Deciphering Show Dog Acronyms

What Those Dog Titles Mean

Mar 26, 2008
Joy Butler

JB's Handsome Major, CGC, CD - JButler

If you've ever watched a dog show and wondered at the letters and initials attached to the dogs' names, this guide will help you understand their meaning.

Dog shows are a great way of sharing a dog’s beauty and talents with other dog lovers. The thrill of friendly competition is covered in many different types of events such as conformation, obedience, agility, field trials, ground trials, lure coursing, flyball, herding, tracking, and schutzhund. Titled dogs have accomplished certain skills to earn those initials next to their name. Working dogs as well as competitive dogs hold titles.

Dogs do not have to be purebred or registered with organizations such as AKC or breed registries to earn titles. Many competitions and titles are granted to mixed breed dogs as well, through organizations such as Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America (MBDCA) or North American Mixed Breed Registry (NAMBR).

If you’ve ever watched a dog show or read a show program and wondered at all those letters and acronyms attached to the dogs’ names, this guide will help you understand. The guide below is not complete but a part of commonly seen titles a dog can earn through various organizations.

Conformation

BOB – Best of Breed

BIS – Best in Show

Ch - Champion

Obedience

CGC – Canine Good Citizen

CD – Companion Dog

CDX – Companion Dog Excellent

OTCh – Obedience Trial Champion

Herding

PT – Pre-trial Tested

HT – Herding Tested

HS – Herding Started

HI – Herding Intermediate

HX – Herding Excellent

HCH – Herding Champion

Agility

AD – Agility Dog

VAD – Veteran Agility Dog

VAAD – Veteran Advanced Agility Dog

VMAD – Veteran Master Agility Dog

AAD – Advance Agility Dog

MAD – Master Agility Dog

ADCH – Agility Dog Champion

SM – Snooker Master

GM – Gambler Master

PM – Pairs Master

JM – Jumpers Master

NA - Novice Agility

OA – Open Agility

AX – Agility Excellent

MX – Master Agility Excellent

Field Trials

AFC – Amateur Field Champion

FC – Field Champion

CAFC – Canadian Amateur Field Champion

CFC – Canadian Field Champion

FD – Field Dog

FDJ – Field Dog Junior

FDX – Field Dog Excellent

NFC – National Field Champion

Ground Trials

JE – Junior Earthdog

ME – Master Earthdog

SE – Senior Earthdog

Coursing

JC – Junior Courser

SC – Senior Courser

FCH – Field Champion

CC – Coursing Champion

CM – Courser of Merit

NACM – National Courser of Merit

LCM – Lure Courser of Merit

LCM2 – Lure Courser of Merit Twice

Hunting

JH – Junior Hunter

SH – Senior Hunter

RD – Retrieving Dog

GSDC – Gun Dog Stake Champion

NGDC – National Gun Dog Champion

Flyball

FD – Flyball Dog

FDX – Flyball Dog Excellent

FDCH – Flyball Champion

FDM – Flyball Dog Master

FMX – Flyball Master Excellent

FMCH – Flyball Master Champion

FDGCH – Flyball Grand Champion

ONYX – Points based award named after first recipient

Schutzhund

BH – German Companion Dog

SchHI, II, and III – German levels for 3-part title obedience, tracking and protection

Working Titles

BIH – Blindenhund, Guide Dog

GRH – Grenzenhund, Border Patrol Dog

DH – Diensthund, Service Dog

DD – Draft Dog

TDD – Team Draft Dog

WC – Working Certificate

WCI – Working Certificate Intermediate

WCX – Working Dog Excellent

WRD – Water Rescue Dog

TD – Therapy Dog

TDI – Therapy Dog International

TT – Temperament Tested

Titles are a testament to the bond between that dog and owner who loved each other enough to train and persevere together in a job, sport, or activity. Titles honor the dog who earned them and remain in his record forever.