AKC Titles and Abbreviations, Explained in Plain English
What does RACH, UDX, CAX or GCHB mean - and what does a dog need to earn it? Every title AKCcalc.com tracks, plus the show-ring words you hear ringside, from A to Z. Type in the box to find one fast.
A
B
Conformation
BIS - Best in Show
The winner over all seven Group winners at an all-breed show.
Conformation
BISS - Best in Specialty Show
Best of Breed at a show held by a breed club for that breed alone.
Conformation
BOB - Best of Breed
The top dog of the breed at a show. It goes on to the Group.
Conformation
BOS - Best of Opposite Sex
The best dog of the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner.
Conformation
BOW - Best of Winners
The better of Winners Dog and Winners Bitch. It takes the greater of the two point counts.
C
Coursing Ability Test (CAT)
CA - Coursing Ability
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Track it in the Title TrackerCoursing Ability Test (CAT)
CAA - Coursing Ability Advanced
Needs 10 qualifying scores.
Track it in the Title TrackerCoursing Ability Test (CAT)
CAX - Coursing Ability Excellent
Needs 25 qualifying scores.
Track it in the Title TrackerObedience
CDX - Companion Dog Excellent
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Obedience OTCH and OM Points CalculatorCanine Good Citizen
CGC - Canine Good Citizen
Needs 1 CGC test passed (10 test items).
Track it in the Title TrackerCanine Good Citizen
CGCA - AKC Community Canine
Needs 1 Community Canine test passed (after the CGC).
Track it in the Title TrackerCanine Good Citizen
CGCU - AKC Urban CGC
Needs 1 Urban CGC test passed (all 10 items, after the CGC).
Track it in the Title TrackerConformation
CH - Champion
15 championship points including 2 majors (wins of 3, 4 or 5 points) under 2 different judges, with some of the other points under a third judge.
Open the calculatorMiscellaneous and FSS breeds
CM - Certificate of Merit
15 CM points from Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex or Best in Miscellaneous wins, for breeds not yet fully recognized. Every 15 more adds a number (CM2).
Open the calculatorTracking
CT - Champion Tracker
Needs 3 tracking titles held (TD or TDU, TDX and VST).
Track it in the Title TrackerD
Conformation and field
DC - Dual Champion
A dog that is both a show Champion and a Field Champion (lure coursing, field trials or herding).
Agility
Double Q - Double qualifying score
A Q in Master Standard AND Master Jumpers With Weaves on the same day. A MACH needs 20.
Open the calculatorE
Earthdog
EE - Endurance Earthdog
Needs 5 times passing Senior and Master at the same event.
Track it in the Title TrackerF
Lure Coursing
FC - Field Champion
Needs 2 majors under 2 different judges and 15 championship points.
Lure Coursing Points CalculatorFarm Dog
FDC - Farm Dog Certified
Needs 2 tests passed under 2 different judges.
Track it in the Title TrackerG
Conformation
GCH - Grand Champion
25 grand championship points with 3 majors under 3 different judges, and defeating at least one champion at 3 shows.
Open the calculatorConformation
GCHB - Grand Champion Bronze
100 grand championship points. Silver (GCHS) is 200, Gold (GCHG) 400 and Platinum (GCHP) 800; every 800 more adds a number (GCHP2).
Open the calculatorH
Herding
HC - Herding Champion
Needs 2 first places with points under different judges, one worth 3+ (after the HX) and 15 championship points in Advanced classes.
Track it in the Title TrackerJ
Lure Coursing
JC - Junior Courser
Needs 2 qualifying runs alone, under 2 different judges.
Lure Coursing Points CalculatorHunt Tests
JH - Junior Hunter
Needs 4 qualifying scores at licensed or member tests.
Track it in the Title TrackerL
Lure Coursing
LCX - Lure Courser Excellent
Needs 45 Specials or Veterans points after the FC.
Lure Coursing Points CalculatorM
Agility
MACH - MACH (use the MACH calculator for points)
Needs 20 Double Qs and 750 MACH points.
Agility MACH Points CalculatorConformation
Major - Major win
A win worth 3, 4 or 5 points. A champion needs 2 under different judges; a grand champion needs 3.
Open the calculatorLure Coursing
MC - Master Courser
Needs 25 more qualifying scores with competition after the SC.
Lure Coursing Points CalculatorAgility
MFB - Master Bronze FAST
Needs 25 Master FAST Qs of 60+ (then MFS, MFG, MFC at every 25 more).
Agility MACH Points CalculatorHunt Tests
MH - Master Hunter
Needs 6 qualifying scores (5 if the dog has its SH).
Track it in the Title TrackerAgility
MJB - Master Bronze Jumper
Needs 25 Master Jumpers With Weaves Qs (then MJS, MJG, MJC at every 25 more).
Agility MACH Points CalculatorAgility
MXB - Master Bronze Agility
Needs 25 Master Standard Qs (then MXS, MXG, MXC at every 25 more).
Agility MACH Points CalculatorN
Conformation
NOHS - National Owner-Handled Series
Competition for dogs shown by their owners. Placements earn NOHS points for the year-end ranking; they do not count toward championships.
Open the calculatorO
Obedience
OTCH - Obedience Trial Champion
Needs 100 OTCH points.
Obedience OTCH and OM Points CalculatorP
Agility
PAX - Preferred Agility Excellent
Needs 20 Preferred Double Qs (no points needed).
Agility MACH Points CalculatorObedience
PCD - Preferred Companion Dog
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Obedience OTCH and OM Points CalculatorObedience
PCDX - Preferred Companion Dog Excellent
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Obedience OTCH and OM Points CalculatorConformation
POA - Puppy of Achievement
A certificate for puppies that earn 10 points from Beginner Puppy wins and from first places in the regular puppy classes, before turning 12 months old or finishing a championship.
Open the calculatorObedience
PUTD - Preferred Utility Dog
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Obedience OTCH and OM Points CalculatorQ
Performance sports
Q / NQ - Qualifying score / Non-qualifying
A Q is a passing run or score that counts toward a title; an NQ does not count.
R
Rally
RACH - Rally Champion
Needs 20 triple Qs (Advanced B, Excellent B and Master at the same trial) and 300 RACH points.
Rally RACH Points CalculatorRally
RAE - Rally Advanced Excellent
Needs 10 double Qs (Advanced B and Excellent B at the same trial).
Rally RACH Points CalculatorConformation
RWD / RWB - Reserve Winners Dog / Bitch
Second best non-champion of each sex. Gets the points only if the Winners dog is later disqualified.
S
Lure Coursing
SC - Senior Courser
Needs 4 qualifying scores with competition, under 3 different judges (needs the Qualified Courser certificate).
Lure Coursing Points CalculatorConformation
SD / SB - Select Dog / Select Bitch
Next-best dog and bitch after Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex. They earn grand championship points.
Hunt Tests
SH - Senior Hunter
Needs 5 qualifying scores (4 if the dog has its JH).
Track it in the Title TrackerScent Work
SHDA - Handler Discrimination Advanced
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Track it in the Title TrackerScent Work
SHDE - Handler Discrimination Excellent
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Track it in the Title TrackerScent Work
SHDM - Handler Discrimination Master
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Track it in the Title TrackerScent Work
SHDN - Handler Discrimination Novice
Needs 3 qualifying scores.
Track it in the Title TrackerScent Work
SWD - Scent Work Detective
Needs 10 qualifying runs in the Detective class.
Track it in the Title TrackerScent Work
SWN - Scent Work Novice
Needs 4 Novice element titles (Container, Interior, Exterior, Buried).
Track it in the Title TrackerT
Agility
T2B - Time 2 Beat
Needs 15 qualifying scores and 100 T2B points.
Agility MACH Points CalculatorTherapy Dog (AKC Title Recognition)
THD - Therapy Dog
Needs 50 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
Track it in the Title TrackerTherapy Dog (AKC Title Recognition)
THDA - Therapy Dog Advanced
Needs 100 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
Track it in the Title TrackerTherapy Dog (AKC Title Recognition)
THDD - Therapy Dog Distinguished
Needs 400 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
Track it in the Title TrackerTherapy Dog (AKC Title Recognition)
THDN - Therapy Dog Novice
Needs 10 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
Track it in the Title TrackerTherapy Dog (AKC Title Recognition)
THDS - Therapy Dog Supreme
Needs 600 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
Track it in the Title TrackerTherapy Dog (AKC Title Recognition)
THDX - Therapy Dog Excellent
Needs 200 therapy visits (one per facility per day, with an AKC-recognized therapy dog organization).
Track it in the Title TrackerAgility
TQX - Triple Q Excellent
Needs 10 triple Qs (Master Standard, JWW and FAST on the same day).
Agility MACH Points CalculatorRally and agility
Triple Q - Triple qualifying score
Rally: a Q in Advanced B, Excellent B and Master at the same trial. Agility: a Q in Master Standard, Jumpers and FAST on the same day.
U
Obedience
UDX - Utility Dog Excellent
Needs 10 double Qs (Open B and Utility B on the same day).
Obedience OTCH and OM Points CalculatorV
W
Conformation
WD / WB - Winners Dog / Winners Bitch
The best non-champion male and female. Only these two earn championship points in the breed.
X
How AKC titles work
Most AKC titles go AFTER the dog's registered name (a suffix, like CD or RN). Champion titles go IN FRONT (a prefix, like CH or MACH). Titles never expire: once AKC records one, it stays on the dog's record for life. Many titles can be earned again for a higher number - MACH2, UDX3, FCAT4 - and the Title Tracker counts toward the next number for you.
The numbers here are AKC's current requirements as used by our calculators. Some titles have extra conditions (different judges, a title earned first, a minimum score); the rulebook for each sport has the full wording. Ready to count? Open the Dog Sports Title Tracker or every calculator.
Source: AKC Titles and Abbreviations and each sport's AKC regulations.
Common questions
What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix title?
A prefix title goes in front of the dog's name, like CH for Champion or MACH for Master Agility Champion. A suffix title goes after the name, like CD for Companion Dog or RN for Rally Novice.
Do AKC titles expire?
No. Once AKC records a title it stays on the dog's record for life. Many titles can be earned again for a higher number, such as MACH2 or UDX3.
Where can I see all of my dog's titles?
On the dog's AKC record in your AKC account. AKCcalc.com helps you count toward the next one; it is not an AKC record.
More free calculators
Fast CAT Points CalculatorTurn a Fast CAT run time into miles per hour and points, and see how close you are to BCAT, DCAT and FCAT.Open calculator 
Fast CAT Points Calculator
Agility MACH Points CalculatorSave each run's points and Q to track MACH or PACH points, Double Qs and every class's Qs toward MX, MXJ and the lifetime titles.1 
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Dog Sports Title TrackerKeep a simple log of qualifying scores in Rally, Scent Work, Agility, Obedience, Fast CAT and more.2 
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Rally RACH Points CalculatorTurn rally scores into RACH points and track 300 points, Master points and 20 triple Qs.3 
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Obedience OTCH and OM Points CalculatorWork out OTCH points from placement and class size, and Obedience Master points from scores.4 
Obedience OTCH and OM Points Calculator
Championship Points CalculatorFind out how many AKC championship points your dog earned at a show and whether the win was a major.5 
Championship Points Calculator
Grand Championship Points CalculatorCount grand championship points for a Best of Breed, Best of Opposite Sex or Select Dog or Bitch win.6 
Grand Championship Points Calculator
Championship Progress TrackerWrite down each win and see how close your dog is to Champion, Grand Champion and Bronze through Platinum.7 
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Owner-Handled Points CalculatorAdd up National Owner-Handled Series points and see your Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level.8 
Owner-Handled Points Calculator
Puppy of Achievement CalculatorCount Puppy of Achievement points from puppy class and Beginner Puppy wins toward the 10 points needed.9 
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Puppy Class Age CalculatorEnter a birthday and a show date to see which puppy age class your dog can enter that day.10 
Puppy Class Age Calculator
Lure Coursing Points CalculatorLure coursing points by breed, region and starters, majors, and progress to Field Champion and LCX.11 
Certificate of Merit CalculatorCM points for Miscellaneous and FSS breeds by dogs competing, and progress to the CM title.12 
Certificate of Merit Calculator
Junior Showmanship TrackerNovice to Open to Master, Best Junior wins, and qualifying for the National Championship and Westminster.13 
Junior Showmanship Tracker