AKC   American Kennel Club AM. CH.sually an AKC champion of record
AOAC   Any Other Allowed Color
AX   Agility Excellent title
BIS   Best In Show. The highest award given at a sanctioned show.
BISS   Best in Specialty Show. The highest award given at a breed show.
BOB   Best of Breed. Award won at an AKC or CKC sanctioned show.
BOS   Best of Opposite Sex (to the Best of Breed) at a sanctioned show
CAN.   CH.Canadian champion of record
CKC   Be careful with this one. Ask specifically what is meant.There is the Canadian Kennel Club and then there is a registry called the Continental Kennel Club. The Canadian Kennel Club is preferable.
CD   Companion Dog. An obedience title.
CDX   Companion Dog Excellent. An obedience title
CERF   Eye test and registry
CGC   Canine Good Citizen. Temperament test
Champion.   The dog is a champion of record. Ask which registry. There is no such thing as a “Grand Champion”. Ask to see the championship certificate. Abbreviated as CH.
DNA   Profile to prove parentage Dysplasia.Osteoarthritis which can be a crippling condition.Screening is important.
Full Reg.   Full registration. Potential breeding stock and show dogs.
Int’l   CH.International champion. Requirements not as stringent as AKC or CKC.
Limited Reg.Limited registration. The progeny of such dogs can’t be shown in conformation at AKC shows. However, they can be shown in obedience.
MX   Master Agility Excellent title
NA   Novice Agility title.
OA   Open Agility title.
OFA   Orthopedic Foundation For Animals. Certification for hips, elbows, patella, thyroid, cardiac.
OTCH   Obedience Trial Champion. Very difficult to obtain and a very impressive title.
Pedigree.   The dog’s background or genealogy. Ask to see a CERTIFIED pedigree
PennHip.   Another hip screening procedure. It is acceptable.
TD   Tracking Dog
TDX   Tracking Dog Excellent
TDI   Therapy Dogs, Inc. A temperament test.
Thyroid.   Complete panel testing done at Michigan State University. Also acceptable is the Oxford Lab test for TgAA where a negative result is a good thing.
UD   Utility Dog. An obedience title.
UDTD   Utility Dog Tracking Dog
UDX   Utility Dog Excellent. The highest obedience title.
UDXTD   Utility Dog Excellent Tracking Dog
UDXTDX   Utility Dog Excellent Tracking Dog Excellent
UDVST   Utility Dog Variable Surface Tracking Dog
UDXVST   Utility Dog Excellent Variable Surface Tracking Dog
VST   Variable Surface Tracking Dog.