What do
the titles mean?
You may have noticed the letters before and
after each dog's name.
Here is a summary of
what those letters (titles) stand for.
International
Champion
The
internet is getting flatted with phony titles on dogs and one of them is the
“International Champion” title.
Some
people (breeders) attend shows offered by the INTERNATIONAL
ALL BREED CANINE ASSOCIATION (IABCA) in the
Unfortunately
a dog does not have to go outside the
The
Doberman Pinscher is a recognized breed by the AKC (American Kennel Club) since
1921 and it is not necessary to use a rare breed organization to obtain a good
competition title; Champion, Obedience, Rally, Agility, Tracking…
So
if you come across a breeder that advertises Champion (CH) or International CH
title dogs, make sure that you see proof before you purchase a puppy. Do
not assume the dog is a TRUE International Champion or AKC Champion.
If
you have any doubt get in touch with us we’ll try to help you.
Often prefaced by Am (American(AKC) Champion), Can (Canadian(CKC) Champion) or UDC (United Doberman Club Champion) depending on what organizations the dog has acquired champion status in. To become a Champion, the dog has to earn a certain number of points- the points are earned by being picked by the judge as the best dog in that sex (male or female) that day. The number of points earned for each win depends on how many dogs were shown that day. For instance, to become an American (American Kennel Club) Champion, a dog must acquire a total of 15 points, with two of the times they win points being 'major' wins- ie. three points or more earned in one win. The most amount of points that can be won in any one win is five. In Dobermans, a female dog (bitch) must be picked the best over 26 other bitches to win a three point 'major'.
The Novice level AKC obedience title requires three
different qualifying scores ("legs") under three different judges.
The Novice level requires heeling both on and off leash, including heeling a
figure 8 around two people, a stand for exam exercise, a recall, a one minute
sit stay and a three minute down stay with the dog's handler standing across
the ring.
The Open level AKC obedience title. Also requires
three legs. Exercises include heeling off leash only, including a figure 8, a
drop on recall, where the dog is called to you, commanded to down when the dog
is halfway, and then called again, a retrieve of a dumbbell thrown across the
ring and over a high jump, and a three minute sit stay and a five minute down
stay with the handlers out of sight of their dogs.
The most advanced level of AKC obedience. Includes
heeling off leash, a signal exercise (dog sits, downs and comes on command of a
signal only), a stand out of motion (dog is heeling with owner and on command
stops and does a stand stay while the handler continues on), a directed
retrieve, a directed jumping exercise, and a scent discrimination exercise (dog
must go retrieve an article that the handler touched out of a group of other
articles that someone else has touched)
Agility titles
The Novice level AKC standard agility title. Like
obedience titles, agility titles require three different qualifying scores
("legs") under three different judges. The Novice level requires that
the handler direct the dog off leash around the obstacle course, the obstacles
must be executed a certain way and in a particular order. Standard agility
courses include contact obstacles (an A-frame, dog walk, and seesaw), jumps,
tunnels and weave poles.
The Open level AKC agility title. In the Open level
the courses are longer and more difficult to perform.
The most advanced level of AKC agility. In the
Excellent level the courses are even longer and harder.
The Novice level AKC Jumpers agility title. These
courses include only jumps, tunnels, and weave poles.
The Open (intermediate) level AKC Jumpers agility
title.
The Excellent (advanced) level AKC Jumpers agility
title.
Flyball titles
The most beginning flyball title, requires 20
points. Flyball titles are obtained by earning points- and the points are
awarded by how fast the team the dog is on runs a heat. One heat is four dogs
running relay race style over four jumps in a row, taking a tennis ball out of
a 'flyball box', and running back over the jumps with the ball. If the team
runs a heat in less then 32 seconds, all dogs on the team get 1 point. If the
team runs a heat faster then 28 seconds, all dogs earn 5 points. If the team
runs faster than 24 seconds, all dogs earn 25 points.
Requires 100 points.
Requires 500 points.
Requires 5000 points.
Requires 10,000 points.
Requires 15,000 points.
Named after the first dog to reach 20, 000 points
(a Doberman!). Requires 20,000 points.
Requires 30,000 points.
Schutzhund titles
Means 'Traffic Safe Companion Dog'. The BH is a
combination obedience and temperament test that is pass/fail. It is required
before a dog is allowed to trial in Schutzhund. The BH includes heeling on and
off leash, through a group of people, heeling off leash while a gun is fired, a
sit out of motion, a down out of motion, a recall, and a long down stay with
the handler's back turned to the dog while another dog does the above. The
temperament part varies from test to test, but usually includes walking the dog
through groups of people, having a bicyclist, jogger, and car go by, and a tie
out where the dog is tied to a stationary object while the handler goes out of
sight for a few minutes.
Schutzhund is a three phase sport that includes
tracking (following the scent trail where a person has walked), obedience and
protection work. The Schutzhund 1 level includes following a 20 minute old
track laid by the handler and successfully finding articles that were dropped;
the same obedience routine as described in the BH above with the addition of
two retrieves (on the flat and over a 1 meter jump) and a send away, where the
dog is sent to run away from the handler on command across a football length
field and downed on command; and protection work which includes seeking out a
hiding bad guy and barking at him to indicate that he has been found,
protecting the handler against an attack by the same bad guy and the final
test, called the 'courage test' where the dog is sent across the field to
apprehend the bad guy who is coming to attack dog and handler.
All three phases increase in difficulty. The track
is longer and laid by a different person than the handler, the obedience and
protection work increases in difficulty.
Highest level of Schutzhund.
Other titles
WAC/ROM: Working
Aptitude Certificate/Register of Merit
The WAC is awarded to a Doberman who passes the
Working Aptitude Evaluation, a test offered by the Doberman Pinscher Club of
America. The WAE is a temperament test to evaluate whether a Doberman is
trustworthy with people, not scared of strange sights, noises (gunfire) and
surfaces and is able to react protectively if necessary. A Doberman that passes
the WAE, has a breed Championship and has a working title is awarded with the
Register of Merit (ROM) title instead of just a WAC.
CGC: Canine Good Citizen
AKC's basic temperament/obedience test. Requires
the dog walk on a loose leash without pulling, sit, down and come on command,
allow handling by a stranger, and not show aggression towards other dogs.
The United Doberman Club's titles awarding dogs who
show success in multiple venues.