ABBREVIATION

 TITLE

*ISSUING
REGISTRY

ACTIVITY

EXPLANATION

Am

American

The title was issued by the American Kennel Club

AX

Agility Excellent

AKC

Agility

Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Excellent A Standard agility class, which includes contact obstacles

AXJ

Agility Excellent Jumper

AKC

Agility

Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Excellent A Jumpers agility class, with jumps, tunnels and weave poles only

BN

Beginner Novice

AKC

Obedience

Beginner title awarded to dog who qualifies two times in beginner novice obedience trial competition.  The dog works on leash for all exercises except the recall.

Can

Canadian

The title was issued by the Canadian Kennel Club

CD

Companion Dog

AKC

Obedience

Novice title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in novice obedience trial competition.  The dog works off-leash for all exercises except the heel on leash and figure 8 heeling.

CDX

Companion Dog Excellent

AKC

Obedience

Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in open obedience trial competition, which includes retrieving and jumping.  All work is done off leash.

CH

Champion

AKC

Conformation

Title awarded to dog who has earned 15 points by beating other dogs to be Winners or better in a number of AKC dog shows.  Two of these wins must be majors, where the entry beaten is large enough that the dog is awarded 3 or more points for that win.  The dogs are judged on breed type, body structure, movement, temperament and conditioning.

CH

Champion

CKC

Conformation

Title awarded to a dog who has earned 10 points by beating other dogs to be Winners or better in a number of CKC dog shows.  At least one of these wins must be a 2 point win, where the entry beaten is large enough that the dog is awarded 2 or more points for that win.  The dogs are judged on breed type, body structure, movement, temperament and conditioning.

CT

Champion Tracker

AKC

Tracking

Title awarded to a dog who has passed TD (or TDU), TDX and VST tests.  As of November 2022, only twelve Shelties have earned this incredibly difficult title.

GCh

Grand Champion

AKC

Conformation

Title awarded to a dog who is already an AKC champion, who earns 25 points by beating other dogs in the Best of Breed competition at AKC dog shows.  Points are awarded to the Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex, Select Dog and Select Bitch, with the number of points depending on the number of dogs defeated.   The dog must beat other Champions at least three times, and at least three of the wins must be major wins, where the entry beaten is large enough that the dog is awarded 3 or more points for that win.  The dogs are judged on breed type, body structure, movement, temperament and conditioning.

HRD-IIs

Herding Ranch Dog 2

AHBA

Herding

Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies twice in a course set up to simulate a ranch-like situation.    The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)

HRD-IIIs

Herding Ranch Dog 3

AHBA

Herding

Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies twice in a course set up to simulate a ranch-like situation.   The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)

HS, HSAs

Herding Started

AKC

Herding

Started title awarded to a dog who qualifies at three different trials on one of the AKC herding courses.  More recently, the title has been modified to reflect the kind of course (A, B or C) and the kind of livestock (sheep, ducks, cattle) that the dog has qualified on.

HT

Herding Tested

AKC

Herding

Entry-level title awarded to dog who in two different tests has shown sufficient interest in livestock (usually sheep or ducks) to move them back and forth across a small arena.  This is a pass/fail test.

HTD-Is

Herding Trial Dog 1

AHBA

Herding

Started title awarded to dog who qualifies twice in a course similar to a border collie trial, but generally on a much smaller scale.  The level I title can be completed entirely in the fetch, with no driving required.  The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)

HTD-IIs

Herding Trial Dog 2

AHBA

Herding

Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies twice in a course similar to a border collie trial, but generally on a much smaller scale.  The dog is required to drive, reather thatn fetch the sheep through part of the course. The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)

JHD

Junior Herding Dog

AHBA

Herding

Title awarded to dog who in two different tests has moved livestock (usually sheep) through several gates in a small arena, and has been able to make the livestock change direction.  This is a pass/fail test.

L1E

Level 1 Exterior

NACSW

Scent work

Title awarded to dog who has alerted on a single birch hide in each of 3 to 5 exterior searches, completing the work within a specified time limit.

L1I

Level 1 Interior

NACSW

Scent work

Title awarded to dog who has alerted on a single birch hide in each of 3 to 5 interior searches, completing the work within a specified time limit.

MACH

Master Agility Champion

AKC

Agility

Title awarded to dog who has earned 750 time points and who 20 times has qualified in both Masters standard and Masters Jumpers at the same show.   A number after the word MACH indicates how many times the dog has achieved the qualifications for a MACH title.

MJB, MJS,
MJG, MJC

Master Bronze/Silver/
Gold/Century Jumper

AKC

Agility

Titles awarded to dog who qualifies additional times in the advanced Masters Jumpers agility class, after earning the MXJ.  The Bronze level (MJB) requires 25 qualifying scores, the Silver level (MJS) requires 50 qualifying scores. the Gold level (MJG)  requires 75 qualifying scores, and the Century level (MJC) requires 100 qualifying scores.  

MX

Master Excellent

AKC

Agility

Title awarded to dog who qualifies ten times in the advanced Masters Standard agility class.  No time faults are permitted in Masters.

MXB, MXS, MXG, MXC

Master Bronze/Silver/
Gold/Century Agility

AKC

Agility

Titles awarded to dog who qualifies additional times in the advanced Masters Standard agility class, after earning the MX.  The Bronze level (MXB) requires 25 qualifying scores, the Silver level (MXS) requires 50 qualifying scores, the Gold level (MXG)  requires 75 qualifying scores, and the Century level (MXC) requires 100 qualifying scores. 

MXJ

Master Excellent Jumper

AKC

Agility

Title awarded to dog who qualifies ten times in the advanced Masters Jumpers agility class.  No time faults are permitted in Masters.

NA

Novice Aglity

AKC

Agility

Novice title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Novice Standard agility class, which includes contact obstacles

NAJ

Novice Agility Jumper

AKC

Agility

Novice title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Novice Jumpers agility class, with jumps, tunnels and weave poles only

NF

Novice FAST

AKC

Agility

Novice title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Novice FAST (Fifteen And Send Time) agility class, in which fifteen obstacles are assigned a point value, can be taken in any order, except for a set of obstacles that the dog works at a distance from the handler.

OA

Open Agility

AKC

Agility

Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Open Standard agility class, including contact obstacles

OAJ

Open Agility Jumper

AKC

Agility

Intermediate title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Open Standard agility class, with jumps, tunnels and weave poles only

PT

Pre-Trial Tested

AKC

Herding

Title awarded to dog who in two different tests has moved livestock (usually sheep or ducks) through several gates in a small arena, and has been able to make the livestock change direction.  This is a pass/fail test.

RN

Rally Novice

AKC

Obedience

Rally is a fairly new variant on obedience work.  Like obedience, the dog must come, heel sit, down, stay and finish.  Like agility, the dog and handler go through a numbered course without any directions from the judge. Also like agility, multiple commands are permitted, and ties between dogs are broken in favor of the team with the shortest course time.  Rally Novice is the introductory level, where all work in done on leash.  The dog must qualify three times in the Rally Novice class to earn this title.

ROM

Register of Merit

ASSA

Designates a Sheltie who is the sire of ten or more American Champions, or who is the dam of five or more American Champions

ROMC

Register of Merit Canada

CSSC

Designates a Sheltie who is the sire of ten or more Canadian Champions, or who is the dam of five or more Canadian Champions

STDs

Started Trial Dog

ASCA

Herding

Entry level herding title awarded to a dog who has twice qualified in the started class.  The suffixes indicate the kind of stock on which the title was earned: s (sheep), d (ducks), c (cattle)

T2B

Time 2 Beat

AKC

Agility

Title awarded to a dog who earns 15 qualifying scores and 100 points in the Time 2 Beat class.  The fastest dog with a clean run in the class sets the Time 2 Beat.  Other dogs with clean runs are awarded points according to how close they came to the Time 2 Beat.  Dogs of all agility levels compete in the same class.  A number after the word T2B indicates how many times the dog has achieved the qualifications for a T2B title.

TD

Tracking Dog

AKC

Tracking

Title awarded to dog who passes a tracking test. The track is the scent of a stranger, 30 minutes to 2 hours old and makes three to five turns.  At the end of the track, the dog must find a glove or wallet dropped by the tracklayer.

TDX

Tracking Dog Excellent

AKC

Tracking

Title awarded to a dog who passes an advanced tracking test. The track is the scent of a stranger who has walked through the field three to six hours earlier, and makes five to seven turns.  The dog must find three articles dropped by the tracklayer, and negotiate two obstacles.  In addition the track is crossed twice by fresher diversionary tracks of two other people.

THD

Therapy Dog

AKC

Therapy

An AKC title awarded to a dog who is certified by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization, and who has performed at least 50 therapy visits.

TKA

Advanced Trick Dog

AKC

Trick Dog

Advanced title awarded to dog who has performed advanced 10 tricks, to the satisfaction of an evaluator, and whose owner has applied to AKC for the title.

UD

Utility Dog

AKC

Obedience

Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in utility obedience trial competition, which includes scent discrimination and directional work.

VC

Versatility Certificate

ASSA

Versatility

Title awarded by the American Shetland Sheepdog Association to a Sheltie who has accumulated at least 6 points, according to a prescribed schedule, by achieving AKC qualifications in conformation, herding and at least one other approved AKC activity.

VCD1

Versatile Companion Dog 1

AKC

Versatility

Title awarded to a dog who has earned a CD, NA, NAJ and TD

VCD2

Versatile Companion Dog 2

AKC

Versatility

Title awarded to a dog who has earned a CDX, OA, OAJ and TD

VCX

Versatility Certificate Excellent

ASSA

Versatility

Title awarded by the American Shetland Sheepdog Association to a Sheltie who has accumulated at least 10 points, according to a prescribed schedule, by achieving AKC qualifications in conformation, herding and at least one other activity.

VST

Variable Surface Tracker

AKC

Tracking

Title award to a dog who passes an advanced tracking test laid out in an urban situation. The track is the scent of a stranger who has walked through the area three to six hours earlier, and makes four to eight turns.  Between one third and two thirds of the track is on non-vegetated surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete.  The track may go up stairs, across balconies, through breezeways, along buildings, across roads and between parked cars. The dog must find three articles dropped by the tracklayer.

XF

Excellent FAST

AKC

Agility

Advanced title awarded to dog who qualifies three times in the Excellent FAST (Fifteen And Send Time) agility class, in which fifteen obstacles are assigned a point value and can be taken in any order, except for a set of obstacles that the dog works at a distance from the handler.