Acronyms & Dog Words
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AKC – American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. In addition to maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official forming of the AKC, the National Dog Show and the AKC National Championship. The AKC is NOT affiliated with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
AKC Registered – American Kennel Club Registered
An American Kennel Club (AKC) Registered Dog is a dog whose owner has submitted an application and received approval through a registration certificate from the American Kennel Club. A purebred dog is eligible for AKC registration if its litter has been registered. When you purchase a dog that is AKC-registrable, you will receive an individual Dog Registration Application from the seller. This means that you are being given the information and paperwork necessary to register your dog with the American Kennel Club and receive your dog’s AKC Registration Certificate.
Note: You will see other breeders and websites that may say “purebred” which DOES NOT necessarily mean a dog is AKC Registerable. Make sure both parents are AKC Registered prior to purchasing a puppy/dog.
AOM – Award of Merit
An Award of Merit dog is selected from all of the Best in Group winners of that show. Best in Show is the highest distinction in a conformation dog show. Award of Merit may be given at the discretion of the judge to outstanding entries that did not win Best of Breed or Best in Show.
BIS – Best In Show
Only the Best of Breed winners advance to compete in the Group competitions. Each breed falls into one of seven groups: Sporting, Hound, Working, Terrier, Toy, Non-Sporting, and Herding. Four placements are awarded in each group. Only the group winners advance to the Best in Show competition.
CERF – Canine Eye Registry Foundation
The Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) examination was previously known as the “CERF” examination, is done only by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists. The examination is to identify any eye problems, and then determining if they are considered inherited in origin.
CH – Champion [ Conformation ]
Dogs must acquire 15 points, including 2 majors won under different judges and at least one point under a third different judge.
CGC – Canine Good Citizen
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program, established in 1989, is an American Kennel Club program to promote responsible dog ownership and to encourage the training of well-mannered dogs.
CKC – Canadian Kennel Club
The Canadian Kennel Club (or CKC), founded in 1888 and chartered under the Animal Purebred Act, is one of the national kennel clubs of Canada. The Canadian Kennel Club maintains breed registries services for those purebred dogs approved for its control by the Agricultural and Agri-Food Canada and provides governance for all CKC approved dog conformation shows, dog trials and canine events.
Conformation Show – Show Dog
Conformation in dogs refers solely to the externally visible details of a dog’s structure and appearance, as defined in detail by each dog breed’s written breed standard. A dog that conforms to most of the items of description in its individual breed standard is said to have good conformation.
Companion Dog – Companion/Pet Dog
A companion dog is a dog that does not work, providing only companionship as a pet, rather than usefulness by doing specific tasks. Many of the toy dog breeds are used only for the pleasure of their company, not as workers. Any dog can be a companion dog, and many working types such as retrievers are enjoyed primarily for their friendly nature as a family pet, as are mixed breed dogs. The American Kennel Club also offers a Companion dog title for judged dog obedience competitions.
GCH – Grand Champion [Conformation]
Completion of the title requires all of the following:
- Twenty five Grand Championship points
- Three majors won under three different judges
- At least one or more points won under a fourth judge
- Must have defeated at least one other AKC Champion of Record at three shows
GCHB – Grand Champion Bronze [Conformation]
Grand Champion Bronze:
Any Grand Champion which shall have won 100 Grand Championship points shall become a Grand Champion Bronze (GCHB).
Any Grand Champion which shall have won 100 Grand Championship points shall become a Grand Champion Bronze (GCHB).
HCA – Havanese Club of America
National specialty clubs (also called parent clubs) represent fanciers of a single breed. These clubs primarily hold dog shows, but many national specialty clubs also hold obedience trials, tracking tests and other performance events approved for their particular breed.
OFA – Orthopedic Foundation for Animals
To get the certification, a dog must be at least 2 years of age, and have x-rays performed under sedation or, ideally, general anesthesia. These x-rays are submitted to the OFA, where three veterinarians who are specialists in radiology read the x-rays independently.
TD – Therapy Dog
A therapy dog is a dog that is trained to provide affection, comfort and support to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, libraries, hospices and/or disaster areas.