What Makes a Dual Champion?

A dual champion in the retriever world refers to a dog who has received both his conformation champion (CH) and his field trial champion (FC). Dual champions are very rare, especially in the labrador retriever breed.

Over the last several decades, the breeders have diverged into two separate types of labs. On one hand there are the "field trial" dogs who are bred for their marking ability, quickness, sense of smell, and tractability. On the other hand there are the "conformation" dogs who are bred to meet a defined, if somewhat subjective, standard. Although this type of selective breeding has produced some impressive dogs on both sides of the spectrum, it has deviated away from the original purpose of the labrador. Read more...