Glossary of Abbreviations

Remember that The American Kennel Club does not recognize any conformation or performance titles other than those for which they have the records; therefore, AKC recognizes only AKC titles. There are other organizations and there are other titles, most quite reputable and stringent in their requirements and record keeping.

Registry Organizations:

• American Kennel Club (AKC) serves as the dominant canine records keeping organization (registration, shows, and trials) in the United States.
• The United Kennel Club (UKC) has its niche in the United States, particularly in the registration of hounds and overseeing hunting events for them.
• Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) serves the needs of breeders and exhibitors of Canada.
• The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) governs canine activities world wide through member clubs in many countries, such as the German Klub fur Terrier/Verband Deutsche Hundewesen e.V.(KFT/VDH).

U.S. Health Certifications:

• Certified Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) -- records the eye exams by breed to aid in the control of PRA and other inheritable eye disorders.
• Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) -- records hip x-rays in dogs of two years of age or older to aid in the control of Canine Hip Dysplasia
• PennHip -- an alternative method to aid in the control of Canine Hip Dysplasia by measuring the joint laxity of the hip.

Conformation Titles:

• Champion (CH) -- the requirements vary from country to country, but the title of Champion is universal for the recognition of a dog's structure and other physical traits during competition. In the United States, an Airedale must defeat a specific number of other Airedales, accumulating a total of 15 points, with at least 2 wins of 3 points or more--called "majors". The number of dogs in competition determines the number of points won and this changes from state to state and from year to year. The AKC Gazette provides each year's new points system in the March issue.

AKC Obedience titles:

The American Kennel Club offers the rules and regulations for all titles on request. If you are interested in entering, you really should take a look at the rules first! For Obedience and Agility, three qualifying scores under three different judges are required to fulfill the requirements of the title. Of the 200 possible points in obedience, 170 or above is passing, while placements are offered to the top 4 is a class. "Run-offs" in the off lead heeling exercise determine the winner in case of a tie.

• Companion Dog (CD) -- Basic skills of heel, stay, sit, down, come, stand, and stay. The handler uses a lead for part of the exercises. For the rest below, the handler gives the lead to the ring steward. Watch Novice classes at the obedience trials to see dogs earning the CD.
• Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) -- Those skill above plus retrieving, jumping, and longer stays--out of sight of the handler. The dog begins to work farther away from the handler. Watch Open classes at the obedience trials to see dogs earning the CDX.
• Utility Dog (UD) -- This is a very challenging title to earn! Handler and dog work at 40-60 feet apart, with directed jumping and retrieving, retrieving a metal item and a leather object touched by the handler from 10 similar objects, and a silent hand signal exercise. Watch Utility classes at the obedience trials to see dogs earning the UD.
• Utility Dog Excellent (UDX) -- Dogs which already have earned the CDX or UD can continue to show in the "B" classes of Open and Utility. The exercises are the same but the order is randomly determined for each trial. Qualifying scores from the "B" classes are used to tabulate points for the (UDX), which requires that the dog and handler qualify (170 points or higher) in both classes in the same trial, ten times. This is a demonstration of persistence, stamina, and reliability! So far only 3 Airedales have earned a UDX--2 brothers who were sired by a Seneca Airedale, "Stony."
• Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) -- Wins from the "B" classes are used to tabulate points for the OTCH.

AKC Tracking titles:

The tracking test is a pass/fail exercise and one passing test fulfills the requirements of a title. These tests are very difficult even to enter. A trainer who feels that his dog is ready must first make arrangements with a certified judge privately to qualify in a pre-test. A copy of this pre-test certification must accompany each entry to an AKC tracking test. Due to the limited number of tracks available, and the large number of entrants, a lottery drawing is often held to determine which of the entries received will be accepted, with alternates. Sometimes entries are accepted in the order received, which may be many months before the official closing date!

• Tracking Dog (TD) -- The test consists of a track 400-500 yards in length that has been aged for 30 minutes to 2 hours. There are 3-5 turns with 1 article to locate at the end, and which is leather or cloth. Dogs are not penalized for how long they require to complete the track as long as they are actively working the scent.
• Tracking Dog (TDX) -- The test consists of a track 880-100 yards in length that has been aged for 3-5 hours. There are 5-7 turns with a starting article and three articles to locate on the track. One of the greatest problems are that handlers often think they know where the dog should be going and actually interfere with the dog's tracking, even to the point of pulling the dog off the actual track. This is the origin of the saying "trust the dog!"
• Note: Only 4 Airedales have earned a TDX.
• Variable Surface Tracking (VST) -- Just recently approved by AKC in 1996, this test is more challenging, as it is conducted in an urban environment. The track is 600-800 yards in length and similar to the TDX. While the starting article is cloth or leather, the others may be metal or plastic. The dog must be able to follow at least one-third of the track over plowed earth, asphalt, mulch, sand, concrete, or other non-vegetated surface with one turn and one article on it.
• Note: No Airedale has earned a VST as yet

Temperament Certifications:

Note: Temperament certifications are NOT titles, although you see them listed after dogs' names quite often as though they were. While these certifications indicate that the dog is both manageable and stable in temperament, they do not test the desire of the dog to work for a person to the high standard seen in the required exercises leading to obedience and other performance titles.

• Temperament Test (TT) -- Completed as an on-lead test, dogs and owners demonstrate basic obedience control, acceptance of petting by a stranger, ability to calmly await the return of the owner when left on a tether, and accept loud noise, and negotiate milling crowds with the owner.
• Therapy Dog International (TDI) -- These tests are often the next level offered in conjunction with the TT. In addition to the previous situations, the dog is observed for calmness with IV holders, gurneys, wheelchairs, crutches, and other medical equipment.
• Canine Good Citizen (CGC) -- Supervised as an AKC event, the CGC is meant to encourage responsible dog ownership. Dogs and owners are directed to complete several exercises on lead that indicate that the dog is both manageable and stable in temperament.

European performance titles:

• BH -- This is an entry level degree, similar to the CD obedience title offered by the AKC as described above. One very important difference is that part of the test in conducted on the sidewalk of a street; the ability to remain under control despite distractions is tested in the most realistic manner possible!
• SchH I, II, III - the sport of Schutzhund was designed to produce a personal protection dog. This European sport has been compared to a triathlon for dogs and consists of tracking, obedience, and protection exercises. At each level, the weights, heights, and distances increase, challenging both dog and handler to successfully complete the course.
• FH I, II, III -- These tracking titles test the ability of a dog to follow a human's track, similar to the AKC titles, but are different in time, length, and articles.
• IPO I, II, III, -- Similar to Schutzhund, the IPO titles are based on police dog exercises.
• AD -- This degree is an endurance title, and was used to screen dogs from Hip Dysplasia before the technology of x-rays was possible. Handlers on bikes, or sitting on the back of vehicles take the dog on lead for an extended trot of 12.5 miles. A judge follows the dogs by car, observing them for any signs of distress which will immediately cause the dog to be excused from the test. Rest periods of 15 minutes are taken twice, with the judge physically examining the dogs, especially the feet, before allowing them to continue.

Agility titles:

Agility is the performance sport that tests the communication, speed, reflexes, and accuracy of both handler and dog. As a timed event, the dog must flat out run the course, in the correct order, taking directions, on the fly, from the handler on where to go next. Television programs love to show agility events because it is fast paced, fun, and exciting. At the higher levels of agility, a dog/handler team could complete a course without flaw and still not qualify if the time is not fast enough...A fast time may not be enough if the dog missed the zones marked in yellow that measure accuracy...A great run can be spoiled by a fallen bar on the jump, or an off course deviation.

• American Kennel Club (AKC) NA, OA, AX, MX, NAJ, OAJ, AXJ, MXJ, MACH
• North American Dog Agility Club (NADAC),
• United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA)