Why Title A Dog?

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores, a title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in record and in memory for as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard.

And though the dog itself doesn’t know or care that its achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A title says your dog was intelligent and adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.

And a title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with it because it was a good dog, that you believed in it enough to give it yet another chance when it failed, and that, in the end, your faith was justified.

A title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return.

And when that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of pride in one small set of initials after the name.

A title earned is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, and permanently recorded.

-Sandra Mowery

 

Below is a list of some of the most common titles you and

your canine companion can work to earn…

 

Conformation:

BOB – Best of Breed

BIS – Best In Show

BISS – Best In Specialty Show

BOW – Best of Winners

CH – Champion

RWB – Reserve Winners Bitch

RWD – Reserve Winners Dog

WB – Winners Bitch

WD – Winners Dog

 

Obedience:

CD – Companion Dog

CDX – Companion Dog Excellent

OTCH – Obedience Trial Champion

TD – Tracking Dog

TDX – Tracking Dog Excellent

UD – Utility dog

UDX – Utility Dog Excellent and is earned by obtaining 10 legs. For a UDX, a leg is comprised of qualifying scores in both Open B and Utility B at the same trial. A dog which has its UD *and* tracking titles has them combined as UDT or UDTX (depending upon which tracking title it has).

 

Herding: (c, d, or s designation after a title = Cattle, Ducks or Sheep)

ATD – Advanced Dog

OFTD – Open Farm Trial Dog

OTD – Open Trial Dog

PATD – Post Advanced Trial Dog

RD – Ranch Dog. Ranch dog who demonstrate an ability to be of great assistance to their owner

RDX – Ranch Dog excellent

STD – Started Trial Dog

WTCH – Working Trial Champion. Dog has earned an ATD in all classes of stock, ducks, sheep and cattle

 

Agility: (NADAC is similar, but N, O, E go in front of AC and tack on a V for Veteran or JH for Juniors)

E – Elite

GI – Gamblers/International

GJ – Gamblers/Junior

GS – Gamblers/Standard

GV – Gamblers/Veteran

JI – Jumpers/International

JJ – Jumpers/Junior

JS – Jumpers/standard

JV – Jumpers/Veteran

N – Novice

 

NATCH – NADAC’s Agility Trial Champion

O – Open

RI – Regular/International

RJ – Regular/Junior Handler

RS – Regular/Standard

RV – Regular/Veteran

 

Special Recognition:

AOM – Award of Merit

PCH – Performance Champion

SPCH – Supreme Performance Champion

SVCH – Supreme Versatility Champion

VCH – Versatility Champion

 

AKC (American Kennel Club): (website)

AFC – Amateur Field Champion

AX – Agility Excellent

AXJ – Excellent Jumpers With Weaves

CD – Companion Dog

CDX – Companion Dog Excellent

CGC – Canine Good Citizen

CH – Champion (conformation)

CT – Champion Tracker (TD, TDX & VST)

DC – Dual Champion (CH & FC)

FC – Field Champion

HC – Herding Champion

HI – Herding Intermediate

HS – Herding Started

HT – Herding Tested

HX – Herding Excellent

JC – Junior Courser

JE – Junior Earthdog

JH – Junior Hunter

MACH – Master Agility Champion

MC – Master Courser

ME – Master Earthdog

MH – Master Hunter

MX – Master Agility Excellent

MXJ – Master Excellent Jumpers With Weaves

NA – Novice Agility

NAFC – National Amateur Field Champion

NAJ – Novice Jumpers With Weaves

NFC – National Field Champion

NOC – National Obedience Champion

Schutzhund Titles:

BH – Schutzhund Traffic-Sure Companion Dog (obed & temp/traffic test).

SchHA – SchutzhundA, SchH level 1 obed & protection only no tracking

WH – Schutzhund Watchdog (obedience & guarding)