Education

Definitions/Abbreviations

​

• AKC: The American Kennel Club is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its Registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Founded in 1884, the AKC® and its affiliated organizations advocate for the purebred dog as a family companion, advance canine health and well-being, work to protect the rights of all dog owners and promote responsible dog ownership.

• B or BH Begleithunde:   the preliminary and required test for a dog going on to get his/her Schutzhund titles. A combination temperament and obedience test. B and BH are used interchangeably. 

• HD/ED: The following rating system is used to evaluate the quality of the hips and elbows of the German Shepherd. The top three ratings are the only ratings approved for breeding.

  • ​Normal​: The highest rating granted

  • Fast Normal: Almost normal, the second highest rating granted

  • Noch Zugelassen: Still Allowed/Permitted

  • Mittlere: Intermediate; the dogs has some degree of dysplasia 

  • Schwere: Heavy/Severe

• IPO​: Stands for  Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung. The sport of IPO parallels the sport and titles in Schutzhund. Titles of IPO1, IPO2 and IPO3 are awarded with IPO3 being the highest. 

• kkl: Abbreviation for Koerklasse. This is a recommendation and evaluation by a trained and acknowledged "breed warden" judge who is qualified to certify the worthiness of the dog for breeding

  • kkl1: recommended for breeding; the dog is determined to have no faults.

  • kkl2​: Suitable for breeding; the dog is determined to have a fault that does not prohibit them from breeding but efforts should be made to overcome that fault when the dog is bred. 

• Schutzhund: A German word meaning “protection dog” and referring to a sport that tests and evaluates a dog's ability in obedience, tracking and personal protection. Three titles are awarded: SchH1, SchH2 and SchH3. SchH3 is the highest title awarded. 

• SV: Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde - Club for German Sepherd Dogs. This is the primary (original) GSD club and breed registry, based in Germany.

• V: Vorzüglich means Excellent - Show rating awarded in working class only. Also a SchH rating awarded to dogs who score 96 points or more out of 100 in SchH trail/competition

• VA: Vorzüglich Auslese means Excellent Select - Show rating only awarded at the Sieger show in working class.