Level 3Experienced
RCAC: what does this reserve mean?
The answer
Has your dog just received an RCAC? These letters stand for Reserve of the Certificate of Aptitude for the Championship, also called a "Reserve CAC".
It is an award linked to the national championship of the country where you are showing. To understand what it means, you therefore need to know that country's regulations.
A reserve, not simply a second place
The placing and the certificate are two separate pieces of information:
2nd Excellent indicates the dog's rank and grade. RCAC indicates that it has received the reserve of the national certificate.
The conditions for awarding it vary between national organisations. So avoid holding on to a universal rule such as: "Every second place gets an RCAC".
In Switzerland, for example, the Reserve CAC is awarded to the males and females that have obtained 2nd Excellent in the intermediate, open, working and champion classes. The Swiss regulations also provide for reserves for juniors and veterans.
RCAC, RCACS, RCACIB: three abbreviations to tell apart
| Abbreviation | What does it stand for? |
|---|---|
| RCAC | Reserve of the national CAC certificate, according to the country's rules |
| RCACS | Reserve of the French CACS |
| RCACIB | Reserve of the FCI international CACIB certificate |
The country and the exact abbreviation are therefore essential for recording the result correctly.
Can an RCAC be turned into a CAC?
In some cases, yes, according to the national regulations. This conversion requires meeting the conditions set and following the official procedure.
In Switzerland, a Reserve CAC can in particular be converted when the CAC winner already holds the ratified title of Swiss Beauty Champion at the time of the show. The Swiss Show Champion title alone does not allow this conversion.
A request must be sent to the show secretariat of the Swiss Kennel Society (Société Cynologique Suisse), which checks the file.
A short scene to help you understand
You are coming back from a Swiss show with Milo:
- Result: 2nd Excellent, Reserve CAC.
- Check: did the CAC winner meet the condition that allows a conversion?
- Procedure: if so, you prepare the official request.
- Decision: the organisation checks and confirms the conversion.
So keep your reserve carefully: it may be useful in your journey.
Three tips to make progress
Beginner — Note the full result. Write down the placing, the grade, the certificate and the country. "2nd Excellent, RCAC, Switzerland" will be more useful than "second".
Intermediate — Check the conversion rules. After a reserve, look at the official section for the country concerned. You will know whether a procedure is possible.
Advanced — Keep the supporting documents together. File the card, the official results and any confirmation of conversion in your dog's championship folder.