I am confused about the title abbreviations used for labs. I believe the abbreviation "CH" before the dog's name means Champion, and that is a conformation/show title, right? What about the "JH" (junior hunter) and "WC" titles? Are those field titles, or some kind of show titles? I ask because I read on one of the threads below that breeders generally do not breed show lines to field lines, but some in our pup's line have both the "CH" designation and the "JH" and/or "WC" titles. Does that represent both conformation and field titles? I hope this isn't a stupid question!

Also, what does "Legend" mean as a title after the name? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me understand this. Our pup will not be home with us for a few more weeks, but I am having fun learning more about labs! My family always had labs as pets when I was growing up, but I wasn't too concerned as a child about pedigree!

I am confused about the title abbreviations used for labs. I believe the abbreviation "CH" before the dog's name means Champion, and that is a conformation/show title, right? What about the "JH" (junior hunter) and "WC" titles? Are those field titles, or some kind of show titles? I ask because I read on one of the threads below that breeders generally do not breed show lines to field lines, but some in our pup's line have both the "CH" designation and the "JH" and/or "WC" titles. Does that represent both conformation and field titles? I hope this isn't a stupid question!

Also, what does "Legend" mean as a title after the name? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me understand this. Our pup will not be home with us for a few more weeks, but I am having fun learning more about labs! My family always had labs as pets when I was growing up, but I wasn't too concerned as a child about pedigree!

Correct about CH before the name and JH after the name.

WC (Working Certificiate) is a certificate awarded by the parent club. It is not an AKC title so it will not appear on a pedigree. It is a performance certificate, not a conformation certificate (CC).

I have not heard of "Legend" as a title. Can you provide an example?

I think there was a thread about serious field breeders and conformation breeders not wanting to breed to the other. If I am remembering correctly, I think that they were talking about FC (Field Champion) and AFC (Amateur Field Champion). These are both Prefixes before the dog's name, just like the conformation CH title.

My understanding is that is is extremely difficult to attain the title Field Champion and requires a lot of training, the dog is competing against other dogs not having to pass a test.

THe Jr Hunter test is given after receiving 4 qualifying scores. JH is a suffix title. I hope that helps. I am still learning about field trials and the hunt tests myself so someone may come along and clarify better.

I ask because I read on one of the threads below that breeders generally do not breed show lines to field lines, but some in our pup's line have both the "CH" designation and the "JH" and/or "WC" titles. Does that represent both conformation and field titles? I hope this isn't a stupid question!



Also wanted to add .... Junior Hunter is a hunt test title which is different from a field title. You will very often see hunt test titles on dogs with show championships .... CH/JH, CH/SH, or CH/MH .... the CH with a field title, or dual champion is the rarest combination in Labradors.

Thanks so much for the helpful responses. On the Legend thing, now that I look at the website more closely, I think that is the last word in the dog's name, not one of the titles. Duh! I appreciate the explanation of the abbreviations and the hunt titles versus field titles.

As Joanne mentioned, show dogs often compete in hunt tests as it's a good indicator that the dog can do what it was bred to do.

If you see titles with R's and CD, CDX, UD, UDX--those are obedience titles. Another good indicator that the dog is very trainable!

I ask because I read on one of the threads below that breeders generally do not breed show lines to field lines

It may not be "conventional" in some folks' minds, but those of us who want to preserve the function and form of the breed are indeed doing blended breedings. ;)

Our past and present AKC Gazette Lab columnists have done plenty of show to field line breedings with nice success. I have FC/dual CH to CH breedings not that many generations behind my 14 yo, and the Swedes (Alvgarden, etc) still do it as well. Anne