Different Titles Achievable by a Dog

Information regarding dog showing and different types of titles at www.NorthViewBoxers.com
This is also very confusing for many new people looking to purchase a puppy. All titles are NOT created equal.

American Kennel Club (AKC) Confirmation Titles are by far the most difficult to earn. Each dog has to accumulate 16 'points' including 3 'major' point wins which come from 'large shows'. Points for the day are determined by how many dogs attend the show that day. In our region it takes 24 males and 26 females to earn a '3 point major'. Second place (Reserve) get NOTHING. Boxers show in the 'Working Breed' Group in AKC.

The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC-- be warned there is a different UNREPUTABLE club that also goes by CKC) also have a similar point system to AKC and are also reputable. There is less competition in Boxers with CKC, so it is probably a slightly easier title to earn.

United Kennel Club (UKC) is the second oldest registrty in the United States. They focus more on the 'total dog'. In order for a dog to earn a title with UKC a dog must accumulate 100 points including 3 wins over 'competition' meaning they have to win against other Boxers. Or they need to have a difficult 'group placing' where they are judged against dogs of other 'Guardian Breeds' group. Can accumulate between 15-35 points per show, so this title is also less difficult to obtain than an AKC title.

FCI is the registy generally used for European dogs. It is my understanding that dogs are not judged by compairing them to other dogs in the ring. From what I have read 3 judges need to give a dog a certain score and then they are a Champion. I think this is an acceptable way for Europeans to evaluate their dogs. I just don't see why Americans would need to do that, unless they didn't feel their dogs could cut it in the other rings against competition. So, depending on the situation, and where the dog has come from, FCI may or may not be a legitimate Title. I will say that European STYLE Boxers are NOT GIVEN consideration in AKC, CKC, or UKC. So people with European style Boxers probably don't have many other opportunities to compete with their dogs other than in FCI.

AKC, CKC, UKC, FCI are the only titles that I feel are legitimate. Titles for Continental Kennel Club (the other BAD CKC), and other registries that I have never heard of, I question their validity. They don't mean much. Other than someone probably wanted to put some--- any title in front of their dogs name to get more money for the puppies. Not to improve the breed or raise the best possible puppies.

There are also many other 'working titles' such as obediance, agility, hunting trials (not for boxers), field trials.

Boxer Hip Dysplasia Information

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is the number one cause of hind limb lameness in dogs and results in an arthritic condition of the hip joint which is initially caused by a laxity (looseness) in the hip joint itself. This joint is a ball and socket joint in which the head of the thigh bone (femur) fits into a cup-like depression (acetabulum) in the pelvis. The laxity is associated with the tissues which surround and hold the joint in place, that is, the tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, and muscle, and this laxity leads to bony abnormalities of the ball and socket. While the laxity of the joint is not thought to change much with time, the presence of joint instability causes abnomal wear and tear on the cartilage lining of the joint with subsequent development of arthritis as the dog ages.

Indeed, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) believes that there is little change in the test for dysplasia after 4 months of age; however, they require testing at two years of age or older for certification purposes, to err on the side of caution.Clinical signs can be extremely variable -- from no symptoms to severe lameness. Severity of arthritic changes on radiographs (X-rays) does not necessarily correlate with degree of lameness.

Diagnosis is made from radiographs of the hip joint (from the pelvis to the kneecap) and does require sedation or anesthesia. Positioning of the dog is critical for proper evaluation. The radiographs are evaluated by veterinary radiologists specially trained for this task. The dogs are graded as excellent, good, fair, borderline, or mildly, moderately, or severely dysplastic.

A newer method of evaluating hip joint laxity called PennHIP has been developed at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. This involves a different method of positioning the dog and uses a distraction device that is fitted to the dog during the procedure. Three views are taken, including a compression view, a distraction view and the standard (OFA) extended view. From the radiographs, the dog is assigned a DI or distraction index from 0-1.0, with values of 0.3 or below considered NOT at high risk for developing dysplasia. The dog is also ranked with other members of its breed in a percentile. (A dog ranking in the 80th percentile has 20% of its breed showing tighter hips.) This test can be performed at 16 weeks of age, but the originators of the method admit greater reliability if the test is performed later (at one year).

Hip dysplasia is thought to be genetically determined in part, but the mode of inheritance has not been established, since multiple genes and environmental factors such as nutrition and rapid growth may play a role in its development.

While some have questioned the frequency and severity of hip dysplasia in the boxer, many owners are now testing their dogs. The OFA currently reports the boxer as 67th in incidence of dysplasia (among breeds where over 100 dogs have been tested) with 2.9% of boxers testing excellent and 11.3% dysplasitic. The OFA Web Site at http://www.offa.org.

**This information was taken from www.americanboxerclub.org, last viewed at 12:30 pm, 2/13/09.

For OFA hip-tested boxer puppies bred by a reputable boxer breeder, please visit http://www.northviewboxers.com

DNA test for degenerative myopathy

Boxer breeder news:

There is now a genetic test available for detecting degenerative myleopathy in boxers, as well as other breeds.