Well, you’ve got to get a title or two!
Fran Farley
German Shepherd Breed Surveyor, German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria, Inc.
(With assistance from Robyn Sutcliffe of the Herding Club)
November 2003
1. Introduction
 So you own a German Shepherd that has completed Puppy Class, and reached Obedience Class 3 or 4 at your local branch of the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria (GSDCV)! Why not add a title or two to their name? Easily done and so much fun while enjoying socially filled days with fellow dog enthusiasts. I have added a few titles to some of my dogs, both before and after their names, and I am far from being a top trainer! Just ask any of my mentors! If I can do it, so can you! There are many and varied disciplines so choose one of the following that appeals and you may then keep on going for another!
2. Obedience Titles
 Obedience titles are fulfilling for you and your dog and not so difficult! Hey, after mastering Obedience Class 3, you are off and away, nearly there! One step or two further and a Companion Dog Title (C.D.) awaits. There are so many folk ready to assist novice triallers–top handlers who will guide you towards the best results. I can tell you what does not work, so heed my advice:
Pleading with dog before entering the ring, along the lines of “Please be good for your mum today, and I will buy you a rump steak tonight”-I do it all the time! I can vouch that “doggit” will eye off mum and mentally say “Gotcha” and then find something really cute to do in the ring such as “Let’s pee on the figure of eight human post”, or “Lookee, Lookee a bird waiting to be chased, much more fun than retrieving a dumbell”! Remedy? Do not plead or ask. Command nicely!
Deciding at the very last minute that you simply must go to the toilet. AGAIN, the steward is bellowing out your number, so you grab your dog from car and rush into the ring. Dog looks up pitifully with big brown eyes, for all the world looking as if you have beaten him to a pulp, and slinks along a foot away from heel position. And you just know he is trying to tell you that HE needs a pee! (Should he decide he must go, there and then, it is misdemeanour points for your score). And we have had our share of those! Remedy? Don’t drink anything for hours prior to trialling and ensure “doggit” gets a chance at a tree.
Swearing at the dog (audible to the judge) when sitting on a high pass mark prior to the completion of your workout and your dog stuffs up on the very last exercise. This did happen to me and the horrified look on the face of the judge made me realise he thought I was referring to him! Remedy? Have sticking plaster at the ready to place over your mouth.
So, with a sliver of liver for dog you start in the ring with 200 points and attempt to not lose too many–get to 170 and you still have a pass. Only three trials and you are home and hosed with a C.D. Title!
The Companion Dog Excellent Title (C.D.X.) is much more fun for the dog and handler, and involves retrieving, jumping, dropping on recall, and “out of sight stays”. When you walk back to your dog who is smiling at you impassively, and you hear the words from the judge “Exercise Finished”, your heart begins pumping with pride and you can then kiss the dog on the nose. Three passes in Open and you have a C.D.X. Title!
While attempting to gain the Utility Dog Title (U.D.) I remember my old dog used to say to me “What box?” when I pointed to the square used in directed jumping. Dogs should trot out to the square, turn and face handler and sit waiting for the signal towards which jump he should execute. My dog, who knew more than I, would pretend to be blind! But it did adore the scent work. You will find it as exhilarating as I did, when your Fido finds the correct article which has your impregnated scent on it (amongst many other strange articles) and smartly retrieves such, returns to sit in front, and offers the article obligingly to you. A UD title will be a challenge for yourself and your dog (I never got there), but I know that YOUR dog can do it!
Top handlers (who usually have top working dogs!) can gain the Obedience Champion Title with their Fido. This entails winning trials and getting near perfect scores on many occasions, and we will have to work hard to achieve that one!
3. Tracking Titles
 Oh boy, this is surely the best! Cold mornings, frost covered grass, hot thermos of coffee, cold sausage rolls (with a little tomato sauce), dog eager to start, tail swishing, body quivering in excitement (dog, not me) trying to buckle up their harness as they are anxious to commence the track-my memories of gaining a TD title. “Trust your dog” screams my mentor, as I who can get lost in a paper bag, totally messed him up. But the joy when the dog “found” a sock on the track and dropped beside it as taught. The adrenaline really hit when the dog actually found the tracklayer hiding at the end of the track, I can tell you-the two of us working as one, fulfilling what a German Shepherd does best–absolutely nothing can beat that as an accomplishment with your noble friend!
A pass in a Preliminary Track entails your dog tracking a known person (tracklayer) for 300-metres with only one change of direction–and a simple pass or fail is given. Dogs just love tracking, it is a natural instinct! (Just getting them to track when you want them to, and not to chase rabbits etc. is the challenge!).
The Tracking Dog Title (T.D.) involves two 800-metre track tests involving a known and unknown tracklayer. Should the dog make the required two turns and find two articles along the way, and then find the tracklayer the dog gets a reward. How proud are you of your dog now? A Tracking Dog title, and very impressive to tell relatives and friends.
It gets harder and more involved, and even more rewarding from thereon to gain the Tracking Dog Excellent (T.D.X.) and Tracking Champion titles. Go on, away you go!
4. Agility Titles
 Dogs love the tunnels don’t they? Encourage Fido through once, “throw a party” at them being so brave and clever, and you will not be able to keep them out of the tunnels again. Puffing and panting, “must get fitter” I mutter to myself, as I race around the course–trying to remember to stay in front of my dog, and turn my shoulder to help indicate to her where I am heading. My dog thinks the dog walk is like bungy jumping! WOW, look at me mum, how good am I? Dogs love to jump (just ensure your Fido is fit and healthy and preferably sound in hips and elbows) and away you will go. The scramble, the table, weaving poles become fun when dog is allowed to chase a ball through the meshed poles, tyre jump, the dogs get so excited. It is like being a part of a “dog party”–please, go and watch an agility trial and you will get hooked and stay fit and healthy.
Agility titles are Agility Dog (A.D.) – 9 obstacles, Agility Dog Excellent (A.D.X.)-14 obstacles, and Agility Dog Masters (A.D.M.)-20 obstacles. All courses and jumps are set for the dog’s height i.e. little dogs–little jumps, bigger dogs-bigger jumps etc., and timed scores come into it. My dog and I plan to be slow and steady around the course–well at least I will, the dog is fitter than I am! Go on, have a go!
5. Jumping Titles
 Gaining Jumping Titles is not dissimilar to agility, and involves a course of jumps etc.–we have yet to try this one but plan to do so. Titles include Jumping Dog (J.D.) and Jumping Dog Excellent (J.D.E.). Should you be interested in this sport, they are usually run in conjunction with agility trials–have a look and get hooked!
6. Show Titles
 Now the Show Titles are something I know a little about, and it does make life easier if you are lucky enough to own a really “good one”! Wouldn’t we all like to look like Kylie Minogue or Brad Pitt! And we do tend, as owners, to view our beloved canines through “rose-coloured” glasses. This is normal! And if folks admire your Fido, then perhaps you may like to try the show ring–just bear in mind that the judge is human and also has to make decisions on dogs other than yours.
So, if you fancy aiming at the ultimate challenge of gaining an Australian Champion Title (AUST.CH.), take one dog, fill up the car with petrol, and head off to an Agricultural or All Breeds show (Enter first–schedules are in the Victorian Canine Association Gazette).
The odd show class at GSDCV branch level may assist somewhat in learning the art of grooming–a little hair mousse on the “pants” and tail, slicker on topcoat, clean teeth, and proudly display your dog to the judge. Handler classes also assist. Seek out our GSDCV experts–they know all of the tricks of the trade.
Should you not pick up a 1st prize, you can still have a top day–wandering around the show, looking at the other livestock, eating fairy floss and hot sticky donuts, and perhaps advise the country folk on “how” German Shepherds are sheepdogs at heart. Do you know how many friends I have made for the breed with that sentence? Retire homewards tired and happy and plan your next show under a more knowledgeable judge who may prefer your dog!
Points are awarded at show towards an Australian Champion Title by winning your class, then competing for Best of Sex. A bonus of five points to start and then one point for every dog/bitch you beat in your breed. The Challenge Certificate (C.C.) is the Best of Sex for your breed. You can then progress to Best In-Group 5 (Working Dogs) or even Best in Show! Maximum points at any one show are twenty-five, so if you own a “cracker” dog (a top one), after four shows you are in! You gain your Australian Champion Title after reaching 100 points. You can also achieve the same objective by attending a greater number of smaller shows, which gain fewer points, until you tally up the required amount. Really top dogs can go further and tally up 1000 Challenge points to become a Grand Champion.
The specialist show ring will offer deeper competition in numbers and a great deal of satisfaction-a grading certificate is offered for all, ie:
Puppies are graded Very Promising or Promising,
Juniors to Intermediates (age classes) Very Good, Good, or Sufficient, and
Open Classes, over 2 years, offer the “Excellent” grading, which includes a medal! Super dogs can be graded Excellent Select at Main Breed Shows and Sieger and Siegerin titles are awarded.
At National Shows, which are held every year in a different state of Australia and judged by German Judges, GOLD medals are awarded to the Best of each Sex! Breed Survey Class 1 or Class 11 enables a dog or bitch to compete for the “Excellent” grading.
Pretty simple, so if you and your family think your dog is simply the best, why not have some fun attempting to prove to all that this is so? Show ribbons on the wall are so impressive.
7. Endurance Title
The Endurance Title (E.T.) is a test of fitness, endurance, and willingness of the dog to work even when a little jaded. There are three legs in the 20km test (8km, 6km and another 6km) with a rest period between each leg. The overall time frame is 2 hours and 35 minutes. Handlers can either ride a bike with the dog or jog with dog. Veterinarian checks take place and Fido must, at the finish of the run, complete a basic obedience test to show willingness to work. For all of you fitness folk, this is your opportunity, but if you are like the author, and are not so fit, well just get a friend to run Fido! Go for this title, very impressive! Get on your bike, go for a hike! 20km that is just a little “spit” on a map!
8. Herding Title
 The initial test is an Instinct Test, which is very easy for you and your dog. Should your dog wish to “eat” the sheep on their first meeting, this is discouraged, and most dogs settle down very quickly.
The first test takes approximately 10 minutes or so and after two passes gives the title H.T. Further tests gain the Herding Started Title (H.T.1), Herding Intermediate Title (H.T.2), and Herding Advanced Title (H.T.3).
If you feel yourself and your dog can attempt this, the folk at the Herding Club will be happy to assist all they can. Later on, as advanced herding takes over, I guess you could move your home to 10 acres and either purchase your own flock of sheep upon which to practice or become really good friends with a local farmer? I think I may have a try at this one!
9. Final Comments
So, have you decided to try for a title? The German Shepherd dogs we own are the most versatile of all the breeds and can excel at any task you set them. It is never too late to start. My old dog did not start obedience until retiring from the show ring at six years of age and then went on to gain his C.D.X. and T.D. at the age of nine! The effort kept him young and was still going at fourteen years of age.
I plan a few more disciplines for my canines – see you around the trails!
Fran Farley
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