Proven Abilities – Titles indicate that a dog has met objective performance or conformation standards, evaluated by professional judges.

Health & Temperament Assurance – Dogs that earn titles undergo rigorous training, ensuring they have stable temperaments and sound structure.

Commitment to Excellence – Titling requires years of training and investment, reinforcing a breeder’s dedication to producing quality dogs.

Field-Specific Skills – For breeds like Labrador Retrievers, field trial and hunting titles showcase their natural retrieving instincts and work ethic.

Field Trial Titles (Before the Dog’s Name)

These titles indicate a dog's hunting and retrieving skills in competitive fieldwork:

Hunt Test Titles (After the Dog’s Name)

These titles assess a dog's ability to retrieve birds in realistic hunting conditions. The AKC hunting test program was created in 1985 to assess how well a retriever performs real-world hunting tasks. Unlike field trials, where dogs compete against each other, hunt tests judge each dog individually against a defined standard.

There are three hunt test levels – Junior, Senior, and Master, each requiring progressively more advanced skills. Judges evaluate natural abilities such as marking, perseverance, and style, as well as trained responses like steadiness, handling, and delivery.

Dogs are not eliminated based on competition—if all dogs pass the test, they all receive titles. However, the difficulty level is high, and it’s rare for more than half of the dogs to pass at the Master level.



• JH (Junior Hunter) – The entry-level title, requiring four successful passes in AKC hunting tests.
• SH (Senior Hunter) – Requires handling (responding to hand signals for blind retrieves) and the ability to honor another dog’s retrieve.
• MH (Master Hunter) – The highest hunt test title, requiring complex retrieves, blind retrieves, steadiness, and exceptional teamwork.

Top-performing Master Hunters may qualify for the Master National event, an exclusive competition for elite retrievers.

Derby Division & Young Dog Competitions

The Derby division is for retrievers under two years of age. Points are accumulated throughout the season, and the dog with the highest score is recognized as Derby Dog of the Year.

Dogs with 10+ points typically make the annual Derby list, which is a strong predictor of future field trial success. Although Derby placements do not count toward FC or AFC titles, they serve as a stepping stone for young dogs demonstrating early aptitude in competitive retrieving.