Title Acronyms 1, 2, 3 – avoid the confusion

My dogs are collecting titles in various areas and I wanted to provide a list of the acronyms so the average person can decipher them! (And then my web guy will come in and rearrange things so this post works better for my site, lol). I will add to the list as we explore other sports, such as our upcoming weight-pull activities!! I do not personally participate in non-AKC, non-UKC recognized activities but some of my co-owners do, and so you will see a few non-kennel club titles in the list.

I believe in titling my breeding dogs in:

  1. Conformation – to demonstrate or prove that they conform to the breed standard established by the parent breed club [they must be evaluated by at least 3 different independent, trained judges].
  2. Performance sports – to demonstrate or prove they perform well in performance sports and are very physically and mentally versatile.
  3. Companion activities – to demonstrate or prove they have the desired temperament to do all these things and be a loving family member.

Currently, our SPFL breeding dogs have earned an average of over 13 titles and awards per dog. This number is fluid however, because our dogs are reaching age and retiring from breeding regularly. 

You can see the titles earned on each individual dog’s page. Note that some are progressive, so as they work up through increasing difficulty levels, the higher titles replace the earlier ones. For example, the novice precision coursing title is RACEN. The next level is advanced, and the title is RACEA. Both titles are not maintained on the dog’s registered name – only the most recent – so RACEN is replaced by RACEA.

CONFORMATION TITLES

Am CH                  AKC Conformation Champion

Am GCH               AKC Conformation Grand Champion

U CH                     UKC Conformation Champion

U GRCH                UKC Conformation Grand Champion

U EGCH                UKC Conformation Emerald Grand Champion

U RGCH                UKC Conformation Ruby Grand Champion

U SGCH                UKC Conformation Sapphire Grand Champion

U DGCH               UKC Conformation Diamond Grand Champion

NBOB                   UKC National Best of Breed

BIS                        UKC Best in Show

MBIS                     UKC Multiple Best in Show awards

RBIS                      UKC Reserve Best in Show

MRBIS                  UKC Multiple Reserve Best in Show awards

BISS                      UKC Best in Specialty Show

RBISS                    UKC Reserve Best in Specialty Show

BPIS                      UKC Best Puppy in Show

BPISS                    UKC Best Puppy in Specialty Show

RBPIS                    UKC Reserve Best Puppy in Show

RBPISS                  UKC Reserve Best Puppy in Specialty Show

 

PERFORMANCE TITLES

COURSING

RACEN                 UKC Novice Precision Coursing

RACEA                  UKC Advanced Precision Coursing

BCAT                     AKC FastCAT Novice

DASH                    UKC Dash (straight run) Novice

CA                         AKC Coursing Ability

 

DOCK DIVING – NADD Titles recognized by AKC and CKC

DN                        AKC Novice

DJ                          AKC Junior

DS                         AKC Senior

DM                        AKC Master

DE                         AKC Elite

 

BARNHUNT

RATN                    AKC Novice Barn Hunt

RATI                      AKC Intermediate Barn Hunt

RATO                    AKC Open Barn Hunt

 

SCENT

VSWB                   AKC Virtual Scent Work Beginner

 

COMPANION TITLES

RALLY

RN                         AKC Rally Novice

RI                          AKC Rally Intermediate

 

AGILITY

ACT                       AKC Agility Coursing Test

NA                         AKC Novice Agility

OA                         AKC Open Agility

NAJ                       AKC Novice Agility Jumper

OAJ                       AKC Open Agility Jumper

AXJ                       AKC Excellent Agility jumper

NF                         AKC Novice Fast

MACH                   AKC Master Agility Champion

PACH                    AKC Preferred Agility Champion

AGCH                    AKC Agility Grand Champion

 

OTHER COMPANION / TEMPERAMENT TITLES

CGC                       AKC Canine Good Citizen

CGCA                    AKC Advanced Canine Good Citizen / Community Canine

CGCU                    AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen

TKN                       AKC Trick Dog Novice

TKI                        AKC Trick Dog Intermediate

TKA                       AKC Trick Dog Advanced

TKP                       AKC Trick Dog Performer

TKE                       AKC Trick Dog Elite Performer

NTD                      Do More With Your Dog! Novice Trick Dog Title

BTC24 A+             Do More With Your Dogs! Beat the Clock 12 Tricks in 24 seconds

SPOT                    UKC Socialized Pet Obedience title

SPOT-ON             UKC Outstanding Socialized Pet Obedience title

VHMP                   AKC Virtual Home Manners Puppy

VHMA                   AKC Virtual Home Manners Adult

 

MISCELLANEOUS TITLES

TD                         UKC Total Dog

ATD                       Alliance of Therapy Dogs Certified

VCX                       Versatility in Poodles (VIP) Versatility Excellence title

VCM                      Versatility in Poodles Versatility Master title

When Whelping Goes Wrong: What Breeders Need to Know About Dystocia

For those of us who dedicate our lives to ethical, preservation breeding, the miracle of birth is one of the most humbling, powerful experiences we get to witness. But not every whelping goes as planned. One of the most serious complications breeders must be prepared...

Inbreeding Depression

In my last post, I mentioned inbreeding depression — a concept that may be unfamiliar to newer breeders. I thought it would be helpful to take a moment to explain what it means and why it matters. Inbreeding depression is a term used to describe the reduced biological...

The Cellular Clock – Telomeres and Longevity

🧬 Telomeres and Longevity: Understanding the Cellular Clock In the quest to understand aging and longevity, telomeres have emerged as a significant piece of the puzzle. These protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes play a crucial role in cellular health and...

Is There a Perfect Recipe for Breeding the Ideal Dog?

Spoiler: It's More Like a Balancing Act Than a Bake-Off Breeding dogs is often compared to baking—carefully measured ingredients, a trusted recipe, and a dash of heart. But here’s the truth: there’s no single recipe for producing the perfect specimen of any breed, no...

Poodle Pulse: UC Davis and Betterbred DNA Mapping – a deeper look

🧬 How UC Davis and BetterBred Map DNA – And What It Actually Means This is a follow-up to my post on Understanding Canine Genetic Diversity Research. When we talk about "mapping DNA" in canine genetic diversity testing, what we're referring to is the process of...

Poodle Pulse: Understanding Canine Genetic Diversity Research and What it Means for Poodle Breeding

🐩 Why Genetic Diversity Matters for Standard Poodles Preserving the Standard Poodle means more than producing pretty dogs with correct coat and adorable faces. At SPFL, we believe every litter starts with a purpose: to honor the breed's history while safeguarding its...

Poodle Pulse: Allergies and Ears

Allergies and Ears Standard Poodles are cherished for their intelligence, elegance, and hypoallergenic coats. However, like many breeds, they can be predisposed to allergies, which may lead to chronic ear infections and other health challenges. Understanding the types...

Poodle Pulse: Sportsmanship

Good Sportsmanship in Dog Sports (Including Conformation) Good sportsmanship is the heart of ethical participation in any dog sport, from conformation to agility, obedience, and beyond. It’s not just about how you act when you win but also how you conduct yourself...

Poodle Pulse: Performance Poodle Nutritional Needs

Fueling the Athlete vs. Nourishing the Companion: Nutrition for Standard Poodles As a preservation breeder and performance enthusiast, one thing I often get asked is, “Do performance poodles really need a different diet than companion dogs?” The short answer is: yes!...

Poodle Pulse: To Be or Not To Be a Breeder

Thinking About Becoming a Breeder?  Here’s How to Prepare: 1. Find a Mentor and start with Quality Stock. Connect with a reputable, ethical breeder whose dogs are registered and titled with recognized kennel clubs such as the AKC, Canadian KC, or FCI. A good mentor...