1. Breeder must be a paid member of NAVHDA. The breeder is defined as the primary owner of the dam at time of whelping.
2. Producing dam must be NAVHDA registered.
3. The litter registration must have occurred before the dogs were tested.
4. Litters must be NAVHDA registered as a litter. The litter registration requirement means the litter must be registered at the same time, under one kennel name. Single registrations will not be eligible for the award.
5. At least four pups from one litter must qualify (Prize I, II, III) with a minimum point total of 360 points (90 point average per dog) in NAVHDA Natural Ability tests (not necessarily in the same calendar year). Dogs must have been tested on or before they reach 16 months of age.
6. To be eligible for the Natural Ability Breeder’s Award the dogs may not be judged as being temperament “sensitive,” temperament “shy” or noted as “aggressive” in their qualifying NAVHDA Natural Ability test.
7. A Natural Ability Breeder’s Award can be awarded for each successful litter. Breeders are not limited to one award per calendar year. No fixed duration of time shall exist for this accomplishment. It is the breeder’s responsibility to apply for the award by December 1 in order for the award to be presented at the Annual Meeting the following January, although application may be made at any time during the year. The Registrar will verify the information and a plaque and certificate will be awarded. Any application made after that date will not be denied but will be awarded the following year.

1. Breeder must be a paid member of NAVHDA. The breeder is defined as the primary owner of the dam at time of whelping.
2. Producing dam must be NAVHDA registered.
3. The litter registration must have occurred before the dogs were tested.
4. Litters must be NAVHDA registered as a litter. The litter registration requirement means the litter must be registered at the same time under one kennel name. Single registrations will not be eligible for the award.
5. At least three dogs from one litter must qualify (Prize I, II) with a minimum of 180 points and a Prize II in NAVHDA Utility tests.
6. To be eligible for the Utility Breeder’s Award the dogs may not be judged as being temperament “sensitive,” temperament “shy” or noted as “aggressive” in their qualifying NAVHDA Utility test.
7. A Utility Breeder’s Award can be awarded for each successful litter. Breeders are not limited to one award per calendar year. No fixed duration of time shall exist for this accomplishment. It is the breeder’s responsibility to apply for the award by December 1 in order for the award to be presented at the Annual Meeting the following January, although application may be made at any time during the year. The Registrar will verify the information and a plaque and certificate will be awarded. Any application made after that date will not be denied but will be awarded the following year.
8. All dogs of a litter qualifying for the Utility Breeder’s Award must have ownership transferred from the breeder to the primary owner of record prior to award certification.
9. The breeder must submit proof, with the application for the Utility Breeder’s Award, that the sire, dam and dogs eligible for the award have no evidence of hip dysplasia and/or their hip joint conformation must be within the normal limits for that dysplasia registry. The dysplasia registry must be one that is recognized by the NAVHDA Registry.
10. DNA certification for both parents and all pups must be submitted for the award. The DNA certification can be obtained through NAVHDA or a registry recognized by NAVHDA. In the event either parent is deceased at the time of submission or other extenuating circumstances exist, the NAVHDA Registrar may make an exception if said dog was previously NAVHDA registered. These exceptions are only applicable for dogs born before 7/1/2005. All dogs born after 7/1/2005, whether they are a parent or offspring, must have DNA certification in order to be part of a UT Breeder Award litter.

Breeder’s Awards are announced at the NAVHDA Annual Meeting.