Level 3Experienced
Careful: an award ≠ an automatic title
The answer
Your dog receives a certificate or wins a final: you have every reason to enjoy this result! But before announcing “They’re a champion”, check what has actually been awarded.
A prize on the day, a certificate and a champion title are different stages.
Three notions to tell apart
| What your dog wins | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1st Excellent | A placing and a grade in their class |
| CACS or CACIB | A certificate that may count towards a championship |
| Best of Breed, Group or Best in Show | A win in a comparison at the show |
| Validated champion title | Official recognition of a record that meets the title’s regulations |
A win in a final does not replace the certificates required for a championship.
The word “title” can also refer to a distinction on the day, such as Best of Breed. So it is worth specifying whether you are talking about a win at a show or a validated championship.
The last certificate is not the last step
To obtain a champion title, you have to check all the conditions: results, judges, countries or deadlines, as well as any additional requirements.
You then still need to follow the validation procedure, that is, the official confirmation of the title.
A file can thus be:
- Complete — the conditions are met.
- Submitted — the application is in progress.
- Validated — the title is officially confirmed.
These three states are not interchangeable.
A scene to understand it
Oslo receives a new CACIB. Their owner thinks they have completed the journey.
Before announcing the championship, they check:
- Are the certificates confirmed?
- Are all the conditions of the title met?
- Are the supporting documents gathered?
- Has the validation of the title been confirmed?
In the meantime, they can announce precisely: “Oslo has won a new CACIB; their championship file is being prepared.”
The CACIB also has a validation
For the adult CACIB, the card handed over in the ring certifies a proposal by the judge, subject to validation by the FCI.
You need to distinguish:
- Validation of the CACIB, which confirms the certificate.
- Validation of the championship, which confirms the title.
A confirmed CACIB therefore does not automatically make the dog an International Beauty Champion.
Three tips for progressing
Beginner — Use the words of the official result. Announce “1st Excellent”, “CACS” or “Best of Breed” according to what is on your documents.
Intermediate — Keep results and titles separate in your tracking. Have one section for awards won and another for championships, with their progress status.
Advanced — Keep the confirmation of validation. Archive it with the file and use the full name of the title in your posts. Your record will stay clear and verifiable.