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What Do Those Titles Really Mean??

 – A Glossary of Terms –

The words that make up the titles around the dogs’ names are the least important part of their meaning.  Each title is a visible sign of a relationship between a dog and a human, and of the time they spent together.  It represents time devoted to physical care and to exercise, to grooming and to training, and to shared travel and adventure.  It represents an understanding between a dog and a human that enables them to work together and to compete as a single unit.  It is a visible representation of the animal-human bond that we treasure so dearly.  When you see the titles around a dog's name, don’t just think, “Oh, that was a show dog.”  Rather think, “This was a dog who, at some time and some place, was loved.”

 
ABBREVIATION  TITLE *ISSUING REGISTRY ACTIVITY EXPLANATION
Am American     The title was issued by the American Kennel Club
AX Agility Excellent AKC Agility Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Excellent A Standard agility class, which includes contact obstacles
AXJ Agility Excellent Jumper AKC Agility Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Excellent A Jumpers agility class, with jumps, tunnels and weave poles only
Can Canadian     The title was issued by the Canadian Kennel Club
CD Companion Dog AKC Obedience Novice title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in novice obedience trial competition
CDX Companion Dog Excellent AKC Obedience Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in open obedience trial competition, which includes retrieving and jumping.  All work is done off leash.
CH Champion AKC Conformation Title awarded to dog who has earned 15 points by beating other dogs to be Winners or better in a number of AKC dog shows.  Two of these wins must be majors, where the entry beaten is large enough that the dog is awarded 3 or more points for that win.  The dogs are judged on breed type, body structure, movement, temperament and conditioning.
CH Champion CKC Conformation Title awarded to a dog who has earned 10 points by beating other dogs to be Winners or better in a number of CKC dog shows.  At least one of these wins must be a 2 point win, where the entry beaten is large enough that the dog is awarded 2 or more points for that win.  The dogs are judged on breed type, body structure, movement, temperament and conditioning.
CT Champion Tracker AKC Tracking Title awarded to a dog who has passed TD, TDX and VST tests.
GCh Grand Champion AKC Conformation Title awarded to a dog who is already an AKC champion, who earns 25 points by beating other dogs in the Best of Breed competition at AKC dog shows.  Points are awarded to the Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog and Select Bitch, with the number of points depending on the number of dogs defeated.   The dog must beat other Champions at least three times, and at least three of the wins must be major wins, where the entry beaten is large enough that the dog is awarded 3 or more points for that win.  The dogs are judged on breed type, body structure, movement, temperament and conditioning.
HRD-IIs Herding Ranch Dog 2 AHBA Herding Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies twice in a course set up to simulate a ranch-like situation.    The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)
HRD-IIIs Herding Ranch Dog 3 AHBA Herding Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies twice in a course set up to simulate a ranch-like situation.   The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)
HS Herding Started AKC Herding Started title awarded to a dog who qualifies at three different trials on one of the AKC herding courses.  More recently, the title has been modified to reflect the kind of course (A, B or C) and the kind of livestock (sheep, ducks, cattle) that the dog has qualified on.
HT Herding Tested AKC Herding Entry-level title awarded to dog who in two different tests has shown sufficient interest in livestock (usually sheep or ducks) to move them back and forth across a small arena.  This is a pass/fail test.
HTD-Is Herding Trial Dog 1 AHBA Herding Started title awarded to dog who qualifies twice in a course similar to a border collie trial, but generally on a much smaller scale.  The level I title can be completed entirely in the fetch, with no driving required.  The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)
HTD-IIs Herding Trial Dog 2 AHBA Herding Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies twice in a course similar to a border collie trial, but generally on a much smaller scale.  The dog is required to drive, reather thatn fetch the sheep through part of the course. The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)
JHD Junior Herding Dog AHBA Herding Title awarded to dog who in two different tests has moved livestock (usually sheep) through several gates in a small arena, and has been able to make the livestock change direction.  This is a pass/fail test.
MACH Master Agility Champion AKC Agility Title awarded to dog who has earned 750 time points and who 20 times has qualified in both Excellent B standard and Excellent B Jumpers at the same show.
MX Master Excellent AKC Agility Title awarded to dog who qualifies ten times in the advanced Excellent B Standard agility class.  No time faults are permitted in Excellent B.
MXJ Master Excellent Jumper AKC Agility Title awarded to dog who qualifies ten times in the advanced Excellent B Jumpers agility class.  No time faults are permitted in Excellent B.
NA Novice Aglity AKC Agility Novice title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Novice Standard agility class, which includes contact obstacles
NAJ Novice Agility Jumper AKC Agility Novice title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Novice Jumpers agility class, with jumps, tunnels and weave poles only
NF Novice FAST AKC Agility Novice title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Novice FAST (Fifteen And Send Time) agility class, in which fifteen obstacles are assigned a point value, can be taken in any order, except for a set of obstacles that the dog works at a distance from the handler.
OA Open Agility AKC Agility Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Open Standard agility class, including contact obstacles
OAJ Open Agility Jumper AKC Agility Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Open Standard agility class, with jumps, tunnels and weave poles only
PT Pre-Trial Tested AKC Herding Title awarded to dog who in two different tests has moved livestock (usually sheep or ducks) through several gates in a small arena, and has been able to make the livestock change direction.  This is a pass/fail test.
RN Rally Novice AKC Obedience Rally is a fairly new variant on obedience work.  Like obedience, the dog must come, heel sit, down, stay and finish.  Like agility, the dog and handler go through a numbered course without any directions from the judge. Also like agility, multiple commmands are permitted, and ties between dogs are broken in favor of the team with the shortest course time.  Rally Novice is the introductory level, where all work in done on leash.  The dog must qualify three times in the Rally Novice class to earn this title.
ROM Register of Merit ASSA   Designates a Sheltie who is the sire of ten or more American Champions, or who is the dam of five or more American Champions
ROMC Register of Merit Canada CSSC   Designates a Sheltie who is the sire of ten or more Canadian Champions, or who is the dam of five or more Canadian Champions
STDs Started Trial Dog ASCA Herding Entry level herding title awarded to a dog who has twice qualified in the started class.  The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)
TD Tracking Dog AKC Tracking

Title awarded to dog who passes a tracking test. The track is the scent of a stranger, 30 minutes to 2 hours old and makes three to five turns.  At the end of the track, the dog must find a glove or wallet dropped by the tracklayer.
TDX Tracking Dog Excellent AKC Tracking

Title award to a dog who passes an advanced tracking test. The track is the scent of a stranger who has walked through the field three to six hours earlier, and makes five to seven turns.  The dog must find three articles dropped by the tracklayer, and negotiate two obstacles.  In addition the track is crossed twice by fresher diversionary tracks of two other people.
UD Utility Dog AKC Obedience Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in utility obedience trial competition, which includes scent discrimination and directional work.
VC Versatility Certificate ASSA Versatility

Title awarded by the American Shetland Sheepdog Association to a Sheltie who has accumulated at least 6 points, according to a prescribed schedule, by achieving AKC qualifications in conformation, herding and at least one other activity.
VCD1 Versatile Companion Dog 1 AKC Versatility Title awarded to a dog who has earned a CD, NA, NAJ and TD
VCD2 Versatile Companion Dog 2 AKC Versatility Title awarded to a dog who has earned a CDX, OA, OAJ and TD
VCX Versatility Certificate Excellent ASSA Versatility Title awarded by the American Shetland Sheepdog Association to a Sheltie who has accumulated at least 10 points, according to a prescribed schedule, by achieving AKC qualifications in conformation, herding and at least one other activity.
VST Variable Surface Tracker AKC Tracking Title award to a dog who passes an advanced tracking test laid out in an urban situation. The track is the scent of a stranger who has walked through the area three to six hours earlier, and makes four to eight turns.  Up to 50 percent of the track is on non-vegetated surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete.  The track may go up stairs, across balconies, through breezeways, along buildings, across roads and between parked cars.The dog must find three articles dropped by the tracklayer.
 
* AHBA American Herding Breed Association
  AKC American Kennel Club
  ASCA Australian Shepherd Club of America
  ASSA American Shetland Sheepdog Association
  CKC Canadian Kennel Club
  CSSC Canadian Shetland Sheepdog Association

This page was last updated 05/26/11