Why title a dog?
Why title a dog?

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores, a title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in record and in memory for as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard.

And though the dog itself doesn't know or care that its achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A title says your dog was intelligent and adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.

And a title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with it because it was a good dog, that you believed in it enough to give it yet another chance when it failed, and that, in the end, your faith was justified.

A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return.

And when that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of pride in one small set of initials after the name.

A title earned is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, and permanently recorded.

-Sandra Mowery

  
       
       
 

 
     
  Requirements for obtaining the Champion titles:  
 
     
 
   
       
    Champion(ne) Internationale de Beautè  
     
       
    For the International Champion title a dog must obtain:

4 x CACIB
from at least 3 Different Countries 
under at least 3 Different Judges

The International Champion title, awarded by the FCI, is considered to be the most valued title achievable.

The dog must earn four CACIB’s from at least three countries and under a minimum of three different judges. One of the CACIB's must be won in the dog’s owner’s home country, or in the country of origin of the dog. The title requires a time spread of a year and a day between the first CACIB and the fourth, which is the minimum to be awarded. Minimum age requirement for the dog to be awarded with CACIB is 15 months. The dog must first finish the national Champion title before it can become an International Champion.


CACIB = Certificat d'Aptitude au Championnat International de Beauté, International Championship certificate.
The only dogs which can be considered for the CACIB are those, which have been awarded "EXCELLENT 1st" and who have won their breed/variety.

A CACIB can only be awarded if the dog in question has been assessed as being of superior quality. The CACIB is not automatically linked to the "EXCELLENT 1st" and winning Best of Breed/Best of Opposite Sex. A judge must withhold a CACIB even from a Best of Breed winner, if he feels the dog is of Excellent yet not superior quality.
CACIBs may be awarded at shows held under the patronage of the FCI.

(International Champion, ICH, INT CH, INTUCH, KANS MVA)

  
       
       
    German (DDC) Champion
 
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    For the DDC Champion title, a dog must obtain :

4 x CAC
under at least 3 Different Judges

366 days must have passed between obtaining the first and the last CAC.

(DDC CH; DDC = Deutsche Doggen Club)

  
       
       
    German (VDH) Champion
 
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    For the VDH Champion title a dog must obtain:

5 x CAC
from at least 3 Different Regions
under at least 3 Different Judges

366 days must have passed between obtaining the first and the last CAC.

(VDH CH)

  
       
       
    Belgian Champion
 
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    For the Belgian Champion title a dog must obtain:

4 x CAC
under at least 3 Different Judges
including one obtained at the time of being awarded with CACIB

366 days must have passed between obtaining the first and the last CAC.
The CAC obtained at the show organized by the S.R.S.H. counts for two

(B CH)		  
       
       
    Champion of Spain
 
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    For the Champion title of Spain, a dog must obtain :

4 x CAC 
under at least 3 Different Judges

a) 4 x CAC one CAC from the International Show of Madrid, and 1 Excellent, in Champion Class, Working Class, Open Class or Intermediate Class, from breed club specialty show, or from another International Show of Madrid.

b) 4 x CAC one CAC from breed club specialty show, or from the International Show of Madrid, and 1 Excellent, in Champion Class, Working Class, Open Class or Intermediate Class, from another International Show of Madrid.

from at least 3 Different Judges

A dog does not obtain the Title of Champion before it is accredited by the R.S.C.E..

(Campeonato de España de Belleza)

  
       
       
    Champion of France (FR CH)
 
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For the French Champion title, a dog must obtain:

3 x CAC of which obligatorily:

One from either International All Breed show or Breed Club Specialty Show,
One CAC from International specialty show 
under at least 3 Different Judges

The last CAC must imperatively be obtained in the 2 years following obtaining the first CAC. There is on the other hand no minimum time. The FR CH title will be confirmed only if the Great Dane, who has received all of the obligatory CACs, has an official hip x-ray result of grade A or B.

  
       
       
    Champion of Holland (NL CH)
 
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    For the Dutch Champion title, a dog must obtain :

4 x CAC
under at least 3 Different Judges

The dog needs to be at least 27 months old on the day of winning the last CAC.

If the dog has already won 4 CAC's before the age of 27 months, a Reserve CAC achieved after this age will be sufficient to gain the CH title.
4 Res-CAC constitutes of 1 CAC
CAC in Amsterdam Winner show constitutes of 2 CACs
CAC in national specialty show constitutes of 2 CACs
Res-CAC at a national specialty show constitutes of 1 CAC

  
       
       
    Italian Champion
 
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    For the Italian Champion title, a dog must obtain:

6 x CAC

2 from National dog shows
2 from International dog shows
2 from breed club specialty shows
under at least 5 Different Judges		  
       
       
    Champion of Luxembourg (L CH, LUX CH)
 
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    For the Champion title of Luxembourg, a dog must obtain:

2 CACL
at 2 international shows organized by the UCHL,
under 2 Different Judges, unbounded of time.

Or Obtain 1 CACL, at an international show, organized by UCHL + 1 CACL on special of club, sponsored by the UCHL,
under 2 Different Judges, unbounded of time.

Or obtain 1 CACL, at an international show organized by the UCHL, in Champion class.		  
       
       
    Polish Champion (PL CH)
 
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    For the Champion title of Poland, a dog must :

3 CWC (Polish CAC)

under at least 2 Different Judges
1 CWC from an International show or Specialty show
2 CWC from a National show

6 months must have been passed between the first and the last CWC

  
       
       
    Champion of Portugal
 
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    For the Champion title du Portugal, a dog must obtain :

4 x CAC dont 1 CAC-QC

1 excellent from International show and 1 excellent from a national specialty show

  
       
       
    Champion of Switzerland
 
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    For the Champion title of Switzerland, a dog must obtain:

3 x CAC
under at least 2 Different Judges

366 days must have passed between obtaining the first and the last CAC

  
       
       
    Finnish Champion  
  Finland    
       
    For the Finnish Champion title, a dog must obtain :

3 x CAC
under at least 3 Different Judges

A dog must be at least 9 months old to be awarded with CAC.
CAC can be given only if the dog has been first awarded with Excellent and then the dog has won all the junior/intermediate/open class dogs who were awarded with Excellent.
Minimum age to obtain the Finnish Champion title is 24 months.

  
       
       
    American Champion
 
  USA    
       
    For the American Champion title, a dog must obtain :

15 points

At least 6 of these points must have come from "Major" wins

In AKC competition, a Champion of Record ("AM CH") title is given to a dog or bitch who has won a total of 15 points at licensed AKC shows. At least 6 of these points must have come from "Major" wins ("Points") under different judges.
A Champion of Record may then enter and compete in the Best of Breed competition, and the "CH" becomes an official prefix to the dog's registered name. Champions are often referred to as "specials" - usually when they are being actively campaigned. Champions of Record also used to be commonly referred to as "bench champions" referring to the formerly common practice of holding benched shows.

  
       
       
    Canadian Champion
 
  Canada    
       
    For the Canadian Champion title, a dog must obtain :

10 points at licensed CKC shows

under at least 3 Different Judges

In CKC competition, a Champion of Record ("CAN CH") title is given to a dog or bitch earning 10 points at licensed CKC shows under at least 3 different judges.
As with the AKC, a Champion of Record may then enter and compete in the Best of Breed competition, and the "CH" becomes an official prefix to the dog's registered name. Champions are often referred to as "specials" - usually when they are being actively campaigned. Champions of Record also used to be commonly referred to as "bench champions" referring to the formerly common practice of holding benched shows.