Guide to Dog Titles

Many folks get confused when looking at a long series of initials before or after a dogs name. Below is a list of American Kennel Club title abbreviations as well as several also other distinguished titles your dog can possess, even if they are not registered with the AKC.

AKC Titles Appearing Before the Dog's Name

AFC

Amateur Field Trial Champion (Event: Field Trials)

CH

Champion (Event: Conformation)

CT

Champion Tracker (Event: Tracking)

DC

Dual Champion (CH + FC or HC)

FC

Field Trial Champion (Event: Field Trials)

HC

Herding Champion (Event: Herding)

MACH

MACH Master Agility Champion:
In order to acquire the title, a dog must achieve a minimum of 750 championship points and 20 double qualifying scores obtained from the Excellent B Standard Agility class and the Excellent B Jumpers With Weaves class.

OTCH

Obedience Trial Champion (encompasses the UD title)

TC

Triple Champion - Any dog that has been awarded the title of Dual Champion (DC) and the title of Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) or Tracking Champion (CT) or Agility Champion (MACH) may be designated as a Triple Champion.

VCCH

Versatile Companion Champion: Completes a OTCH, MACH and CT.

AKC Titles Appearing After the Dog's Name

CD

Companion Dog

CDX

Companion Dog Excellent

JH

Junior Hunter

MH

Master Hunter

SH

Senior Hunter

TD

Tracking Dog

TDX

Tracking Dog Excellent

UD

Utility Dog

NA

Novice Agility

OA

Open Agility

AX

Agility Excellent

MX

Master Agility Excellent

MXJ

Master Excellent Jumper with weaves

MXP

Master Agility Excellent "B" Preferred - Dog must earn 10 qualifying scores in Excellent Agility Preferred "B" class under at least 2 different judges. Trial at which AXP was earned does not count toward the 10.

NAJ

Novice Jumpers with weaves

OAJ

Open Jumpers with weaves

AJP

Excellent Agility Jumpers with Weaves "A" Preferred - Dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Excellent A Jumpers With Weaves Preferred class under at least 2 different judges.

AXP

Agility Exellent "A" Preferred - Dog must earn 3 qualifying scores in Excellent A Jumpers With Weaves Preferred class under at least 2 different judges.

AXJ

Excellent Jumpers with weaves

Other Distinguished Titles

U-CD

Companion Dog (through United Kennel Club)

CGC

Canine Good Citizen (for all dogs, even mixed breed)

TDI

Therapy Dog International (enables a dog to visit nursing homes, etc.)

U-CDX

Companion Dog Excellent (through United Kennel Club)

VST

Variable Surface Tracker

CT

Champion Tracker (before dogs name)

TT

Temperament Tested