What do those initials mean?
The initials you see in front of (or after) a dog's registered name are the titles that dog has earned.
For example, a common title you might see is "Ch." -- for Champion. A dog (or bitch) that has earned 15 points in conformation judging (including 2 majors under 2 different judges) is titled a "champion".
Some titles are breed specific. Ibizan Hounds general compete in conformation, field coursing, agility, and obedience. You probably won't see an Ibizan with a gun dog title. Those are for sporting dogs such as retrievers and spaniels.
some common titles
| Title | Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BIS | Best In Show | Conformation |
| BISS | Best In Specialty Show | Conformation |
| CH | Champion | Conformation |
| JC | Junior Courser | Field |
| SC | Senior Courser | Field |
| CD | Companion Dog | Obedience |
| CDX | Companion Dog Excellent | Obedience |
| CGC | Canine Good Citizen | Obedience |
| OTCH | Obedience Trial Champion | Obedience |
