Titles are often reduced to a bunch
of letters. This is a guide to help you understand those letters
before and after the dog's name. There are many different registries
and organizations that offer titles. This is a guide to AKC titles,
followed by ASSA Awards.
AKC titles in front of a name are
competitive titles. This means the dog needed to defeat other
dogs to achieve this title. Dogs are awarded "points"
based on how many dogs they beat.
AKC titles behind the name are
non-competitive. Dogs perform a prescribed set of exercises and
are evaluated against a score. A dog earns "legs" toward
the title and after achieving the required number of "legs"
is awarded the title. Each "leg" must be awarded by
a different judge.
The following are all AKC titles:
Ch. -Champion - The only title
available in conformation. Dogs are evaluated against a written
standard of perfection. To achieve this title, a dog must win
15 points by defeating other dogs.
DC- Duel Champion. This title can
only be used for a dog that is both a breed Champion (Ch.) and
a Champion in the event for which the breed was originally bred.
In the case of shelties, a Herding Champion (HC) is the other
requirement. This title preceeds the dogs name.
Obedience Titles (in ascending
order):
CD.- Companion Dog
CDX.- Companion Dog Excellent
UD.- Utility Dog
UDX- Utility Dog Excellent
OTCH.- Obedience Trial Champion.
Agility Titles (in ascending
order):
NA.- Novice Agility
NAJ- Novice Jumpers with Weaves
OA- Open Agility
OAJ- Open Jumpers with Weaves
AX- Agility Excellent
AXJ- Excellent Jumpers with Weaves
MX- Master Agility
MXJ- Master Jumpers with Weaves
MACH- Master Agility Champion
Herding Titles (in ascending
order):
HT.- Herding Tested
PT.- Pre-trial Tested
HS.- Herding Started
HI.- Herding Intermediate
HX.- Herding Excellent
HC.- Herding Champion
Tracking Titles (in ascending
order):
TD- Tracking Dog
TDX- Tracking Dog Excellent
VST- Variable Surface Tracking Dog
The American Shetland Sheepdog
Association recognizes life accomplishments that are represented
by the following groups of letters. These accomplishments always
follow the name of the dog and any AKC titles earned.
ROM- Register of Merit. Awarded
to males who sire 10 or more AKC champions and to females who
produce 5 or more AKC champions.
CC- Century Club Member. Awarded
to dogs who win 100 Best of Breeds or more
VC- Versatility Certificate. Awarded
to those with achievements in conformation, herding, and at least
one of the following performance events; obedience, agility or
tracking.
VCX- Versatility Certificate Excellent.
Same as VC, but awarded to dogs with a higher level of achievement.
HC- Herding Certificate. A herding
instinct test offered by the ASSA.