I found out a few interesting things about my ancestors in the past few years. Some are good and some are not so. First the good, from my Dad’s side, I am French and Indian. I don’t know much about the French side, but the Indian I do. My Great-Great-Great-Grandfather was the brother of the Choctaw Indian Chief, Greenwood Leflore. He and Greenwood established the shipping port on the Yazoo River and the town of Greenwood, Ms grew around his port. They were very smart businessmen. Let’s talk the bad! On my mother’s side, I am English. I go back to the King of England. I know you are asking what is bad about that? The problem was my Great*7 grandfather was the bastard child of the King of England and one of the most prestigious Pirates of the 1500’s. The pirate’s name was Lady Killegrew. The young bastard child was a boy and took the name of his mother, Killegrew. Later, descendants of the Killigrew family came to America. The Killegrew name was so bad, they changed it to Killebrew upon entering the country.
What does all this have to do with a pedigree of a dog? In picking a puppy, you have the choice of the pedigree? I had no choice of my lineage. When picking a puppy, I want you to study hard and go in detail the pedigrees from different litters. List each litter and all the title highlights in each litter. Which have the most? The number of and higher level titles of the ancestors give you a higher probability of your puppy turning out to be excellent hunters when they get older. The more of these you find in the puppy’s pedigree, the higher the cost of the puppy, but I would rather pay a few more hundred dollars to ensure the birdiness and hunting ability of my new puppy. I want you to be looking for abbreviations like I have listed below.
AKC Registered Dogs
(Field Trial Test Titles)
FC(Field Trial Champion)- This title is awarded to dogs that have won first place at a licensed field trial and have acquired 5 additional points.
AFC(Amateur Field Trial Champion)- This title is earned as above (FC) when handled by an amateur or by winning an Amateur stake at a field trial and acquiring 10 additional Amateur points
(Hunt Test Titles)
JH(Junior Hunter)- This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 4 passes at the Junior level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the beginning level in the AKC Hunt Test program. For a single pass a dog must complete two water retrieves and two land retrieves and deliver tthe bird to the handlers hand. The dog is supposed to show restraint at the line and not go charging out until given the command. While this may seem basic, the following are just a few scenarios in which a dog will be disqualified: Biting down on the bird, not delivering to hand, breaking without having their name called, not finding a bird, excessive whining, barking, taking too long on a retrieve, not heeling, not sitting. Most hunters are quite happy with a dog capable of achieving a JH.
SH(Senior Hunter)- This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 5 passes (4 with a JH title) at the Senior level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the level at which most hunting retrievers run. Retrieves are similar to that of the Junior test, with the addition of a blind retrieves, doubles, and an honor (not charging out when a different dogs name is called).
MH(Master Hunter)- This is an AKC title that is earned by receiving 6 passes (5 with a SH title) at the Master level in a licensed Hunt Test. This is the highest possible Hunt Test title offered in the AKC. Similar to the Senior test, but diversion and poison birds are used. Marks get progressively more difficult from the juniors to the seniors and to the masters.
UKC Registered Dogs
HR(Seasoned Level Hunt Test Title)- This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 40 points. 30 of those points must be at the Seasoned or Finished level. A Seasoned pass is worth 10 points. It is slightly more difficult than an AKC JH to achieve.
HRCH(Hunting Retriever Champion)- This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 100 points, 60 of which must be earned at the Finished level. A Finished pass is worth 15 points.
GHRCH(Grand Hunting Retriever Champion)- This is a UKC title that is earned by acquiring 220 points at the Finished level and 80 points from the HRC Grand Hunt. 1 Grand pass is worth 40 points. This is the highest possible hunt test title offered in the UKC.
NAHRA(North American Hunting Retriever Assc.) Titles
SR(Started Retriever)- This is the entry level NAHRA title. This title is earned by acquiring 10 points. At this level, a pass is worth 2.5 points.
WR(Working Retriever)- This is a NAHRA title that is earned by acquiring 20 points in the Intermediate level. At this level and higher, a pass is worth 5 points.
MHR(Master Hunting Retriever)- This is a NAHRA title that is earned by acquiring 100 points, 80 of which must be earned at the Senior level.
GMHR(Grand Master hunting Retriever)- This is a NAHRA title which is earned by acquiring 300 points at the Senior level. This is the highest possible title offered by NAHRA.
