What do all those LETTERS mean?

First, the names.  All registered dogs have an "official" name which usually consists of two or more words. Generally, the first word is the name of the kennel which bred the dog (owned the mother), and the second word is the name unique to that dog.  Sometimes the name of the kennel that owns the dog is added as a third word.  And sometimes the second, unique word, is a short phrase rather than just one word.  Most registries have a maximum allowable length for a name, so the name does not get unmanageably long.  In addition, each dog also has a "call" name, or the one that is actually used at home.  The dog's call name often is derived from its official name, but this is not required!

The American Kennel Club

Finnish Lapphunds are not fully recognized by the primary registry in the United States, the American Kennel Club.  This prevents them from competing for beauty Championships in AKC shows.  However, AKC offers one title which is open to all dogs, regardless of registration or ancestry, this is the Canine Good Citizen (CGC).  To be awarded a CGC, the dog and owner must pass a single test which shows that the dog has adequate training and good manners, enough to make them welcome in public places.  This test includes a demonstration that the dog walks on leash without pulling; will sit, down, stay and come on command; will allow a stranger to pet him without trying to get away or jump up, will allow a stranger to examine him in the way a Vet or groomer would need to, is not agressive toward other dogs, and will wait patiently while the owner leaves the room briefly.  As of January 1, 2004, Finnish Lapphunds are allowed to compete in AKC shows for obedience, agility, and tracking titles.  

The Finnish Kennel Club

A Finnish Championship requires that the dog (one male and one female in each show) be awarded three Certificates of Championship, at least one of which is awarded after the dog turns two years old.  The wins must be made in Finland, so the title can only be held by imported adult dogs, or dogs which have travelled back to Finland to compete.

There are a number of "alternative" clubs in the US, which offer shows which include the Rare Breeds.  These shows tend to be smaller, because many people with AKC recognized breeds are only interested in AKC shows.  All these clubs offer their own titles, often with widely differing requirements.  This is a very generaly summary of the ones we attend, with a link to the club's web site.

The International All Breed Canine Association

This club is similar in their pattern of competition to the FCI in Europe.  They offer Championships which require certification of quality by three judges and the judges must reside in at least two countries.  The shows are all in the US, so the foreign judges are brought in, usually from Canada or Australia.  Multiple Championships are available, based on age and number of times the dog has won.  Puppies less than 6 months old can win a "baby championship."  Puppies between 6 and 18 months of age can win a "junior championship."  Adults over 6 years old can win a "veteran championship."  Adults over 18 months can win "national" and "international" championships, then progressive levels of championship going from Bronze to Silver to Gold, so each three times they are certified as Champion quality, they win a new championship.  It can be hard to keep track!  This club also offers several fun classes at their dog shows, including special classes through Best In Show, for Bred by Exhibitor dogs, both puppy and adult, and Veterans.

The United Kennel Club

UKC is the second largest registry in the United States.  They were founded a little over 100 years ago as a registry for working hunting dogs, and are still very active in this area.  However, they now also register many other breeds.  The Finnish Lapphund was fully recognized by UKC in 1994.  UKC offers competitions in conformation (beauty judging, for Championships) but also puts great emphasis on "total dogs" which are beautiful, but also intelligent enough to succeed in performance events (obedience and agility).  This is the perfect venue for the Finnish Lapphund!  Also because of this emphasis on equality of performance events, the UKC puts all titles before the dog's name.  This is unlike AKC, which puts Championship titles before the dog's official name, but puts most performance titles at the end of the name.

UKC Champion, abbreviated "UCh" -- a dog must be over 6 months old to compete, but there are no other age restrictions.  To become a Champion, the dog much accumulate 100 points and at least three wins over competition.  At each show, ten points are awarded to the winner of each class (divided by age and sex, plus a breeders class).  The Best Male and Best Female are each awarded an additional 15 points.  The Best of Winners (the better of the best male and best female) wins an additional ten points.  So BW (Best of Winners) at each show gets 35 points, assuming there is at least one male and one female competing.  BW requires competition, since both sexes must be present.  However 25 points can be awarded to the best of one sex without any competition.  In general then, most dogs must win at least four times to become a Champion, but the minimum possible is three wins (BW at three shows).

UKC Grand Champion, abbreviated "UGrCh" -- once a dog becomes a UKC Champion, it can continue to compete in the "Champion Class."  Five wins from this class, over a minimum of two other competing Champions, qualifies a dog for a Grand Championship.

The UKC performance titles:  Three qualifying performances are required in each class (at three different shows) to win the title.

UKC Companion Dog (UCD) -- the lowest available UKC obedience title, the dog is required to (1) Heel (stay on the left of the handler during various walking maneuvers) with the leash on and with the leash off; (2) Stand and Stay while the handler is six feet away and the dog is touched on the head and back by the judge; (3) Come when called, from a Sit-Stay, clearing a low hurdle to get to the handler, and sitting in front of the handler until told to go to the Heel position; (4) Down and Stay while another dog is heeling nearby; and (5) Sit and Stay in a group of dogs.

UKC Companion Dog Excellent (UCDX) -- progressing up the scale of difficulty, this title requires that the dog (1) heel with the leash off, under more difficult conditions than for the UCD; (2) Come when called from a Sit-Stay, with an interruption to Down on the way to the handler; (3) retrieve a wooden dumbbell first on a flat surface, then over a hurdle; (4) Jump a broad jumb (several low boards) on command; (5) Down and Stay with the handler out of sight and another dog heeling nearby; (6) Sit and Stay in a group of dogs, with the handler out of sight.

UKC Utility Dog (UUD) -- the most difficult of the obedience classes, this on requires that the dog (1) perform most of the UCD exercises on signal only (no voice commands); (2) use scent to retrieve a metal article with the handler's scent from among articles with a stranger's scent; (3) retrieve correctly two gloves from among three, at the direction of the handler, first working from the handler's side, then secondly working from a distance; (4) Come when called, with or without a Down during the recall; (5) jump hurdles while being directed by the handler from a distance.

UKC Obedience Champion (UOCH) -- requires a series of qualifying performances from a combination of the UCDX and UUD classes.  A total of 100 Championship points must be accumulated, based on the score obtained, plus a total of 5 qualifying performances from both the UCDX class and the UUD class at the same show.

Many people have learned about Agility because the competition is fun to watch and is often featured on cable TV channels.  I will not take the space necessary to appropriately describe all the obstacles used.  More may be learned about agility by going to the links.

UKC Agility I (UAgI) -- Within a set time, the dog must correctly negotiate a series of 13 obstacles, including six hurdles and six "non-hurdles" and a pause table.  the obstacles are laid out in a specified pattern and must be taken in that order.

UKC Agility II (UAgII) -- The next step up, the dog must correctly negotiate 16 obstacles, 7 non-hurdles, 8 hurdles, and a pause table, again within a specified time and order.

UKC Agility Champion (UACH) -- must accumulate 100 championship points, based on qualifying performances with scores over 196 (out of 200) in AgI and AgII classes.

UKC Agility Champion Excellent (UACHX) -- a VERY difficult course consisting of 16 obstacles.  To obtain the title, the dog mush score 196 or better in five shows.