Glossary

Common terms used in the working retriever community

Pedigree

A recorded ancestry or line of descent, especially of a purebred animal. In retrievers, this shows the family tree and lineage.

Sire

The father of a dog.

Dam

The mother of a dog.

Health Clearance

Certification from a veterinary organization (such as OFA, CERF) that a dog has been tested and cleared for specific genetic conditions.

OFA

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. An organization that provides health clearances for dogs, particularly for hip and elbow dysplasia.

CERF

Canine Eye Registry Foundation. An organization that certifies dogs as free of heritable eye diseases.

Started Dog

A dog that has begun training and may have basic obedience and field work experience, but is not yet fully trained.

Finished Dog

A fully trained dog that has completed advanced training and may have competition titles.

Stud Dog

A male dog used for breeding purposes.

Litter

A group of puppies born from the same dam and sire at the same time.

Field Trial

A competitive event where retrievers demonstrate their hunting and retrieving abilities.

Hunt Test

A non-competitive event where retrievers demonstrate their hunting and retrieving abilities, typically with pass/fail scoring.

5-Gen Pedigree

A pedigree showing five generations of ancestors, providing comprehensive lineage information.

Working Retriever

A retriever bred and trained for hunting, field work, and retrieving game.