[ze6464]

What looks better on a pedigree? I know I am opening a can of worms but I am curious of what people think.

 

[Charles C.]

I don't know that you can distinguish between the two. They both mean that the dog was the best over the course of one week against lots of other very special dogs.

 

[Billie]

Good answer and very true indeed.......
though the title alone would not make me buy that puppy.

 

[AsInEastwood]

Theoretically, and all other things being equal, would an NAFC have been more trainable, easier to handle than an NFC? My question would probably apply to AFC versus FC, as well as finalists in NAFC versus NFC. Like I said, I know this is a theoretical question. Don't beat me up too severely. Obviously, I'm very new to the retriever game.

 

[Sue Kiefer]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
I'll take either for my Fluffy.............
Pom-poms waving LOL
Sue

 

[AsInEastwood]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.
I'll take either for my Fluffy.............
Pom-poms waving LOL
Sue

Sue, is that Fluffy the Pomeranian???

 

[limiman12]

Correct me if I am wrong but AFC or Nafc does not mean am trained..... Just am handled? Don't know that one would necessarily be more trainable based on the Am status of the HANDLER. Would be tickled pink to own either or a pup out of either, no difference to me though sentimentally would tip my hat to the am handler.....

 

[DoubleHaul]

I would take either since both "NFC" and "NAFC" would look better on my dog truck license plate than the current "No! Here!". However, if I had to pick, I'd rather have an NAFC since it would likely mean that I handled it.

 

[helencalif]

Correct me if I am wrong but AFC or Nafc does not mean am trained..... Just am handled?

You are correct. AFC and NAFC means that the dog was handled by an amateur to obtain those titles. The dog could have been pro trained all of its life.

Most dogs who obtain the FC or NFC title probably received some pro training (or a lot of pro training) during its life. It could have been handled to those titles by its amateur owner.

There are very few FC/AFC titled dogs who are 100% owner-amateur trained to their titles and owner qualified to run in the nationals.

I can think of one: FC/AFC Tealcreek Patton's Saber who is owner-amateur bred, owner-amateur trained, and owner-amateur handled. Saber's owner is Chris Hatch.

Chris also trained and handled Saber's mother FC/AFC Hightest Black Ty Affair to her FC/AFC titles. Chris Hatch is a dying breed - a "pure" amateur.

Helen

 

[helencalif]

I don't know what looks better on a pedigree -- NFC or NAFC. Both are significant titles to earn.

But ... I am inclined to really appreciate the NAFC title because I know the dog was amateur handled to get that title.

I think keeping amateurism in the sport is important.

Helen

 

[Mark Chase]

An amateur could handle a dog to NFC title as well as NAFC even though the dog is trained by a pro 99% of the time, I would suggest that either title means a tremendous achievement.

 

[BonMallari]

An amateur could handle a dog to NFC title as well as NAFC even though the dog is trained by a pro 99% of the time, I would suggest that either title means a tremendous achievement.

I think Judy Aycock would have something to say about your assumption

 

[Criquetpas]

In the "olden days" mid 1950's through recent years the National Amateur was called the "little National" by some and the National Open the "big National" . Me thinks that today circa 2012 there ain't much difference and both titles would be welcome on any pedigree. The best marking dog and trained dog for the week wins, most of the time.

 

[Rick_C]

I think Judy Aycock would have something to say about your assumption

I think you missed Marks point. He's saying that, whether or not a dog was pro trained 99% of the time, it could be that an amateur handler was at the wheel when the dog became NFC or NAFC.

 

[AsInEastwood]

Thanks for pointing out that NAFC's and AFC's only means that the dogs were handled by their owners, but does not mean that they are trained by their owners. I did not fully understand that.

 

[Tim Lawrence]

I don't know what looks better on a pedigree -- NFC or NAFC. Both are significant titles to earn.

But ... I am inclined to really appreciate the NAFC title because I know the dog was amateur handled to get that title.

I think keeping amateurism in the sport is important.

Helen

Very true Helen. Another reason I'm not in a hurry to get another puppy so soon. I've been busy with my kids sports and academics trying to get one into West Point and the youngest into a travel hockey program, so I really don't want to drop a dog off with a trainer and see it every once in a while. I want to be more of the reason we would win, just not handling to a win. Training to win gives me more satisfaction than paying to win.

 

[john fallon]

To my way of thinking It's the NFC hands down . The NFC for a particular year is the best dog handled by the best handlers in the country, with NO restrictions . Of course if the handler winning the National is an Amateur the dog would also get its AFC if it did not already have it, that for me, makes the title a little sweeter .

john

 

[junbe]

Thanks for pointing out that NAFC's and AFC's only means that the dogs were handled by their owners, but does not mean that they are trained by their owners. I did not fully understand that.

For clarification only: One could get an NAFC or AFC without the owner(s) running the dog. The only requirement is that an amateur runs the dog. The National Amateur stake is not an owner-handler stake. Some amateur stakes are owner-handler stakes. Other amateur stakes allow any amateur to run any dog.

Jack

 

[Matt McKenzie]

If I'm looking at a pedigree, I'm more interested in the name after the letters. There are both NFC's and NAFC's that I like to see up close in a pedigree and there are NFC's and NAFC's that I'm not very interested in seeing. Remember that we are breeding dogs, not titles. One man's opinion.