*

Used farther back in pedigrees to save room and denotes kkl-l or kkl-II. 

Before a dog's name, indicates dog has been surveyed and approved for breeding.

a

"a" stamp indicating the dog's hips have been evaluated and fall within limits 

considered acceptable for breeding 

A

Ausreichend

Sufficient show or performance rating 

AD

Ausdauerpruefung 

Endurance title (test includes a 12-mile run & simple obedience test) 

Angekoert

Recommended for breeding

BH

German Companion Dog Must precede SchH I

The BH Test Explained

BlH 

Blindenhund Blind guide dog

DH

Diensthund 

Service dog 

FH

Fahrtenhund 

Most advanced tracking title awarded by the SV 

G

Gut 

Good show or performance rating 

GRH 

Grenzenhund 

Border patrol dog

HGH 

Herdengebrauchshund 

Herding dog

IPO I, II, III

International Prufungorden (internaltional working tests)

Sch III according to the international rules 

KKL I 

Koerklasse I 

Especially recommended for breeding 

KKL II 

Koerklasse II 

Suitable for breeding 

KrH 

Kriegshund 

War dog 

Lbz 

Lebenszeit 

Breed surveyed for lifetime 

M 

Mangelhaft 

Faulty show or performance rating

PDH 

Polizei Dienst Hund 

Working Police dog 

PSP

Polizeischutzhundprufung 

Police protection dog 

SchH I, II, III 

Schutzhund 

Obedience, tracking, and protection titles 

SG 

Sehr Gut 

Very Good show or performance rating; The maximum rating any dog can have without a Schutzhund title;  highest rating obtainable by dogs under 2 years old or at USA SchH shows 

VP

A puppy title meaning Very Promising

P

A puppy title meaning Promising

LP

A puppy title meaning Less Promising

U 

Ungenugend 

Unsatisfactory show or performance rating 

V 

Vorzuglich 

Excellent show or performance rating - dog must minimally have a SchH 1 title

VA 

Vorzuglich-Auslese 

Excellent Select show rating at Sieger show; highest award obtainable by a German show dog;  can only be awarded to an outstanding conformation dog with at least a SchH 2 title; 

typically awarded to 12-15 dogs and bitches each year 

VH 

Vorhanden 

Sufficient show or performance rating 

ZB 

Zuchtbewertung 

Conformation show rating 

ZH I, II 

Zollhund I, II 

Customs dog 

ZPr 

Zuchtpruefung 

Passed a breed survey, recommended for breeding 

CACIB 

European International Champion 

Bundesieger 

Working Dog Champion of the Year (Leistungssieger)

Europameister 

World Champion SchH III dog 

Hutesiger 

Herding Dog Champion at German herding dog championship 

Leistungssieger 

Working Dog Champion of the Year (Bundesieger) 

Preishuten Sieger 

Sheepherding Champion of the Year 

Sieger 

Grand Victor title at the German Sieger show 

Siegerin 

Highest Sieger bitch title 

Dogs are also rated and must achieve an G (good), SG (very good), V (excellent), or VA (excellent select) rating to be breed, as well as hip certification and a working degree.