| Abbreviation | Title Name | Prefix or Suffix |
|---|---|---|
| ACT1 | Agility Course Test 1 | Suffix |
| ACT2 | Agility Course Test 2 | Suffix |
| AE* | Air Retrieve Elite | Suffix |
| AEA* | Air Retrieve Elite Advanced | Suffix |
| AEX*# | Air Retrieve Elite Excellent | Suffix |
| AFC | Amateur Field Champion | Prefix |
| AGCH | Agility Grand Champion | Prefix |
| AJ* | Air Retrieve Junior | Suffix |
| AJA* | Air Retrieve Junior Advanced | Suffix |
| AJP | Excellent Agility Jumper Preferred | Suffix |
| AJX*# | Air Retrieve Junior Excellent | Suffix |
| AM* | Air Retrieve Master | Suffix |
| AMA* | Air Retrieve Master Advanced | Suffix |
| AMX*# | Air Retrieve Master Excellent | Suffix |
| AN* | Air Retrieve Novice | Suffix |
| ANA* | Air Retrieve Novice Advanced | Suffix |
| ANX*# | Air Retrieve Novice Excellent | Suffix |
| AS* | Air Retrieve Senior | Suffix |
| ASA* | Air Retrieve Senior Advanced | Suffix |
| ASX*# | Air Retrieve Senior Excellent | Suffix |
| AXJ | Excellent Agility Jumper | Suffix |
| BCAT | BCAT | Suffix |
| BDD* | Brace Draft Dog | Suffix |
| BH* | Basic Companion Dog | Suffix |
| BN | Beginner Novice | Suffix |
| CA | Coursing Ability | Suffix |
| CAA | Coursing Ability Advanced | Suffix |
| CAX# | Coursing Ability Excellent | Suffix |
| CC* | Coaching Certificate | Suffix |
| CCH | Bench Show Champion | Prefix |
| CD | Companion Dog | Suffix |
| CDX | Companion Dog Excellent | Suffix |
| CFC | Field Champion | Prefix |
| CGC | Canine Good Citizen | Suffix |
| CGCA | Advanced Canine Good Citizen (aka Community Canine) | Suffix |
| CGCH | Bench Show Grand Champion | Prefix |
| CGCU | Canine Good Citizen Urban | Suffix |
| CGF | Grand Field Champion | Prefix |
| CGN | Grand Nite Champion | Prefix |
| CGW | Grand Water Race Champion | Prefix |
| CH | Champion | Prefix |
| CI* | Carting Intermediate | Suffix |
| CIT* | Carting Intermediate Team | Suffix |
| CJN | Junior Nite Champion | Prefix |
| CM# | Certificate of Merit | Suffix |
| CNC | Nite Champion | Prefix |
| CRCG | Retired Supreme Grand Champion | Prefix |
| CS* | Carting Started | Suffix |
| CSG | Bench Show Supreme Grand Champion | Prefix |
| CSGF | Supreme Grand Field Champion | Prefix |
| CSGN | Supreme Grand Nite Champion | Prefix |
| CSGW | Supreme Grand Water Race Champion | Prefix |
| CST* | Carting Started Team | Suffix |
| CT | Champion Tracker | Prefix |
| CWC | Water Race Champion | Prefix |
| CWGN | World Champion Supreme Grand Nite Champion | Prefix |
| CWSG | World Show Champion | Prefix |
| CX* | Carting Excellent | Suffix |
| CXT* | Carting Excellent Team | Suffix |
| DC | Dual Champion | Prefix |
| DCAT | DCAT | Suffix |
| DD* | Draft Dog | Suffix |
| DE* | Dock Elite | Suffix |
| DEA* | Dock Elite Advanced | Suffix |
| DEX*# | Dock Elite Excellent | Suffix |
| DJ* | Dock Junior | Suffix |
| DJA* | Dock Junior Advanced | Suffix |
| DJX*# | Dock Junior Excellent | Suffix |
| DM* | Dock Master | Suffix |
| DMA* | Dock Master Advanced | Suffix |
| DMX*# | Dock Master Excellent | Suffix |
| DN* | Dock Novice | Suffix |
| DNA* | Dock Novice Advanced | Suffix |
| DNX*# | Dock Novice Excellent | Suffix |
| DS* | Dock Senior | Suffix |
| DSA* | Dock Senior Advanced | Suffix |
| DSX*# | Dock Senior Excellent | Suffix |
| EE# | Endurance Earthdog | Suffix |
| FC | Field Champion (Field Trial) | Prefix |
| FC | Field Champion (Lure Coursing) | Prefix |
| FCAT# | FCAT | Suffix |
| FCB | Field Champion – Brace | Prefix |
| FCGD | Field Champion – Gundog | Prefix |
| FCLP | Field Champion – Large Pack | Prefix |
| FDC | Farm Dog Certified | Suffix |
| FDCH* | Flyball Dog Champion | Suffix |
| FDGCH* | Flyball Dog Grand Champion | Suffix |
| FH1* | Advanced Tracking | Suffix |
| FH2* | Superior Tracking | Suffix |
| FM* | Flyball Master | Suffix |
| FTC1 | Agility FAST Century 1 | Suffix |
| GAFC | Grand Amateur Field Champion | Prefix |
| GCH | Grand Champion | Prefix |
| GCHB | Grand Champion Bronze | Prefix |
| GCHG | Grand Champion Gold | Prefix |
| GCHP# | Grand Champion Platinum | Prefix |
| GCHS | Grand Champion Silver | Prefix |
| GFC | Grand Field Champion | Prefix |
| GN | Graduate Novice | Suffix |
| GO | Graduate Open | Suffix |
| HC | Herding Champion | Prefix |
| HI | Herding Intermediate | Suffix |
| HIAC | Herding Intermediate Course A Cattle | Suffix |
| HIACM | Herding Intermediate Course A Cattle Master | Suffix |
| HIAD | Herding Intermediate Course A Ducks | Suffix |
| HIADM | Herding Intermediate Course A Ducks Master | Suffix |
| HIAS | Herding Intermediate Course A Sheep | Suffix |
| HIASM | Herding Intermediate Course A Sheep Master | Suffix |
| HIBC | Herding Intermediate Course B Cattle | Suffix |
| HIBD | Herding Intermediate Course B Ducks | Suffix |
| HIBDM | Herding Intermediate Course B Ducks Master | Suffix |
| HIBS | Herding Intermediate Course B Sheep | Suffix |
| HIBSM | Herding Intermediate Course B Sheep Master | Suffix |
| HICS | Herding Intermediate Course C Sheep | Suffix |
| HICSM | Herding Intermediate Course C Sheep Master | Suffix |
| HS | Herding Started | Suffix |
| HSAC | Herding Started Course A Cattle | Suffix |
| HSACM | Herding Started Course A Cattle Master | Suffix |
| HSAD | Herding Started Course A Ducks | Suffix |
| HSADM | Herding Started Course A Ducks Master | Suffix |
| HSAS | Herding Started Course A Sheep | Suffix |
| HSASM | Herding Started Course A Sheep Master | Suffix |
| HSBC | Herding Started Course B Cattle | Suffix |
| HSBD | Herding Started Course B Ducks | Suffix |
| HSBDM | Herding Started Course B Ducks Master | Suffix |
| HSBS | Herding Started Course B Sheep | Suffix |
| HSBSM | Herding Started Course B SHeep Master | Suffix |
| HSCS | Herding Started Course C Sheep | Suffix |
| HSCSM | Herding Started Course C Sheep Master | Suffix |
| HT | Herding Tested | Suffix |
| HX | Herding Excellent | Suffix |
| HXAC | Herding Excellent Course A Cattle | Suffix |
| HXACM | Herding Advanced Course A Cattle Master | Suffix |
| HXAD | Herding Excellent Course A Ducks | Suffix |
| HXADM | Herding Advanced Course A Ducks Master | Suffix |
| HXAS | Herding Excellent Course A Sheep | Suffix |
| HXASM | Herding Advanced Course A Sheep Master | Suffix |
| HXBC | Herding Excellent Course B Cattle | Suffix |
| HXBD | Herding Excellent Course B Ducks | Suffix |
| HXBDM | Herding Advanced Course B Ducks Master | Suffix |
| HXBS | Herding Excellent Course A Sheep | Suffix |
| HXBSM | Herding Advanced Course B Sheep Master | Suffix |
| HXCS | Herding Excellent Course C Sheep | Suffix |
| HXCSM | Herding Advanced Course C Sheep Master | Suffix |
| IPO1* | International Novice Schutzhund | Suffix |
| IPO2* | International Intermediate Schutzhund | Suffix |
| IPO3* | International Master Level Schutzhund | Suffix |
| IT | Instinct Tested | Suffix |
| JC | Junior Courser | Suffix |
| JE | Junior Earthdog | Suffix |
| JH | Junior Hunter | Suffix |
| JHA | Junior Hunter Advanced | Suffix |
| JHR | Junior Hunter Retriever | Suffix |
| JHU | Junior Hunter Upland | Suffix |
| JHUA | Junior Hunter Upland Advanced | Suffix |
| LCX# | Lure Courser Excellent | Suffix |
| MACH# | Master Agility Champion | Prefix |
| MC | Master Courser | Suffix |
| ME | Master Earthdog | Suffix |
| MFB | Master Bronze FAST | Suffix |
| MFC | Master Century FAST | Suffix |
| MFG | Master Gold FAST | Suffix |
| MFP | Agility Master FAST Excellent Preferred | Suffix |
| MFPB | Master Bronze FAST Preferred | Suffix |
| MFPC | Master Century FAST Preferred | Suffix |
| MFPG | Master Gold FAST Preferred | Suffix |
| MFPS | Master Silver FAST Preferred | Suffix |
| MFS | Master Silver FAST | Suffix |
| MH# | Master Hunter | Suffix |
| MHA | Master Hunter Advanced | Suffix |
| MHR | Master Hunter Retriever | Suffix |
| MHU | Master Hunter Upland | Suffix |
| MHUA | Master Hunter Upland Advanced | Suffix |
| MJB | Master Bronze Jumper | Suffix |
| MJC | Master Century Jumper | Suffix |
| MJCP | Master Century Jumper Preferred | Suffix |
| MJG | Master Gold Jumper | Suffix |
| MJP | Master Excellent Jumper Preferred | Suffix |
| MJPB | Master Bronze Jumper Preferred | Suffix |
| MJPG | Master Gold Jumper Preferred | Suffix |
| MJPS | Master Silver Jumper Preferred | Suffix |
| MJS | Master Silver Jumper | Suffix |
| MNH# | Master National Hunter | Suffix |
| MT* | Mantrailer | Suffix |
| MTI* | Mantrailer Intermediate | Suffix |
| MTX* | Mantrailer Excellent | Suffix |
| MX | Master Agility Excellent | Suffix |
| MXB | Master Bronze Agility | Suffix |
| MXC | Master Century Agility | Suffix |
| MXF | Agility Master FAST Excellent | Suffix |
| MXG | Master Gold Agility | Suffix |
| MXJ | Master Excellent Jumper | Suffix |
| MXP | Master Agility Excellent Preferred | Suffix |
| MXPB | Master Bronze Agility Preferred | Suffix |
| MXPC | Master Century Agility Preferred | Suffix |
| MXPG | Master Gold Agility Preferred | Suffix |
| MXPS | Master Silver Agility Preferred | Suffix |
| MXS | Master Silver Agility | Suffix |
| NA | Novice Agility | Suffix |
| NAC | National Agility Champion | Prefix |
| NAFC | National Amateur Field Champion | Prefix |
| NAGDC | National Amateur Gun Dog Champion | Prefix |
| NAJ | Novice Agility Jumper | Suffix |
| NAP | Novice Agility Preferred | Suffix |
| NBC | National Brace Champion | Prefix |
| NBDD* | Novice Brace Draft Dog | Suffix |
| NDD* | Novice Draft Dog | Suffix |
| NF | Agility FAST Novice | Suffix |
| NFC | National Field Champion (Field Trial) | Prefix |
| NFC | National Field Champion (Lure Coursing) | Prefix |
| NFP | Agility FAST Novice Preferred | Suffix |
| NGBC | National Gun Dog Brace Champion | Prefix |
| NGDC | National Gun Dog Champion | Prefix |
| NJP | National Agility Jumper Preferred | Suffix |
| NLPC | National Large Pack Champion | Prefix |
| NOC | National Obedience Champion | Prefix |
| NSPC | National Small Pack Champion | Prefix |
| NTCPC | National Beagle Two-Couple Pack Champion | Prefix |
| NWGDC | National Walking Gun Dog Championship | Prefix |
| OA | Open Agility | Suffix |
| OAJ | Open Agility Jumper | Suffix |
| OAP | Open Agility Preferred | Suffix |
| OF | Agility FAST Open | Suffix |
| OFP | Agility FAST Open Preferred | Suffix |
| OGM | Obedience Grand Master | Suffix |
| OJP | Open Agility Jumper Preferred | Suffix |
| OM# | Obedience Master | Suffix |
| ONYX* | ONYX | Suffix |
| OTCH | Obedience Trial Chaimpion | Prefix |
| PACH# | Preferred Agility Champion | Prefix |
| PAD | Premier Agility Dog | Suffix |
| PADP | Premier Agility Dog Preferred | Suffix |
| PAX# | Preferred Agility Excellent | Suffix |
| PCD | Preferred Companion Dog | Suffix |
| PCDX | Preferred Companion Dog Excellent | Suffix |
| PCJH* | Parent Club Junior Hunter | Suffix |
| PCMH* | Parent Club Master Hunter | Suffix |
| PCSH* | Parent Club Senior Hunter | Suffix |
| PDB# | Premier Agility Dog Bronze | Suffix |
| PDBP# | Premier Agility Dog Bronze Preferred | Suffix |
| PDC# | Premier Agility Dog Century | Suffix |
| PDCP# | Premier Agility Dog Century Preferred | Suffix |
| PDG# | Premier Agility Dog Gold | Suffix |
| PDGP# | Premier Agility Dog Gold Preferred | Suffix |
| PDS# | Premier Agility Dog Silver | Suffix |
| PDSP# | Premier Agility Dog Silver Preferred | Suffix |
| PJB# | Premier Jumpers Dog Bronze | Suffix |
| PJBP# | Premier Jumpers Dog Bronze Preferred | Suffix |
| PJC# | Premier Jumpers Dog Century | Suffix |
| PJCP# | Premier Jumpers Dog Century Preferred | Suffix |
| PJD | Premier Jumpers Dog | Suffix |
| PJDP | Premier Jumpers Dog Preferred | Suffix |
| PJG# | Premier Jumpers Dog Gold | Suffix |
| PJGP# | Premier Jumpers Dog Gold Preferred | Suffix |
| PJS# | Premier Jumpers Dog Silver | Suffix |
| PJSP# | Premier Jumpers Dog Silver Preferred | Suffix |
| PNAC | Preferred National Agility Champion | Prefix |
| POC# | Preferred Obedience Champion | Prefix |
| PT | Pre-Trial Tested | Suffix |
| PUDX# | Preferred Utility Dog Excellent | Suffix |
| PUTD | Preferred Utility Dog | Suffix |
| QA2 | Qualified All-Age 2 | Suffix |
| RA | Rally Advanced | Suffix |
| RACH | Rally Champion | Suffix |
| RAE# | Rally Advanced Excellent | Suffix |
| RATCH* | Barn Hunt Champion | Suffix |
| RATCHX*# | Barn Hunt Master Champion | Suffix |
| RATM* | Master Barn Hunt | Suffix |
| RATN* | Novice Barn Hunt | Suffix |
| RATO* | Open Barn Hunt | Suffix |
| RATS* | Senior Barn Hunt | Suffix |
| RD* | Road Dog | Suffix |
| RDX* | Road Dog Excellent | Suffix |
| RE | Rally Excellent | Suffix |
| RI | Rally Intermediate | Suffix |
| RM# | Rally Master | Suffix |
| RN | Rally Novice | Suffix |
| RNC | Rally National Champion | Suffix |
| SAR-U1 | Search and Rescue- Urban 1 | Suffix |
| SAR-U2 | Search and Rescue- Urban 2 | Suffix |
| SAR-U3 | Search and Rescue- Urban 3 | Suffix |
| SAR-W | Search and Rescue- Wilderness | Suffix |
| SBA | Scent Work Buried Advanced | Suffix |
| SBAE | Scent Work Buried Advanced Elite | Suffix |
| SBE | Scent Work Buried Excellent | Suffix |
| SBEE | Scent Work Buried Excellent Elite | Suffix |
| SBM | Scent Work Buried Master | Suffix |
| SBME | Scent Work Buried Master Elite | Suffix |
| SBN | Scent Work Buried Novice | Suffix |
| SBNE | Scent Work Buried Novice Elite | Suffix |
| SC | Senior Courser | Suffix |
| SCA | Scent Work Container Advanced | Suffix |
| SCAE | Scent Work Container Advanced Elite | Suffix |
| SCE | Scent Work Container Excellent | Suffix |
| SCEE | Scent Work Container Excellent Elite | Suffix |
| SCHH1* | Novice Schutzhund | Suffix |
| SCHH2* | Intermediate Schutzhund | Suffix |
| SCHH3* | Master Level Schutzhund | Suffix |
| SCHHA* | Novice Schutzhund A | Suffix |
| SCM | Scent Work Container Master | Suffix |
| SCME | Scent Work Container Master Elite | Suffix |
| SCN | Scent Work Container Novice | Suffix |
| SCNE | Scent Work Container Novice Elite | Suffix |
| SD* | Sled Dog | Suffix |
| SDO* | Sled Dog Outstanding | Suffix |
| SDX* | Sled Dog Excellent | Suffix |
| SE | Senior Earthdog | Suffix |
| SEA | Scent Work Exterior Advanced | Suffix |
| SEAE | Scent Work Exterior Advanced Elite | Suffix |
| SEE | Scent Work Exterior Excellent | Suffix |
| SEEE | Scent Work Exterior Excellent Elite | Suffix |
| SEM | Scent Work Exterior Master | Suffix |
| SEME | Scent Work Exterior Master Elite | Suffix |
| SEN | Scent Work Exterior Novice | Suffix |
| SENE | Scent Work Exterior Novice Elite | Suffix |
| SH | Senior Hunter | Suffix |
| SHA | Senior Hunter Advanced | Suffix |
| SHDA | Scent Work Handler Discrimination Advanced | Suffix |
| SHDAE | Scent Work Handler Discrimination Advanced Elite | Suffix |
| SHDE | Scent Work Handler Discrimination Excellent | Suffix |
| SHDEE | Scent Work Handler Discrimination Excellent Elite | Suffix |
| SHDM | Scent Work Handler Discrimination Master | Suffix |
| SHDME | Scent Work Handler Discrimination Master Elite | Suffix |
| SHDN | Scent Work Handler Discrimination Novice | Suffix |
| SHDNE | Scent Work Handler Discrimination Novice Elite | Suffix |
| SHR | Senior Hunter Retriever | Suffix |
| SHU | Senior Hunter Upland | Suffix |
| SHUA | Senior Hunter Upland Advanced | Suffix |
| SIA | Scent Work Interior Advanced | Suffix |
| SIAE | Scent Work Interior Advanced Elite | Suffix |
| SIE | Scent Work Interior Excellent | Suffix |
| SIEE | Scent Work Interior Excellent Elite | Suffix |
| SIM | Scent Work Interior Master | Suffix |
| SIME | Scent Work Interior Master Elite | Suffix |
| SIN | Scent Work Interior Novice | Suffix |
| SINE | Scent Work Interior Novice Elite | Suffix |
| SWA | Scent Work Advanced | Suffix |
| SWAE | Scent Work Advanced Elite | Suffix |
| SWD | Scent Work Detective | Suffix |
| SWE | Scent Work Excellent | Suffix |
| SWEE | Scent Work Excellent Elite | Suffix |
| SWM | Scent Work Master | Suffix |
| SWME | Scent Work Master Elite | Suffix |
| SWN | Scent Work Novice | Suffix |
| SWNE | Scent Work Novice Elite | Suffix |
| T2B# | Time 2 Beat | Suffix |
| T2BP# | Time 2 Beat Preferred | Suffix |
| TC | Triple Champion | Prefix |
| TD | Tracking Dog | Suffix |
| TDD* | Team Draft Dog | Suffix |
| TDU | Tracking Dog Urban | Suffix |
| TDX | Tracking Dog Excellent | Suffix |
| THD | Therapy Dog | Suffix |
| THDA | Therapy Dog Advanced | Suffix |
| THDD | Distinguished Therapy Dog | Suffix |
| THDN | Therapy Dog Novice | Suffix |
| THDX | Therapy Dog Excellent | Suffix |
| TKA | Trick Dog Advanced | Suffix |
| TKI | Trick Dog Intermediate | Suffix |
| TKN | Trick Dog Novice | Suffix |
| TKP | Trick Dog Performer | Suffix |
| TQX | Triple Q Excellent | Suffix |
| TQXP | Triple Q Excellent Preferred | Suffix |
| TT* | Temperament Test | Suffix |
| UD | Utility Dog | Suffix |
| UDX# | Utility Dog Excellent | Suffix |
| VCCH | Versatile Companion Dog Champion | Prefix |
| VCD# | Versatile Companion Dog | Suffix |
| VER | Versatility | Suffix |
| VST | Variable Surface Tracker | Suffix |
| WC* | Working Certificate | Suffix |
| WCI* | Working Certificate Intermediate | Suffix |
| WCX* | Working Certificate Excellent | Suffix |
| WDS1* | Working Dog Sport 1 | Suffix |
| WDS2* | Working Dog Sport 2 | Suffix |
| WDS3* | Working Dog Sport 3 | Suffix |
| WNC | World Nite Champion | Prefix |
| XF | Agility FAST Excellent | Suffix |
| XFP | Agility FAST Excellent Preferred | Suffix |
How To Read A Pedigree
How to Read a Dog's Pedigree
If you’re the proud owner of a pedigreed dog, it’s important to understand all of the detailed information found on its certificate. And if you’re thinking about buying a dog from a breeder, you’ll want to see its pedigree and verify the information found on it. The dog's official name, show titles, and registration number are commonly found on its pedigree. The document will also list similar information for the dog's ancestors. It is increasingly common for them to also include DNA and health identification, so make sure to check the certificate for this information, too.
Tracing a Dog’s Lineage
1
Find the dog’s registered name and birth date. The dog’s official name, as recorded by a kennel or other organization, will definitely appear on the pedigree. Usually it will appear as the first name on the left or right corner, along with the date of birth.
2
Identify the dog’s ancestors. Most of the time, the names of the dog's parents will be just to the right. A pedigree should list the names of both the dam (mother) and sire (father). Depending on the pedigree, you may also see the dog’s grandparents farther to the right, then the great-grandparents, and so on.- A proper pedigree should list the official names of all of the ancestors. Depending upon the pedigree report and the known ancestry, this could go back for just 3 or 4 generations, or may go back several.
3
Determine whether your dog has been inbred, line-bred, or outcrossed. Pay attention to the names of the dog and its ancestors. If you see repeated names, it is a sign that the ancestors were closely related. Breeders maintain and perfect the characteristics associated with particular breeds by carefully selecting which dogs to mate.[3]- Inbreeding means that very closely related dogs have mated, such as a son and mother, father and daughter, or brother and sister.
- Linebreeding means that a dog’s sire and dam have a close ancestor in common.
- Out crossing occurs when there are no common ancestors in 3 to 4 generations.
- Breeders and owners often highly value inbreeding or linebreeding traced to a notable ancestor.
4
Check for DNA numbers. Since DNA testing has become easier and more widespread, it is increasingly common for numbers identifying a dog’s genetic makeup to appear on a pedigree. If these are available, they should be found next to the dog’s name.- Each dog whose DNA has been officially tested and registered (with a kennel, for example) will have an identifying number.
5
Study the stud book numbers. A pedigree may also list when a dog was bred, and which of the dam’s litters the dog comes from. These are known as stud book numbers. If you pay attention to the dam’s birth date, you can also determine how old she was when she had the litter.- For example, if the dog’s pedigree lists a stud book date of 2/2016, and the dam’s date of birth is 5/2013, you can determine that she was not quite 3 years old when she had the litter.
Interpreting Special Information
Look for show records. If the dog or its ancestors were awarded in any notable competitions, these will probably be listed on the pedigree along with each dog’s name. These may simply be recorded as a series of abbreviations.[6]- For example, you may see the abbreviation “FCI,” signifying the Federation Cynologique Internationale World Championship.
- If you are unfamiliar with any of the abbreviations, ask the breeder or kennel association to explain.
2
Decode any title abbreviations. Many breeds can be awarded special titles that recognize highly desirable traits. These can vary from breed to breed, and can be difficult to interpret unless you are very familiar with the breed. Just ask the breeder or kennel association to explain if you aren’t sure what the titles mean.[7]- The pedigree for a German Shepherd, for example, may list titles for things like tracking, herding, and obedience.
- The titles may appear simply as abbreviations, however, like “BH,” “FH2,” and “SchH2.”
- You can check the websites of organizations like the American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club for lists of common title and show award abbreviations. You can also ask your breeder or use their website to help you identify titles or acronyms that may be common in your dog's breed.[8][9]
3
Study any health information. Thanks to DNA testing and careful breeding records, pedigrees can include information about any health issues that are a concern for a dog’s breed. This information can include whether or not a dog and its ancestors have been tested for genetic diseases that are known to be a problem for the breed.[10]- Health characteristics may be listed along with each dog’s name and other identifying information, or separately.
Recognizing Certifications
1
Verify that the pedigree has an official seal. Pedigrees contain quite a bit of information that can determine a dog’s value, eligibility for competitions, etc. Certification from a recognized kennel association, such as the AKC (American Kennel Club) helps prove that the pedigree is accurate and trustworthy.- If you plan to show or breed your dog in the future, you will need these records. Keep them on file, and make sure you get the most accurate, up-to-date reports for these purposes.
2
Double-check the registration number. If the pedigree is certified by a kennel association, it will include an official number identifying the dog. Contact the association and ask to cross-check the number. They may also be able to confirm other information found on the pedigree so that you can verify its accuracy and legitimacy.[11]
3
Don’t be alarmed by a conditional registration. Some pedigrees may be marked as “conditional” if DNA information shows there is an unknown ancestor. This does not necessarily mean that the dog cannot be considered purebred. The kennel association may also allow the conditional status to be removed after a certain number of generations.[12]- Conditional pedigrees may have a different seal or coloring to identify them as such.
4
Check to see if your dog's pedigree is registered. Not all breeders will pay the fees to register a dog for you. Your AKC paperwork may be accurate, but not active or filed. Ask your breeder or check the AKC website to see if your dog has been registered.