What do all those
letters mean?
Strings
of letters before and after a dog’s name indicate titles, awards, and certificates
earned by that dog. These awards
are conferred by many different registries and organizations—not just the
AKC–so it can get really confusing!
Don’t feel bad if you don’t know what it all means; there are titles
and awards out there that I’m not familiar with either.
The following is a list and brief explanation of the awards and titles
most commonly seen here on the Symetri website.
The links
given below will direct you to the web page that explains the requirements
for earning that particular title or award.
For a fast and easy glossary without the explanations, scroll directly
to the bottom of this page.
Conformation
titles
Conformation titles are those
earned by “show dogs” in competitions that judge the dog based on its structure,
conformation, movement, and adherence to the written breed standard. Conformation titles (championships) are
always located BEFORE the dog’s registered name. Each organization and/or registering
body that awards conformation championship titles has its own procedures and
rules for becoming a champion.
Therefore, an AKC champion is not automatically granted any other kind of
championship—they have to start at the bottom all over again! Thus, a dog with multiple conformation
Championship titles is well-traveled and has defeated numerous other dogs of its
own breed in many shows!
All by
itself, Ch stands for AKC Champion.
But there are other kinds of Championships as well.
http://www.akc.org/dic/events/conform/index.cfm?page=2
Can Ch = Canadian
Kennel Club Champion
This
designation is given to a dog that has traveled to
http://www.ckc.ca/default-refresh.asp
U-Ch = United Kennel
Club Champion
The UKC is
a purebred dog registry and stud book similar to the AKC. They organize their own shows and have
their own point and ranking systems.
UKC titles are always the first to appear in front of a dog’s name,
before any other Champion titles. I
don’t know why…that’s just the protocol.
http://www.ukcdogs.com/dogevents/rules/c-9.shtml
U-Gr.Ch = United Kennel
Club Grand Champion
The UKC
provides two distinct levels of Championships: Champion and Grand Champion. The Grand Champion is the highest
conformation title attainable from the UKC.
http://www.ukcdogs.com/dogevents/rules/c-9.shtml
While
there are numerous other conformation championships available, AKC, CKC, and UKC
are the ones I normally pursue with the Symetri dogs. So, Lexie, whose name
is:
U-GrCh, Am/Can
Ch Symetri Easy On The
Heart, JC, HIC, TT is an AKC and CKC Champion, and a UKC Grand Champion.
BIS = Best In
Show. The highest award that a show dog can
win is an all-breed Best In Show!
It’s a very prestigious accomplishment that very few dogs ever
achieve. Seen by itself, BIS stands
for an AKC win at an all-breed show.
There are also two major variations on BIS:
MBIS = Multiple Best In
Show. This is the dog who has achieved this
huge honor more than once during its show career.
BISS = Best in
Specialty Show. A specialty show is a show that features
only one breed. For example, in
Rhodesian Ridgebacks there is one huge National Specialty Show each year that
attracts around 600 Ridgebacks—an awesome event! There are also several regional
Specialty shows located in various areas of the country, with entries of around
50-250 Ridgebacks. The dog who wins
Best of Breed at any Specialty show can use the designation
BISS.
If a dog
wins a BIS award in
Performance
titles
Performance titles are
earned through competition and show that a dog has met certain requirements to
achieve that title, while certificates are based strictly on the dog’s
performance of the designated tasks in the absence of competition. Performance titles measure a dog’s
ability to complete certain tasks that may be instinctive to the breed, may
represent training to perform the dog’s historical functions, or may highlight
specialized services or capabilities.
Performance titles appear AFTER the dog’s registered name, except in the
case of UKC titles. The UKC places
such a large emphasis on the working abilities of dogs that it considers
performance titles just as important as conformation titles; thus, they are
placed in front of the dog’s registered name by the UKC.
If you
thought the conformation titles were confusing, hold onto your hat! There are many, many different
performance titles and certificates given by various organizations. All are important and all are
impressive. I can’t possibly cover
them all here, so I’ll just list the ones the Symetri dogs have achieved to
date!
Obedience:
CGC = Canine Good
Citizen. The Canine Good Citizen certificate is
awarded by the AKC to a dog that passes 10 basic tests of good manners and
training. The CGC is not quite an
obedience title; it is a Pass or Fail examination with no competition
involved. However, it is a very
important indicator of a dog’s basic training and manners, and the owner’s
responsible attitude! The wonderful
part of this certificate is that the AKC—usually known to only recognize
purebreds—will honor ANY dog, even a mixed-breed, which passes the test. I strongly encourage EVERYONE to get a
CGC on their dog, because everyone can achieve it. I am also an AKC-approved CGC evaluator,
which means that I judge dogs taking the test to determine if they pass or
fail.
RN = Rally
Novice. Rally-O is the newest AKC obedience
title earned in competition. Rally
is a hybrid sport; sort of a cross between obedience and agility. To compete in a Rally trial the dog must
know how to heel, and must be able to accurately perform all of the exercises
required in formal higher-level obedience, and also quite a few that are unique
to Rally! Rally is also a timed
event where the dog and handler heel through a series of stations, performing a
different exercise at each; there is a time limit to complete the course, and in
the case of a tied score the dog with the faster course time wins. Rally became a titling sport through AKC
beginning
U-Ch,
Am/Can Ch Symetri’s Flying Colors, CGC, TT, RN
http://www.akc.org/events/rally/index.cfm
CD = Companion
Dog. This obedience title is earned in
competition. It shows a level of
obedience training that requires the dog to pay strict attention to its handler,
and to perform consistently under sometimes stressful conditions and with
distractions. For a Ridgeback, a CD
is a huge accomplishment!! Taking
strict orders from a silly human without thinking for themselves goes against
their independent nature and intelligence.
However, most dogs (including RRs) can earn a CD with the right
combination of training techniques, dog-handler relationship, and practice!
http://www.akc.org/dic/events/obedience/getting_started.cfm
CDX = Companion Dog
Excellent. The next higher level of obedience title
above the CD…none of the Symetri dogs are there yet, but we will be! See the website link under CD for an
explanation of the CDX and higher level obedience titles. And stayed tuned for Symetri’s first CDX
dog!
Lure
coursing:
Lure coursing is a
simulated hunting test for sighthounds.
The dogs “hunt” a white plastic bag (the lure) that is dragged along the
ground at high speed. The lure
moves in all different directions, mimicking a prey animal in flight. The direction of the lure is controlled
by high strength fishing line strung along a series of pullies in the ground,
and is powered by battery. Lure
coursing is a heart-pumping, adrenaline rush event! There is nothing so beautiful or
awe-inspiring as watching a Ridgeback running full out, doing what he was
originally bred to do–hunt.
JC = Junior
Courser. The JC is an AKC title awarded to
sighthounds that have proven they have the instinct, the desire, and the
capability to hunt using sight and speed.
To earn the JC a dog must complete a course all by itself two different
days under two different judges.
The dog must follow the lure without losing sight of it or giving up, and
must run the entire course. The JC
title is required by the AKC before a hound is allowed to run in a lure course
with other dogs.
http://www.akc.org/events/lure_coursing/index.cfm
SC = Senior
Courser. The Senior Courser is the second level
title in AKC lure coursing events.
To earn the SC a dog must run in a lure course in competition against
other dogs; s/he must complete the course without interfering with the other
hounds. The title is awarded after
a hound completes 4 separate coursing events under two different judging
panels. See the website link under
the JC title for more information on earning the SC and higher level coursing
titles.
PAGE STILL UNDER
CONSTRUCTION……….MORE TO COME!
|
Title |
What it Stands
For |
Organization
|
|
CD |
Companion
Dog |
AKC |
|
CDX |
Companion Dog
Excellent |
AKC |
|
CGC |
Canine Good
Citizen |
AKC |
|
Ch |
Champion
(conformation) |
AKC, CKC,
UKC |
|
FC |
Field
Champion |
AKC |
|
GrCh |
Grand
Champion |
UKC |
|
HIC |
Herding
Instinct Certified |
various |
|
JC |
Junior
Courser |
AKC |
|
LCX |
Lure Courser
Excellent |
AKC |
|
MC |
Master
Courser |
AKC |
|
RA |
Rally
Advanced |
AKC |
|
RE |
Rally
Excellent |
AKC |
|
RN |
Rally
Novice |
AKC |
|
ROM |
Register of
Merit |
RRCUS |
|
SC |
Senior
Courser |
AKC |
|
TD |
Tracking
Dog |
AKC |
|
TDI |
Therapy
Dog |
Therapy Dogs
International |
|
TDX |
Tracking Dog
Excellent |
AKC |
|
TT |
Temperament
Tested |
ATTS |
|
UD |
Utility
Dog |
AKC |