German Shepherd Glossary
AD (Ausdauerprufung) - This represents successful completion of an endurance test. Dogs are required to gait at about 8 or 9 miles an hour for twelve miles. Two brief rest stops are allowed. Dogs must pass a physical exam and brief obedience exercise at the end.
'A' Stamp - The 'a' stamp represents a dog's passing hip certification. There are three levels of passing score with 'a' normal as the best. This is followed by 'a' fast normal and 'a' noch zugelassen. Fast normal translates into 'almost normal'. Noch zugelassen is the lowest rating and translates into 'still allowed'.
AJP - Agility Jumpers Preferred (Excellent)
AKC - American Kennel Club
AOE - Award of Excellence, provided through the German Shepherd Dog Club of America.
AX - Agility Excellent
AXP - Agility Excellent Preferred
AXJ - Agility Excellent Jumper with Weaves
AV - Agility Victor/Victrix
BH - The BH consists of a simple obedience routine and a temperament test. All dogs must pass this test prior to obtaining a Schutzhund degree.
BIF - Best in Futurity
BIM - Best in Maturity
BIS - Best in Show
BISS - Best in Specialty Show
BOB - Best of Breed
BOS - Best Opposite Sex to Best of Breed
BOF - Best Opposite Sex in Futurity
BOM - Best Opposite Sex in Maturity
BOW - Best of Winners
BP - Best Puppy
CACIB - European International Champion
CD - Companion Dog, AKC obedience title
CDX - Companion Dog Excellent, AKC obedience title
CERF - Canine Eye Registration Foundation
CGC - Canine Good Citizen, AKC Temperament Test
CH - AKC Champion
CKC - Canadian Kennel Club
CT - Champion Tracker
DVG - Deutscher Verband der Gebrauchshundsportsvereine - This is a club which offers Schutzhund, tracking, and obedience degrees. All breeds are welcome.
FCI - Federation Cynologique Internationale
FH 1, 2 - Fahrtenhund - The most advanced tracking titles offered through the SV.
Fuss - This is a German command which means heel. It is pronounced foos.
FV - Futurity Victor/Victrix
G - Gut - This is a conformation or Schutzhund rating which means good.
Grand Victor - Best dog at the national show.
Grand Victrix - Best bitch at the national show.
HC - Herding Champion
HD - Hip dysplasia
Heel - Proper heel position in AKC is with the dog at the handler's left side. The handler's leg should be between the tip of the dog's nose and the shoulder. Proper heel position in Schutzhund is with the dog's shoulder lined up with the handler's leg.
HGH - Herdengebrauchshund - This is a herding title awarded by the SV.
Hier - German command for come
HIT - High in trial
HT - Herding Tested
HV - Herding Victor/Victrix
Int. Ch. - International Champion (FCI)
IPO I, II, III - Schutzhund titles according to the international rules.
JH - Junior Handler with AKC
Jugendsieger - This is the first place winner at the Sieger show (12-18 month class).
Junghundsieger - This is the first place winner at the Sieger show (18-24 month class).
KKL I - This rating means a dog is specifically recommended for breeding.
KKL II - This rating means a dog is suitable for breeding.
MACH - Master Agility Champion
MJP - Master Jumpers Preferred (Agility)
MV - Maturity Victor/Victrix
MX - Master Agility
MXP - Master Agility Preferred
MXJ - Master Jumpers with Weaves
NA - Novice Agility
NAJ - Novice Agility Jumper with Weaves
NAP - Novice Agility Preferred
NJP - Novice Jumpers Preferred (Agility)
NOC - National Obedience Champion
OA - Open Agility
OAJ - Open Jumper with Weaves
OAP - Open Agility Preferred
OJP - Open Jumpers Preferred (agility)
OFA - Orthopedic Foundation for Animals - This association analyzes and assigns a rating to hip and elbow X-rays.
OTCH - Obedience Trial Champion
OV - Obedience Victor/Victrix
Platz - German command for 'down'.
PT - Pre-Trial Tested (Herding)
RA - Rally Advanced
RAE - Rally Advanced Excellent
RE - Rally Excellent
RN - Rally Novice
ROM - Register of Merit
Schutzhund - Training and titling of dogs in tracking, obedience, and protection.
SG - Sehr gut - This is a conformation or Schutzhund rating which means very good.
Sieger - The winning or VA-1 dog at a Sieger Show.
Siegerin - The winning or VA-1 bitch at a Sieger Show.
Sitz - The German command for 'sit'.
SV - Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde - The original German Shepherd Dog Club which was founded by Max von Stephanitz in Germany in 1899.
TC - Temperament certified or Triple Champion (CH/HC/OTCH)
TD - AKC tracking title which stands for Tracking Dog
TDX - AKC tracking title which stands for Tracking Dog Excellent
TT - Temperament tested through the American Temperament Test Society
UD - This abbreviation stands for Utility Dog. This is an advanced AKC obedience title.
UDX - This abbreviation stands for Utility Dog Excellent. This is awarded upon successfully passing both the Open B and Utility B exercises at 10 different trials.
USA - United Schutzhund Clubs of America
V - Vorzuglich - This is a conformation or Schutzhund rating which means excellent.
VA - Vorzuglich-Auslese - This is a show rating which is only given at a national show. It means excellent-select.
VST - Variable Surface Tracking Dog
WDA - Working Dog Association - This is an affiliation of the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. Members participate in Schutzhund.
WD/WB - Winners Dog/Bitch
