Titles Explained

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AKC Titles

 

CH - Champion.  Must receive 15 points in conformation wins. Depends on how many dogs are entered, you can win up to 5 points in one show.  You need to get two majors (3, 4 or 5pts) from two different judges included in the 15 pts. Must receive points from 3 different judges.

Explanation of Conformation Terms

BIS - Best in Show.  The best dog at an all-breed show.
BISS - Best in Specialty Show. Best Collie (smooth & roughs together) in a Specialty Show. 
BOV - Best of Variety.  Best Smooth or Best Rough. Like Best of Breed.
BOS - Best of Opposite Sex to Best of Variety. Smooths & Roughs separate in all-breed shows.
WB - Winners Bitch. Winning bitch over all the regular classes.
RWB - Reserve Winners Bitch. Runner up to Winners Bitch.  If Winners Bitch becomes ineligible for the points  then RWB will receive them.
WD - Winners Dog. Winning dog over all the regular classes.
RWD - Reserve Winners Dog. Runner up to Winners Dog.  If WD becomes ineligible for the points then RWD will receive them. 
BOW - Best of Winners. Best between Winners Dog and Winners bitch during breed BOV competition. 
SPECIAL - A dog that is competing for Best of Variety only and is already a Champion.
ROM  Register of Merit (dogs need 20 champions and bitches need 7 champions to receive this award for collies in both varieties)

Obedience Titles:

CD- Companion Dog. Dog must compete in either Novice A or Novice B and pass with a score of 170-200 in three shows.
CDX - Companion Dog Excellent. More advanced than the CD.  Dog must compete in Open A and pass three shows to receive this title.
UD - Utility Dog. Advanced obedience title, using hand signals, jumps, dumbells.
UDX - Utility Dog Excellent. More advanced than the UD.
OTCH - Obedience Trial Champion. The highest Obedience award.
CGC - Canine Good Citizen (unofficial AKC title). 

Agility Titles:

NA - Novice Agility
OA - Open Agility
AX - Agility Excellent
MX - Master Agility Excellent
NAJ - Novice Agility Jumpers
OAJ - Open Agility Jumpers
EAJ - Excellent Agility Jumpers

Herding Titles:

HIC - Herding Instinct Certification (non-AKC title)
HT - Herding Tested
PT - Pre-Trial Tested
HS - Herding Started
HI - Herding Intermediate
HX - Herding Excellent
HC - Herding Champion

Tracking Titles:

TD - Tracking Dog
TDX - Tracking Dog Excellent
VST - Variable Surface Tracker

AHBA Titles (American Herding Breed Association

HCT - Herding Capability Tested. Dog must show sustained interest, going around, gathering and moving livestock toward handler. 2nd leg requires a stop and a recall. Dog must pass 2 legs to receive title.
JHD - Junior Herding Dog. Course with panels and gates. Dog must pass 2 legs to receive this title. 
HTD I - Herding Trial Dog (started level)
HTD II - Herding Trial Dog (intermediate level)
HTD III - Herding Trial Dog (advanced level)
HRD I - Herding Ranch Dog. (started level)
HRD II - Herding Ranch Dog (intermediate level)
HRD III - Herding Ranch Dog (advanced level)
HTCh - Herding Trial Championship. This is earned after dogs have earned an advanced title in either the HTD or the HRD section.

American Working Collie Association Titles

BPD - Back packing dog.  Dog must carry a backpack with min. of 4% body weight not to exceed 10%.  Two different phases.  20 miles total on natural terrain. 12 miles on city terrain with at least 1 mile a group walk. 
BPDX - Back Packing Dog Excellent. This is awarded after the dog has completed both the natural and city terrain.
CRT - Carting Dog. Dog pulls a cart and goes through certain obedience exercises including pulling weight.
CRTX - Carting Dog Excellent.  Dog needs to walk a trail pulling more weight than in the CRT. 
SOC I - Social Dog.  Dog completes 25 documented therapy dog visits.
SOC II - Social Dog (intermediate). Dog completes another 50 documented therapy dog visits.
SOC III - Social Dog (advanced). Dog completes another 75 documented visits for a total of 150 visits. 
VC - Versatility Companion. Must earn a total of 5 points from a min. of 3 categories.
VCX - Versatility Companion Excellent. Must earn a total of 10 points from a min. of 5 categories.
VCH - Versatility Champion - Must earn 15 points from 6 categories and at least 2 pts each from 2 different categories must be earned  at intermediate or advanced levels.
GVCH - Grand Versatility Champion. Dog must have earned a VCH plus any 3 of the following titles: HX or higher, UD or higher, TDX or higher or 3 live, cadaver, narcotics, explosives, or agricultural finds, documented by authorities, Agility Excellent titles or its equivalent or higher.

Flyball

In North America, Flyball is governed by the North American Flyball Association(NAFA).

The dogs earn points towards flyball titles based on the teams time:

  • less than 32 secs: Each dog receives 1 point
  • less than 28 secs: Each dog receives 5 points
  • less than 24 secs: Each dog receives 25 points
The titles the dogs can earn are:
Abbr Title Points Award Type
FD Flyball Dog 20 Certificate
FDX Flyball Dog Excellent 100 Certificate
FDCh Flyball Dog Champion 500 Certificate
FDCh Silver Flyball Dog Champion 1000 Certificate
FDCh Gold Flyball Dog Champion 2500 Certificate
FM Flyball Master 5000 Pin
FMX Flyball Master Excellent 10000 Pin
FMCh Flyball Master Champion 15000 Pin
ONYX ONYX Award 20000 Plaque
FGDCh Flyball Grand Champion 30000 Plaque
FGDCh 40k, 50k, .... Flyball Grand Champion 40k, 50k, ... 40000, 50000, ... Plaque
Hobbes Hobbes Award 100,000 Plaque Addendum

 

Other Titles or Certificiations

TT - Temperament tested through the American Temperament Society.
TDI - Therapy Dogs International Inc. Dog must pass the Canine Good Citizen Test along with 4 extra requirements.
TDIA - Therapy Dogs International Inc. Active. Dog must have completed 50 documented therapy dog visits.

Health Certifications

OFA - Orthopedic Foundation For Animals. OFA hips will receive an OFA number if they are within the normal range and must be at least 2 years old: Fair, Good, Excellent. If they are dysplastic they will be rated mild, moderate or severe.  Other OFA:  thyroid,  elbows, hearts.
GCS - Gray Collie Syndrome.  Canine Cyclic Neutropenia.  The disorder is caused by an abnormality of the stem cells in the bone marrow, from which all blood cells are developed. Puppies usually do not survive long after birth but few have. A sure sign is a gray or brown nose.  Lack of pigment as in sable will be white  on a tri or blue and gray markings instead of black.  Testing is available through Healthgene.
CERF - Canine Eye Registry Foundation. Certified to have normal eyed.
MDR1 - Testing through 
the Washington State University Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory for sensitivity to certain drugs. Tests will be mutant/mutant,   mutant/normal, normal/normal.

Please check with the different Health foundations for other tests available and correct ages that some tests should be done.  Also for more information about these tests and what the results mean.