titles

What do all those letters mean?
The jargon connected with German Shepherd Dogs and their work can be bewildering. Here at Von Hartwin Kennels we
love to work in many venues to show off the versatility of the GSD. Listed here you will find the titles that have been
awarded to our dogs, their ancestors or their progency.

Now what do all those letters really mean?

the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in record and in memory for as long as
anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard.

And though the dog itself doesn't know or care that its achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the
world of humans, where such things count.

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.

And 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.

A 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.

And 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

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Conformation & Hip Rateings

(Vorzuglich-Auslese)
Means excellent-select. The VA proceeds a dog's name and means that it has earned the highest
possible conformation title possible, and it has demonstrated pronounced hardness, courage and
fighting instincts in the protection test. The dog must be virtually flawless in structure and meet the
German breed standard in every respect. The VA title is only awarded at the German Sieger Show and
at large national shows in other countries including the United States.

Is the German word for excellent. The V designation when proceeding a dog's name indicates that it
has been evaluated as excellent in a German style conformation show. In order to earn the V the dog
must be entered in the working classes meaning it must have a Schutzhund title. The V is reserved for
dogs with excellent conformation and movement. It is the highest conformation rating that can be
awarded in a local or regional show.

The "V" is also used to refer to very high scores in Schutzhund, but in this case, it is not part of the
dog's name. The maximum points awarded for each of the three phases is 100. If the dog earns 96 or
above in any of the three phases of tracking, obedience or protection, the dog will receive a "V" rating.
If the total points earned in all three phases is 286 or above, the dog will receive an overall "V" rating.
The same concept applies to the FH and IPO titles.

When placed before a name it means the dogs show rating is (Sehr Gut) Very Good
When placed anywhere after a name it refers to overall working title scores

When placed before a name it means the dogs show rating is (Gut) Good
When placed anywhere after a name it refers to overall working title scores

KKL 1

Recommended for breeding

KKL 2

Suitable for breeding.

OFA

Dog's hips have been x-rayed and certified acceptable here in the USA through the Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals. The rating will be given as Excellent, Good or Fair.

"a"

Dog's hips have been x-rayed and certified acceptable through Germany. The rating will be given as
"a"-normal, "a"-fast normal, or "a"-noch zugelassen or a1, a2, a3. (a6 is a foreign registry)

Penn Hip

integrity of the canine hip has been evaluated by the University of Pennsylvania.

Schutzhund titles awarded by WDA & other orgs.

(Begleitungshund) Temperament test and obedience examination to qualify for Schutzhund titles

SCH

(Schutzhund) This test combines the disciplines of tracking, obedience, and protection. The suffixes 1,
2, and 3 denote how advanced the training tests were.

IPO

(International Prüfung) comparable to a Schutzhund degree but with International (FCI) rules.

BHP

(Brugshundprov) comparable to a Schutzhund degree (Denmark)

VPG

(Vielseitigkeitsprüfung für Gebrauchshunde) "Versatility Test for Working Dogs" - A recently invented,
more PC, name the Germans came up with for SchH

(Ausdauerpruefung) The dog passed an endurance test that begins with gaiting for approximately 12.5
miles, with rest stops, and concludes with a simple obedience test. A requirement for the Breed Survey.

HGH

(Herdengebrauchshund) Extensive sheep herding test

(Polizei Hund) Police Dog

(Fährten Hund) Advanced tracking titles. FH1 is a longer, older, more difficult track than is required for
SchH3. FH2 is longer, older and harder yet.

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

(Rettungshundtauglichkeitsprüfung "Rescue Dog Suitability Test") - Tracking, Obedience and
Conditioning (endurance) test designed to test the basic skillset 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).

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

(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.

SCHA

Obedience and Protection tests from the SchH1. No tracking.

WUSV

This means the dog competed in the WUSV World Championship X+# denotes how many times

PSP

This means the dog competed in The German BSP Championships- X+# denotes how many times

LGA

This means the dog competed in a German regional Championship= X+# denotes how many times

Other protection dog sports

WDST

(Working Dog Suitability Test) Obedience/Temperament/Protection

DHT

Defense of Handler/Temperament offered by Iron Dog International.

GDT

Guard Dog Temperament test offered by Iron Dog International.

IDT3

This title means your dog has completed an Iron Dog Triathlon. It is a test of speed, power, drive and
overall working ability.

French Ring- personal protection sport- suffixes 1, 2, and 3 denote how advanced the training tests
were.

(Olympic Dog) competition and a test for all working breeds to compete against one another. It is a test
of speed, power, drive and overall working ability.

CAL

(Certificate of aptitude to work) Temperment and Defense of the handler. The suffixes 1, 2, and 3
denote how advanced the training tests were.

CCF

(Certificado del Caracter Funcional) ItalianTemperment test and Defense of the handler. The suffixes
1, 2, and 3 denote how advanced the training tests were

Temperment tests

CGC

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

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

TAN

(Test Attitudine Naturale) Test of Natural Aptitude, Europen Temperament Test

Herding

HIC

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

(Pre-Trial Tested) AKC title for a dog that has been certified by two different Judges to have qualified
by passing two licensed or member club Pre-Trial tests.

HIT

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

JHD

(Junior Herding Dog) dog must demonstrate it’s ability to collect and control stock

Obedience & Agility

(Companion Dog) - American Kennel Club obedience title.

CDX

(Companion Dog Excellent) American Kennel Club advanced obedience title

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

(Novice Jumpers) American Kennel Club entry level agility title.

(Novice Agility) dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Novice A and/or B Agility class under at least 2
different judges

NAC

(Novice Agility Certificate) NADAC- The North American Dog Agility Council

NAJ

(Novice Agility Jumper) dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Novice A and/or B Jumpers With Weaves
class under at least 2 different judges.

(Novice FAST) For a title, dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Novice A and/or B FAST agility class
under at least 2 different judges.

NJC

(Novice Jumpers Certificate) By the NADC- The North American Dog Agility Council

OAJ

(Open Agility Jumper) For a title, dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Open Jumpers With Weaves
class under at least 2 different judges.

(Open FAST) For a title, dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Open FAST agility class under at least 2
different judges.

Other Titles

Dock Diving – Senior Jumpers

Dock Diving- Novice Jumpers

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