Why title a dog?

A title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog the pedigree, an ultimate memorial to your dog.
Though the dog itself doesn't know or care that its achievements have been noted, a title says many things in this world about you and your relationship with your dog. Your dogs abilities and love for you.
A title says your dog was intelligent and adaptable, and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. A title shows the team work that no one can understand until they themselves step on that field.
A title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with it because it was a good dog, that you believed in it enough to give it yet another chance when it failed, and that, in the end, your faith was justified, and that your dog gave you the chance that you deserve.
Every title proves that your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return.
When that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of pride in one small set of initials after the name.

A title earned is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, and permanently recorded.

-Sandra Mowery

 Explanation of Titles

As the titles change and rules update, it would be almost impossible to list all titles available through all organizations. Those listed here are the ones most commonly pursued with German Shepherd’s and most widely available.

Schutzhund (SchH/IPO/VPG) Now IGP - Internationale Gebrauchshundprufungen

I would like to start with I find that the SchH1 was much more difficult to get than an IGP1, however since that is the new name please take this into consideration as you read.

  • SchH (Schutzhund "Protection Dog") - A German working dog sport and evaluation, originally designed as a breed worthiness test for German Shepherd Dogs. Consists of 3 phases: Tracking, Obedience and Protection.


    NOTE: Jan 1, 2019 everything is now IGP, the change from SchH to IPO was in 2012. While it is still commonly referred to by that name in the generic sense there is technically no more schutzhund or SchH titles and everything is now IGP.  There are new ZAP and ZPT titles, once those are clarified I will post them as well.
     

    • BH - (Begleithund "Companion Dog") Temperament and Obedience test required before advancement to schutzhund titles.  

    • SchH1/IPO1/IGP1 - Entry level Tracking, Obedience and Protection title.

    • SchH2/IPO2 /IGP2 - Intermediate level Tracking, Obedience and Protection title.

    • SchH3/IPO3/IGP3 - Advanced level Tracking, Obedience and Protection title.

    • SchHA/APR1 - Obedience and Protection tests from the SchH1/IPO1/IGP1. No tracking.

    • APR2 - Obedience and Protection tests from the SchH2/IPO2/IGP2. No tracking.

    • APR3 - Obedience and Protection tests from the SchH3/IPO3/IGP3. No tracking.

    • FPR1-3/TR1-3 (Tracking) - Tracking phase only title, without obedience or protection. TR1 is a SchH1 track, TR2 a SchH2 track, TR3 a SchH3 track.

    • UPR1-3/OB1-3 (Obedience) - Obedience phase only title, without tracking or protection. OB1 is a SchH1 obedience routine, OB2 is a SchH2 obedience routine, OB3 is a SchH3 obedience routine. 

    • AD (Ausdauerprüfung "Endurance Test") - a Certificate awarded for approximately 12 mile run followed by a short obedience test.

    • FH/FH2 (Fahrtenhund "Tracking Dog") - Advanced tracking titles. FH is a longer, older, more difficult track than is required for SchH3. FH2 is longer, older and harder yet.

    • HGH (Herdengebrauchshund "Herding Dog") - Extensive sheep herding test.

    • WH (Wachhunde "Watchdog") - Basic obedience and guarding/watchfulness test.

    • RH (Rettungshundtauglichkeitsprüfung "Rescue Dog Suitability Test") - Tracking, Obedience and Conditioning (endurance) test designed to test the basic skill set needed for Search and Rescue work.

    • STP (Stöberprüfung "Random Search Test") - Random article search test in a prescribed area. Three levels of increasing difficulty (STP1, STP2, STP3).

    • KKl (Körklasse) - German Breed Survey examination.

    Additional American Titles

    • CGC (Canine Good Citizen) - American Kennel Club basic obedience and temperament test for companion dogs.

    • CD (Companion Dog) - American Kennel Club obedience title.

    • UCD (United Companion Dog) - United Kennel Club equivalent of the AKC's CD.

    • CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) - American Kennel Club advanced obedience title.

    • UCDX (United Companion Dog Excellent) - United Kennel Club equivalent of the AKC's CDX.

    • UD (Utility Dog) - American Kennel Club's most advanced obedience title, which also includes some practical exercises such as scent discrimination. Upon completion of the UD title, dogs may earn the Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) by qualifying in both the Open B and Utility B classes on the same day at 10 different trials.

      • In 2018, 192 dogs earned UDX titles. An additional designation was added to this prestigious title to acknowledge the number of times a dog had completed the requirements for the UDX title.  In October of 2004, numeric designations were added to the UDX.  The highest UDX title to date is a UDX71!

    • UUD (United Utility Dog) - United Kennel Club equivalent of the AKC's UD.

    • RN (Rally Novice) - American Kennel Club entry level Rally Obedience title.

    • RA (Rally Advanced) - American Kennel Club intermediate level Rally Obedience title.

    • RE (Rally Excellent) - American Kennel Club advanced level Rally Obedience title.

    • URO (United Rally Obedience) - United Kennel Club equivalent of the AKC's Rally Obedience. Three levels of increasing difficulty (URO1, URO2, URO3).

    • TD (Tracking Dog) - American Kennel Club tracking title

    • TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent) - American Kennel Club advanced tracking title.

    • VST (Variable Surface Tracking) - American Kennel Club advanced tracking title.

    • HIC (Herding Instinct Certificate) - American Kennel Club basic herding instinct test.

    • HIT (Herding Instinct Tested) - American Herding Breed Association basic herding instinct test.

    • TC (Temperament Certificate) - Basic temperament test offered by some AKC breed clubs.

    • TT (Temperament Test) - Temperament test offered by the American Temperament Test Society.

    • TDI (Therapy Dog) - Therapy dog certification through Therapy Dogs International, Inc.

    • VCD (Versatile Companion Dog) - American Kennel Club versatility award for dogs titles in multiple venues.

    • PAM (Performance Award of Merit) - German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA) versatility award for GSDs titles in multiple venues.

    • CH (Championship) - American Kennel Club conformation show champion.

    • For a full list of AKC options please visit www.akc.org