Learn to read a pedigree

Learn to read a pedigree!!

This page is very lengthy but I do hope you take the time to read it. To begin I believe everyone needs to learn how to read their dog's pedigree. Every dog has one just some are more impressive than others. But first I want to educate you on the use of the following words ("registered") and ("purebred") as in dogs.

People call me all the time with great stories about their current dog or dog they once had. Many will say " I want a purebred" or I use to have a "purebred" or "man I had a beautiful registered Lab" or even "my dog had papers.."

In 1992 we bought our first Lab, Buck. He cost $100. I actually bought him for Toby's birthday. The day I went out to the "breeder's" house to pick him up and take him home I was so excited that I barely noticed Buck laying in a dirt pit filled with flies and trash. I also did not notice the HUGE ridge down his back. The "breeder" put a blue ribbon around his neck and handed me "papers". Wow I thought, our first "purebred, registered Lab." When I took Buck to his first vet visit our Vet was so sweet to call Buck's ridge a cowlick. As he grew it went all the way down his topline (spine). Our "purebred, registered" Lab had some Ridgeback in the woodpile I assure you. Despite this, Buck was one the best we ever owned. He died in 2006.

The American Kennel Club (A.K.C) issues registration certificates to puppy owners whose puppy comes from parents who are both A.K.C registered. A.K.C is not a guarantee of quality, it simply means two A.K.C registered dogs of the same breed were mated. The A.K.C will issue registration certificates to ANY dog/puppy where his parents were both registered. The dam and sire could have 3 legs, pink and purple spots, and be a genetic time bomb. However if they are both "registered" their offspring can be also. "To get registration papers ..., a Labrador Retriever doesn't have to meet any qualifications of health, temperament, behavior, or sound structure." (quote taken from Lab related website)

The following scenario actually happened to us several years ago. A mixed breed black male squeezed through our front gate and mated one of our bitches in heat. You have to TRUST your breeder! The puppies from that accidental litter looked just like black Lab pups!!

"... scams happen all the time. Let's say someone has a female Labrador Retriever and a male Labrador Retriever who are purebred and have registration papers. Unfortunately, the female gets loose and is accidentally bred by the mixed breed who lives down the street. When the litter arrives, a dishonest person could fill out the litter registration paperwork -- claiming that his Labrador Retriever was the father. The A.K.C will dutifully send him a bunch of individual registration papers for each puppy, which he will happily pass along to the new owners. And no one will be the wiser until the puppies grow up and start to look suspiciously non-Labradorish!" (taken from Lab related website)

The Pedigree

All Labs Are Not The Same

Before you set out to buy a new puppy have in mind the TYPE (look) of dog you wish to purchase. There are several types of Labradors. There is American, English, Field, and Show to name a few. Here at our house we generally only use two of those terms: English and American. English/Show referring to a dog who is from show lines (meets the breed standard) has a short muzzle, lots of substance and bone, and relatively small/short/stocky (adult females 60 pounds, adult males 80 pounds). Our breeding stock is composed of mostly the English type.

We refer to the American/Field type as lean body, longer legs, and slender/long muzzle. "...... high-energy and drive are qualities required in field Labs. In terms of temperament, though some are head-strong and require an experienced hand for training. They can form strong bonds with their human companions. Unfortunately, however, the average pet owner may not have the experience or tolerance required to achieve such a companionable relationship with these dogs." (from Wing-n-Wave Labradors) If you are looking to buy a true field trial dog because of genetics, you must be willing to redirect the excess energy they have if you do not plan on running the dog in competition.


Any breed of dog can have excess energy, be hard headed, or high maintenance if they are not showered with love, exercise, and attention.

Reading a pedigree can be very confusing if you have never read one before. Hopefully the puppy you are looking to buy has a very impressive pedigree- one with many abbreviations throughout. But what do they all mean???? If you do not know what you are looking at you could be in for a real surprise. After all-all Labs start out adorably cute with wet noses, big round bellies, and warm puppy breath.

Abbreviations on the pedigree can be found before and after a dog's registered name. These are titles and awards. "Titles measure a dog's attributes--whether it be physical structure as in conformation, trainability as in obedience, or aptitude in the field. They are also a sign of a breeder's commitment to participate in events and have their dogs compared with others. Breeders do not breed titles, they breed dogs; however titles in a pedigree indicate what attributes/aptitude the breeder hopes the next generation will have. " (from Irish Setter website) Below I have listed A.K.C and U.K.C titles and certificates that you would see in our breeding stock's pedigree.

CH (Show Champion)
BISS (Best in Show Specialty)
BIS (Best In Show)
Am. Can. Ch (American AND Canadian Show Champion)
BPIS - Best Puppy in Show
**Conformation or dog show events, are used to evaluate breed stock. Dogs are judged against a breed standard. They are eliminated until the judge selects only a few that truly represent the breed. Bond, below on his way to a Show Championship. Note the short muzzle, body substance, and thick otter tail.


Obedience Titles:
CD - (Companion Dog)
CDX - (Companion Dog Excellent)
UD - (Utility Dog)
UDX - (Utility Dog Excellent)
OTCh - (Obedience Trial Champion)
C.G.C- (Canine Good Citizen) this is not a title but a certificate awarded to a dog and owner team who master a set of task
**"Dog and handler teams are judged on how closely they match the judge's mental picture of a theoretically perfect performance as they execute a series of specified exercises."
Tracking Titles:
TD - (Tracking Dog)
TDX - (Tracking Dog Excellent)
**Tracking dogs are sometimes used for Search and Rescue. The tracks are laid with human scent.

Agility Titles:
AJP (Agility Jumper)
AX (Agility Excellent)
**Dogs and owners compete in a fast paced course containing weaves and jumps. A real crowd pleaser.

Rally Title:
RN (Rally Novice)
RA (Rally Advanced)
**Team of dog and owner perform and follow signs (up to 20) set out by Rally judges. The team works together to do as the sign says. Rally is under the "obedience trial" umbrella
Hunt Test Titles:
JH (Junior Hunter)
SH (Senior Hunter)
MH (Master Hunter)
HRCH (Hunting Retriever Champion a title issued by the U.K.C / United Kennel Club)
GHRCH (Grand Hunting Retriever Champion a title issued by the U.K.C / United Kennel Club)
WC (Working Certificate awarded by the Labrador Retriever Club- this is a Certificate and not an actual title)
WC X (Working Certificate Excellent)
**"A.K.C Retriever Hunting Tests were designed to give the dog owner a good, basic hunting dog and provide a place to run and compete. Here the dog is not competing against the other entries, but against a "standard." This "standard" was established by A.K.C as a means of judging good hunting retrievers...." Marking, Style, Perseverance and Trainability are what the dogs are judged on.


Field Trial Titles: AFC (Amateur Field Champion)
NAFC (National Amateur Field Champion)
NFC (National Field Champion)
**"Field Trials are major leagues for working retrievers. They are highly competitive.
Unlike a Hunt Test, dogs compete against each other and are eliminated in each round or series. The marks are long ranging from 150 yards to upwards of 450 yards in the early rounds. In a trial, you must have a winner and the retrieves are set up to eliminate the weaker dog" Rags, below a true field trial dog. Note his lean body, legs and stop. Not pictured is his very long tail. Rags has lots of drive and energy. He is a great competition dog.


For more info on A.K.C events, how to get started, or find a club, check their website www.akc.org or for the U.K.C site click here: www.ukcdogs.com

I will say again, any breed or type of dog can have excess energy, be hard headed, or high maintenance if they are not showered with love, exercise, and attention.