| AKC | American Kennel Club |
| ATTS | American Temperament Test Society ( Practically nonexistant today.) |
| AWDF | American Working Dog Federation |
| CKC | Canadian Kennel Club |
| PSA | Protection Sports Association - A new American trial giving organization. |
| USCA | United Schutzhund Clubs of America (a German Shepherd Breed Club) |
| WDA | Working Dog Association, German Shepherd org affiliated with the GSDCA |
| GSDCA | German Shepherd Dog Club of America ( AKC Affiliated ) |
| NAWBA | North American Working Bouvier Association |
| NASA | North American Working Dog Association (No longer in existence ) |
| FCI | Federation Cynologique Internationale, or in English International Canine Federation, the predominant organization throughout the world with the exception of England, Canada and the United States. |
| SRSH | Societe Royale Saint-Hubert, Belgian national canine orgnization, FCI Affiliated |
| KCB | Kennel Club Belge, Belgian national canine organization, not FCI |
| SCC | Societe Central Canine, The French national canine organization. |
| Raad van Beheer | Dutch equivalent of the American Kennel Club. |
| KNPV | Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging - the Royal Dutch Police Dog Association. |
| NVBK | Nationaal Verbond der Belgische Kynologen - Belgian non FCI National Ring Trial & Registration Organization |
| SV | Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde,The German Shepherd Club in Germany |
| VDH | German kennel club, equivalent to the AKC |
| DVG | A German Schutzhund "Sports Association for Police & Protection
Dogs" or "Deutscher Verband der Gebrauchshundsportvereine" in German. |
| LV/DVG America | The American "Landesverbands" or DVG region |
| ADRK | The Rottweiler Club in Germany |
| CD | Companion Dog, an obedience title granted by both the AKC and the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). |
| CDX | Companion Dog Excellent |
| UD | Utility Dog |
| TD | racking Dog, again with both AKC and CKC versions. |
| TT | Temperament Test given by the American Temperament Test Society(ATTS) successfully passed. |
| OFA | Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, which indicates that the dog has had radiographic examination for dysplastic hips and been graded as "Excellent", "Good" or perhaps only "Fair." |
| CQN | Certificate of Natural Qualities - the Belgian working test, prerequisite for the Belgian Championship for the protective heritage working breeds. |
| KNPV | "Koninklijke Nederlandse Politiehond Vereniging" or Royal Dutch Police Dog Association. Grants highly respected police dog certificates. "met lof" means "with honors." |
| IPO | Internationale Prufungsordnung - The FCI trial for the protective heritage breeds, very similar to the German Schutzhund. |
| SchH | Schutzhund - German sport and trial system with a tracking, obedience and protection phase. Used to qualify serious working dogs for breeding. |
| CACIB | "Certificat de' aptitude au championat international de beaute" FCI Certificate of achievement of championship in conformation,Intrnational. FCI International championship point awarded to the breed winner at designated conformation shows. |
| CACIT | "Certificat de' aptitude au championat international de travail" FCI Certificate of achievement of championship in performance,international. |
| LOSH | "Livre de Origines Saint-Hubert" - Belgian stud book, or "Book of Origines". |
| ALSH | "Annexe au livre de Saint-Hubert" - Supplementary Studbook of Saint-Hubert. Provisional registration for dogs of uncertain ancestry in Belgium. |
| NHSB | "Nederlands Hondenstamboek" or Netherlands Dog Registration Book, the stud book of the "Raad van Beheer." |
| DSaZB | The German Registration designation. |
| HD- | Negative evaluation, that is free of dysplasia. |
| HD/Tc | Intermediate between negative and light positive. |
| HD+- | Light positive. |
| HD+ | Positive evaluation for hip dysplasia. |
| Belgian Ring Sport | A demanding canine competition involving obedience, food refusal, agility, muzzle attacks and extensive work with the protection suit. Name comes from rings on ground in guard of object exercise |
| French Ring Sport | French version of the Belgian Ring sport, which see |
| Berger Belge | Belgian Shepherd Dog |
| Groenendael | Black, long coated variety of the Berger Belge. |
| Laeken | Rough coated variety of the Berger Belge |
| Tervueren | Long coated, reddish brown variety of the Berger Belge |
| Malinois | Short coated variety of the Berger Belge or Belgian Shepherd |
| Schutzhund | Literally "Protection Dog" in German, the German sport and trial system with a tracking, obedience and protection phase. Used to qualify serious working dogs for breeding |
| Walloon | French-speaking Belgian |
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