important that the standard of your dog’s work is high and has to be compared to a required level and not just the performance of the other runners.
Awards that can be obtained are 1st-4th prizes and then the judges can also award Certificates of Merit (CoM’s) if they feel there are dogs whose performance merit that. However, awards are not always given and sometimes a first prize or all prizes will be withheld if the judges do not think the standards have been met on the day. Rather than upsetting the competitors, as it most certainly would in the show ring, this action mostly brings wry smiles all round, as we have to agree with their findings!

There are basically 4 types of Field Trial Stakes:
Puppy, Novice, All-Aged and Open.

There can be more than one Stake on a day, but no more than 45 dogs can compete in total and there are 2 judges. If the trial is over subscribed, a draw based on various criteria decides which dogs get to run and you are notified before the day of the trial. There is not an age limit in these stakes, except for Puppy Stakes; for the most part it depends on your number of awards.

Novice Stake: For Setters/Pointers who have not won a First, Second or Third prize in an Open Stake or a First or two Second prizes in other Stakes. Once you have won these awards, your dog can never be entered in Novice Stakes again.

All-Aged Stake: For Setters/Pointers of any age or qualifications.
Any dog can be entered in an All-Aged Stake regardless of wins, even Field Trial Champions.

Open Stakes: For Setters/Pointers of any age or qualification.
(Limited to 40 dogs)


If there are more than 40 dogs applying, preference is given as follows:

a.) Member’s dogs which have gained a First, Second or Third award in an Open Stake, or a First or two seconds in other stakes.
b.) Non-members dogs as in ‘a’ above.
c.) Member’s dogs, which have gained other awards.
d.) Non-members dogs as in ‘c’ above.
e.) Other dogs.

So, you see, it isn’t just about training your dog to a high standard, and then entering a Field Trial, it’s also about getting a run as most are over subscribed!

To become a Field Trial Champion (F.T. CH.) You need to win 2 Open Stakes usually against other qualified dogs who must be either Field Trial Champions or have won awards as specified above.

The only exception to this is if your dog wins the Pointer and Setter Champion Stake, held once a year, rotating between Scotland and England. To qualify for this prestigious Stake, your dog needs to have won an Open Stake or if not over subscribed they will allow second place Open Stake winners to compete.

I have been honoured to run in 3 Champion Stakes with Trisca, and in 2003 she was the only Gordon Setter representative as was reported in the Shooting Times magazine.

If your dog competes in the Champion Stake from a second place award and WINS the Stake, they automatically become a F.T. Champion, without having to have another Open win."

AMERICAN TITLES

EXPLANATION of the ABBREVIATIONS on PEDIGREES

Champion (CH) - Dog becomes Champion of Record after winning fifteen or more points, if six or more of said points have been won at two shows with a rating of three or more points each and under two different judges.

Dual Champion (DC) - dog that has been awarded Champion of Record may be designated a "Dual Champion" after it has also been awarded the title of Field Champion. The title of Dual Champion is to recognize those dogs that have shown their superiority in both adhering to the breed standard, and their ability to perform the function for which the breed was developed.

Field Champion (FC) - a dog of one of the Pointing Breeds will be recorded a Field Champion after having won 10 points under the point rating schedule below, in regular stakes, in at least three licensed or member field trials, provided that three points have been won in one three point or better Open All-Age, Open Gun Dog, Open Limited All-Age, or Open Limited Gun Dog Stakes, that no more than 2 points each have been won in Open or Amateur Puppy, and Open or Amateur Derby Stakes, and that no more than 4 of the points have been won by placing first in Amateur Stakes.

Amateur Field Champion (AFC) - a dog of one of the Pointing Breeds will be recorded an Amateur Field Champion after having won 10 points under the point rating schedule below, in regular amateur stakes, in at least three licensed or member field trials, provided that no more than two points each have been won by placing first in Amateur Walking Puppy and Amateur Walking Derby Stakes, and that it has been awarded two first placements, one of which must be first place in a three point or better Amateur All-Age, Amateur Gun Dog, Amateur Limited All-Age or Amateur Limited Gun Dog Stakes.

Companion Dog (CD) - dog receiving 3 qualifying scores in Novice* Classes under three different judges shall be awarded the CD.

Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) - The letters CDX may be added after the name of each dog that has been certified by three different judges to have received qualifying scores in Open* Classes at three licensed or member obedience trials.

Utility Dog (UD) - The letters UD may be added after the name of each dog that has been certified by three different judges to have received qualifying scores in Utility* Classes at three licensed or member obedience trials.

Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) - Use of the letters OTCH preceding the name of the dog will be allowed when he dog meets the requirements:
a-100 points (see AKC rule book for point schedule)
b- first place in Utility B with at least 3 dogs in competition
c- first place in Open B with at least 6 dogs in competition
d- an additional first place in "b" or "c" above
e- all first places under different judges


Hunt Test Titles
Junior Hunter (JH) - dog must receive qualifying scores at 4 licensed or member tests. See table comparing hunting titles requirements

Senior Hunter (SH) - a dog must receive qualifying scores at 5 licensed or member tests. If the dog has already received a JH, the dog need only qualify 4 times.

Master Hunter (MH) - a dog must receive qualifying scores at 6 licensed or member tests. If the dog has already received a SH, the dog need only qualify 5 times.


Agility
NA - Novice Agility - dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Novice A and/or B Agility class under at least 2 different judges.

NAJ - Novice Agility Jumper- dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Novice A and/or B Jumpers With Weaves class under at least 2 different judges.

NAP - Novice Agility Preferred- dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Novice Agility Preferred A and/or B Agility class under at least 2 different judges.

OA - Open Agility - dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Open Agility class under at least 2 different judges.

OAJ - Open Agility Jumpers - dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Open Jumpers With Weaves class under at least 2 different judges.

OJP - Open Jumpers With Weaves Preferred - dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Open Jumpers With Weaves Preferred class under at least 2 different judges.

AX - Agility Excellent - dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Excellent A Agility class under at least 2 different judges.

AJX - Excellent Agility Jumpers -dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Excellent A Jumpers With Weaves class under at least 2 different judges.

AJP - Excellent Agility Jumpers With Weaves "A" Preferred - dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Excellent A Jumpers With Weaves Preferred class under at least 2 different judges.

MX - Master Agility Excellent- dog must earn 10 qualifying scores in Excellent B Agility class under at least 2 different judges.

MJP - Master Excellent Jumpers With Weaves "B" Preferred- dog must earn 10 qualifying scores in Excellent B Jumpers With Weaves Preferred Agility class under at least 2 different judges.

MXJ - Master Excellent Jumpers With Weaves:For a title, dog must earn 10 qualifying scores in Excellent B Jumpers With Weaves Agility class under at least 2 different judges. Trial at which AX was earned does not count toward the 10.


Rally
RN - Novice Rally The letters RN may be added after a dog's name when it has been certified by 2 different judges to have received qualifying scores in Novice Rally classes at 3 licensed or member rally trials.

RA - Rally Advanced: The letters RA may be added after a dog's name when it has been certified by 2 different judges to have received qualifying scores in Advanced classes at 3 licensed or member rally trials.

RE - Rally Excellent: The letters RE may be added after a dog's name when it has been certified by 2 different judges to have received qualifying scores in Excellent classes at 3 licensed or member rally trials.

RAE - Rally Advanced Excellent: To earn an RAE title, the dog must have earned qualifying scores in both Advanced B and Excellent B classes at 10 separate licensed or member rally trials.

INTERNATIONAL FCI TITLES
(Austrian, German, Polish)

EXPLANATION of the ABBREVIATIONS on PEDIGREES


CONFORMATION

DtCh(VDH) - German Conformation Champion- dog must have 5 class wins, 3 at CACIBs (Certificate d'Aptitude au Championat International de Beaute, ie international shows) and 2 at CACs (Certificate d'Aptitude au Champion) in National shows. First and last win must be greater than 365 days apart (precludes precocious puppies from becoming champions, then maturing into unattractive adults).

DtSchCH - German Show Champion (with 4 x CAC = best bitch + best dog in show) and combined with at least 1 field title (dog must achieve 1st and 2nd place in hunt tests).

IntCh - International Show Champion- dog must win 2 CACIBs in 2 different countries. Wins must span greater than 365 day, and must have at least 1 field title (dog must achieve 1st and 2nd place in hunt tests).

Pol Ch - Polish Champion-dog must win 2 CWCs at National shows plus 1 CWC at an International show; wins must be over greater than 6 month period.

Osterr Ch - Austrian Champion- dog must either:
A-win 3 CACs, under 3 different judges, plus pass the Austrian hunting trial, all in greater than 365 days.
B-If no hunting trial, dog must win 6 CACs and 6 CACIBs

Champion de Belgique - Belgian Champion- dog must win 1 CAC, one CACIB plus a first or second place in a Belgian Field Trial. (As of June 1, 2006, there have only been 2 Gordon Setter Champions in Belgium.)


FIELD TITLES

Solms - similar to HZP but held by the German Shorthair Societies

HZP - (like Senior Hunter- but dog must retrieve on land and water)

VGP - Two day field test- similar to Senior Hunter with addition of requirement to follow blood trails (24-48 hours old), retrieving the fox from trail, and special obedience parts.

Jus - junior trial, held by the breed clubs (similar to Junior Hunter)

JEP - junior trial (held by the gundog association)

Btr - special test for retrieving a hidden fox, time limit to find and retrieve over hurdle 10 minutes

FT - winner of field trial held by the breed clubs.

The following may also be of interest www.fci.be