German Shepherd Dog Terminology

German Shepherd Dog Glossary Of Terms

Working Titles:

AD: Aus dauerprufing, endurance test

BH: Basic companion dog - traffic sureness.

B or BH Begleithunde: This term refers to the preliminary and prerequisite test for a dog aiming to receive Schutzhund qualifications. It encompasses a combination of temperament and obedience tests, with B and BH often being used interchangeably.

WH: Watch Dog.

CD: Companion dog. This is the first of five working qualifications, each progressively more challenging, awarded to dogs achieving a specified percentage of total marks at working trials.

CDEX: CD Excellent.

DH: Dienshund, service dog.

Gebrauchshundklasse: Working dog class, which is the only category available for dogs over two years in Germany.

HGH: Herdengebrauchshund, herding dog - a designation for dogs that work with flocks.

TD: Tracking dog. This title qualifies a dog in nose work.

FH: Fahrtenhund, tracking qualification.

FH1: Advanced tracking qualification.

FH2: Superior tracking qualification.

UD: Utility dog. This is a working qualification.

ZH: Zollhund, a dog specifically trained to work with customs police.

SchH1: Novice Schutzhund qualification that includes tracking, obedience, and protection.

SchH2: Intermediate Schutzhund qualification in tracking, obedience, and protection.

SchH3: The Master's level of Schutzhund, which encompasses tracking, obedience, and protection training.

SchHA: A limited SchH title, akin to SchH I but excluding the tracking component.

IPO1: International Novice Schutzhund trial qualification.

IPO2: International Intermediate Schutzhund qualification.

IPO3: International Masters level Schutzhund qualification.

BpDH1, 2: Railroad Police Dog.

BIH: Blind Leader Dog.

LwH: Lawinen Hund - Avalanche Dog.

DH: Service Dog.

DPH: Service Police Dog.

PH Polizehund: Police Dog.

INT Internationale Prufungsklasse: International Training Degree.

BPDH I, II: Bannpolizeidiensthund I or II - Railroad Police Service Dog I or II.

GrH - Grenzen Hund: Border Patrol Dog.

PFP I, II: Polizeifaehrtenhund I, II - Police Tracking Dog I or II.

PSP I, II: Polizeischutzhundprufung I, II - Police Protection Dog I or II.

Bundeslestunggssieger: German National Working Dog Champion awarded at the Bundessiegerprufung.

Huntesieger: Herding Dog Champion at the German Herding Dog Championships. HT: Herding Tested.

HC: Herding Champion.

M.H. militar hund: Military Dog.

S.H. sanitäts hund: Red Cross Dog.

Kr.H. kriegshund: War Dog.

German Shepherds serve various roles, including protection, serving as guard dogs, police dogs, family pets, herding livestock, and acting as service dogs for individuals with disabilities. They may also work as therapy dogs and excel in the show ring, agility competitions, and specialized training, including Schutzhund also known as working shows. The traditional black and red German Shepherd, often referred to as the red and black German Shepherd, black & red German Shepherd dog, and red & black German Shepherd, sets the breed standard.

Conformation Titles:

ZB-Zuchtbewertung: Conformation Show Rating followed by:

VA - Vorzuglich Auslese: The highest attainable award for a German show dog, granted only at the annual Sieger Show.

V - Vorzuglich: Excellent

SG - Sehr Gut: Very Good; the highest official German show grade obtainable by dogs under two.

G - Gut: Good.

A - Austreichend: Sufficient.

M - Mangelhaft: Faulty.

U - Ungenugend: Insufficient.

Jugendklasse-ruden: Youth class for males aged twelve to eighteen months at German shows.

Jugendklasse-hundinnen: The equivalent class for females.

Sieger or siegerin: This title is awarded to the top Male and Female at the German National Show, and they will also receive the prestigious rating of VA-1.

Weltsieger: World Sieger title is awarded to the top dog at the FCI All Breed Show.

Europasieger: Conformation winner at the European All Breed Show.

Bundeszuchtsieger: Conformation winner at the German National All Breed Show.

Consider adopting a great adult German Shepherd dog as a loyal family pet, companion, or show/service GSD. An adult German Shepherd can be a fantastic way to find the dog you’ve always desired without the lengthy training often required for puppies. Consult your German Shepherd breeder to identify the right German Shepherd that aligns with your needs.

Angulations: The angles at which shoulder and upper arm bones intersect at the shoulder joint, and those of the upper and lower thigh bones meet at the knee joint.

AKC: American Kennel Club.

CKC: Canadian Kennel Club.

Washed out: A term referring to marked fading of color and pigmentation in the nose and nails.

Monorchid: A dog possessing one testicle.

Bloodline: Refers to animals that share specific familial relationships across several generations.

SV: Schaferhund Verein, the GSD Society of West Germany.

Sable: A foundational color appearing gray, brown, or fawn, with black-shaded guard hairs resembling wolf-like coloring.

Korung: A German breed survey to select animals for breeding, with Class 1 animals being recommended and Class 2 animals deemed suitable.

KK1: Korklasse, survey class.

Inbreeding: The intentional mating of closely related individuals.

High withered: Defined by the area where the neck meets the back being distinct, long, and well-muscled over the vertebrae between the shoulder blades, sloping into the back rather than lying flat.

Dew claws: Additional toes located on the inside of the leg above the foot that do not contact the ground; many puppies are born without them on their rear legs.

Cow hocked: A condition where a dog stands and moves with the point of the hock oriented inward.

Croup: Refers to the pelvis and the muscle and coat covering it.

Entire: A term used when both testicles are present in the scrotum.

TT: Temperament Tested.

TC: Temperament Certified.

OFA: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (Hip Certification in the U.S.).

OVC: Ontario Veterinary College (Hip Certification in Canada).

CGC: Indicates that the dog has received a Canine Good Citizen certificate.

Penn HIP: Developed at the University of Pennsylvania (USA), this procedure assesses hip joint laxity without providing a failure or pass score. Loose hips may be more susceptible to developing degenerative joint disease. (See OVC, OFA, "a stamp").

SV Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde: The original GSD breed club and the breed registry based in Germany.

TSB Triebveranlagung: Fighting drive.

ZW Zuchtwert: The ZW-value is a Breed Value Assessment; a number signifying the genotype of the dog for breeding purposes.

KKLI: Korklasse I, breed surveyed and recommended for breeding; a Koer Class rating indicating the dog meets breeding quality standards.

KKLII: Korklasse II, breed surveyed and deemed suitable for breeding.

Lbz - Lebenszeit: Lifetime rating.

German hip ratings

"a" - Zuerkannt: Certified hips categorized into three classifications:

"a" - 1 Normal - Certified Normal Hips

"a" - 2 Fast Normal - Certified Near Normal Hips

"a" - 3 Noch Zugelassen - Certified hips still permissible.