1. Breeder must be a member of NAVHDA.*
   *If co-owned one of the owners must be a NAVHDA member.
2. Producing dam must be NAVHDA registered.
3. 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.
4. The litter registration must have occurred before the dogs were tested.
5. A Breeder’s Award can be awarded for each successful litter. Breeders are not limited to one award per calendar year.
6. 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).
7. Pups that are gun sensitive or gun-shy, temperament shy or noted as aggressive towards people are not eligible for a Breeder’s Award.
8. A Natural Ability Breeder’s Award can be awarded for each successful litter. It is the breeder’s responsibility to apply for the award by December 1, prior to the annual meeting at which the award is to be given. The registrar will verify the information and a plaque and certificate will be awarded.

1. Beginning 7/1/2005, applications for Utility Breeder Awards must include DNA certification for both parents and all pups being 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. (This motion was passed at the 2005 Annual Meeting.)
2. Breeder must be a paid member of NAVHDA. The breeder is defined as the owner of the dam at time of whelping. If the dam is co-owned one of the owners must be a NAVHDA member.
3. Producing dam must be NAVHDA registered.
4. The litter of the qualifying dogs must be registered simultaneously under the breeder's kennel name. Single registrations will not be eligible for a Breeder's Award.
5. The litter registration may occur up to and through the day the pups reach 16 months of age.
6. A Utility Breeder's Award can be awarded for each successful litter. No fixed duration of time shall exist for this accomplishment. It is the breeder's responsibility to apply for the award by December 1, prior to the Annual Meeting at which the award is to be given. The registrar will verify the information and a plaque and certificate will be awarded.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. All dogs of a litter qualifying for the Utility Breeder's Award must have ownership transferred from the breeder to the legal owner prior to award certification.
10. 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 hip joint conformation to be within the normal limits for that dysplasia registry. The dysplasia registry must be one recognized by the NAVHDA Registry.

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