If you’re new to Schutzhund, you might come across many terms you don’t understand yet. Since this dog sport was developed in Germany, most handlers still use German words. Besides that, there are also a lot of abbreviations and acronyms related to this type of training.
It can be complicated to get started if you have no idea what people are talking about when using Schutzhund terms. Learning them will help you understand the sport better and avoid confusion on the training field. So let’s improve your vocabulary with new German words and abbreviations.
7 Schutzhund Terms You Must Understand To Get Started!
Although there are well over 50 terms related to Schutzhund training, you might not need to know all of them for the moment. That’s why I don’t want to give you a list with all the words and abbreviations yet. Let’s just start with the most important ones!
Schutzhund
I know you probably already understand this one, but I want to ensure everyone has a good starting point. Schutzhund is the German word for “protection dog”. Originally developed for German Shepherds as a breed suitability test for work, it’s now a dog sport with three phases: Obedience, Tracking & Protection.
USCA
The USCA is the principal Schutzhund organization in the United States. It stands for United Schutzhund Clubs of America. You will probably have to become a member if you plan to join a club, participate in their events, and win titles with your dog.
IGP
When you participate in the sport of Schutzhund competitively, the term you should use is IGP. It stands for International Gebrauchshund Prufung, and it’s the German equivalent of International Working Test. IGP was previously known as IPO. (International Prüfungsordnung or International Exam Rules)
BH
The BH is a Schutzhund degree that tests the dog’s temperament, obedience, and behavior in public traffic. It’s an abbreviation for Begleithundprüfung, which means “Traffic-sure companion dog test”. A BH includes basic obedience exercises on the training field and simulations of everyday situations in public places.
IPO/IGP 1, 2, 3. (Schutzhund Titles)
As I already told you, IPO was the previous term for competitive Schutzhund. (IGP) However, many people still use it when it comes to awards. There are three levels of the IPO/IGP test, and every dog that passes them will get a title.
- IGP-V: Pre-IGP 1 Test.
- IPO/IGP 1: International Novice Schutzhund Trial Qualification.
- IPO/IGP 2: International Intermediate Schutzhund.
- IPO/IGP 3: International Masters Level Schutzhund.
SchH 1, SchH 2, SchH 3, SchH A.
Some people will use the abbreviation SchH instead of IPO or IGP for titles. Just keep in mind that they all mean and are the same thing. The SchH A is a limited version of the SchH 1. It’s a similar test and title, but without the tracking phase.
Basic German Dog Commands.
As for any other type of training, you will need to communicate with your dog. That’s where commands come into play. However, most Schutzhund handlers use German words for training. So you should at least know some basic commands in this language.
| Schutzhund Command (German) | Pronunciation | English Command |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Auf | Pahs owf | Pay attention! / Watch! |
| Fuss | Foos | Heel |
| Sitzen/Sitz | Zeltz | Sit |
| Platz | Plots | Down |
| Hier | Heer | Come |
What About Other Schutzhund Training Commands?
There are many other German commands you can use in this dog sport. But you will probably only need them for more advanced obedience, tracking, and protection training. So you might not have to learn them right from the start.
I also have another article with everything you should know about Schutzhund commands. So if you want more information on this topic, feel free to check it out.
Now let’s focus on terms that aren’t necessarily dog training commands.
Other Schutzhund Terms You Might Come Across!
Now that you understand the most common words and abbreviations handlers use for IGP, it’s time to look at more obscure ones. So if you ever see or hear a Schutzhund term that you don’t know, you can come here and check this resource below!
Glossary Of Schutzhund Terms
| Schutzhund Related Term | German Word | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| a | Ausgeprãgt | Pronounced (Courage Test Rating) |
| A | Ausreichend | Sufficient (Rating) |
| ABST | – | Advanced Breed Suitability Test |
| AD | Aus Daueprufing | Endurance Test |
| AKC | – | American Kennel Club (Organization) |
| AWDF | – | American Working Dog Federation (Organization) |
| AZG | Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Zuchtvereine und Gebrauchshundeverbände | Association of breed registry and working-dog sport clubs |
| A-Stamp | – | Hip Score: A-Normal = Certified Normal Hips A-Fast Normal = Certified Near Normal Hips A-Noch Zugelassen = Certified Hips, Still Permissible For Breeding |
| BH | Begleithundprüfung | Traffic-Sure Companion Dog Test |
| B | Befriedigend | Satisfactory (Rating) |
| BSP | Bundessiegerprüfung | National Working Trial |
| BST | – | Breed Suitability Test |
| BSZS | Bundessiegerzuchtschau | National Breed Show |
| CD / CDX | – | Companion Dog / Companion Dog Excellent (AKC Obedience Titles) |
| CGC | – | Canine Good Citizen (Certificate) |
| CHD | – | Canine Hip Dysplasia |
| CKC | – | Canadian Kennel Club |
| DHV | Deutscher Hundesport Verein | The German “Dog Sport Club” (Union Of The Dog Sport Clubs of Germany) |
| DVG | Deutscher Verband der Gebrauchshundsportvereine | LV DVG America (Organization Of Working Dog Sport Clubs) |
| E | Eigentümer | Owner |
| EZ | Einfache Zucht | Simple Breeding (Dog With Only One Parent That Has A Working Degree) |
| FCI | – | Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Organization) |
| FH, FH 1, FH 2. | Fährtenhund | Tracking Dog Title |
| G | Gut | Good (Rating) |
| GSD | – | German Shepherd Dog (Abbreviation) |
| GSDCA | – | German Shepherd Dog Club of America (Organization) |
| GSDCC | – | German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada (Organization) |
| GSSCC | – | German Shepherd Schutzhund Club of Canada (Organization) |
| GZ | Gebrauchshundezucht | Utility Dog Breeding (Dog With Both Parents Having Working Titles) |
| H | Hündin | Female |
| HD | – | Hip Dysplasia “a” 1 (HD Normal) “a” 2 (HD Fast Normal – Near Normal Hips) “a” 3 (HD Noch Zugelassen – Hips Are Still Acceptable For Breeding) “a” – Ausland (HD Certification Passed In Another Country Than Germany) |
| HOT | – | Handler Owner Trained |
| IGP | International Gebrauchshund Prufung | International Working Test |
| IPO also IPO 1, 2, 3 | International Prüfungsordnung | International Exam Rules (Class I, II, III) |
| KKL, KKL1, KKL2 | Körklasse | Breed Survey By The SV Organization Körklasse 1 (Recommended For Breeding) Körklasse 2 (Suitable For Breeding) |
| KLZ | Kör- und Leistungszucht | Qualification & Performance Breeding (Dog With Both Parents Have Breed Surveys And All Four Grandparents Have Working Titles) |
| KZ | Körzucht | Qualification Breeding (Dog With Both Parents Have Breed Surveys) |
| LBST | – | Lifetime Breed Suitability Test |
| LBZ | Lebenszeit | Breed Surveyed For Life |
| LZ | Leistungszucht | Performance Breeding (Dog With Both Parents And All Four Grandparents Having Working Titles) |
| M | Mangelhaft | Faulty/Insufficient (Rating) |
| NG | Nicht Genügend | Insufficient (Courage Test Rating) |
| NZB | Nachzucht Bewertung | Progeny Evaluation |
| OFA | – | Orthopedic Foundation For Animals: Ofa Excellent – No Dysplasia, Superior Hip Socket Conformation Ofa Good – No Dysplasia, A Well-Formed, Congruent Hip Joint Ofa Fair – No Dysplasia, Minor Irregularities In The Hip Joint Present Ofa Borderline – No Consensus Between Radiologists To Place Hip Into Either A Normal Or Dysplastic Category Ofa Mild (Grade I) – Mild Hip Dysplasia Present Ofa Moderate (Grade II) – Moderate Hip Dysplasia Present Ofa Severe (Grade III) – Severe Hip Dysplasia Present |
| OVC | – | Ontario Veterinary College In Canada (Hips Grade “Pass” or “Failed”) |
| PennHIP | – | Procedure Measuring Hip Joint Laxity |
| R | Rüde | Male |
| ROM, ROM/C, ROMC | – | Register Of Merit (Title) |
| SAR | – | Search And Rescue |
| SchH, SchH 1, SchH 2, SchH 3 | – | Schutzhund (Abbreviation) – 3 Levels Of Titles |
| SchHA | – | SchH 1 Title Without The Tracking Portion |
| SG | Sehr Gut | Very Good (Rating) |
| SG1, SG2, etc. | – | Ranking At The BSP After V1, V2, V3, etc. |
| SGR | Sieger (Male) Or Siegerin (Female) | The Best Male Or Female At The National Conformation Specialty Show (Title) |
| SV | Verein Für Deutsche Schäferhunde | German Shepherd Dog Club – The Original GSD Breed Club & Registry Based In Germany. (Organization) |
| SZ | – | Precedes The SV Registration Number (e.g. SZ 1234567) |
| TC | – | Temperament Certificate |
| TD, TDX | – | Tracking Dog Titles (AKC & CKC) |
| TSB | Trieb Veranlagung, Selbstsicherheit und Belastbarkeit | Courage Test – Drive, Self-Confidence, and Ability To Handle Stress. Ratings: Pronounced, Sufficient, or Insufficient. |
| TT | – | Temperament Tested |
| U | Ungenügend | Insufficient (Rating) |
| UD, UDX | – | Utility Dog, Utility Dog Excellent – Advanced Obedience Titles (AKC & CKC) |
| UKC | – | United Kennel Club |
| USCA (or USA) | – | United Schutzhund Clubs Of America |
| V | Vorzüglich | Excellent (Rating) |
| v -v. | Von or Vom | “Of” Or “From” (After A Dog’s Name To Designate Kennel) |
| V1, V2, V3, etc. | – | Ranking At The Bsp (Top Placed Dog Is V1, Second Is V2, Etc.) |
| VA | Vorzüglich-Auslese | Excellent Select Title Awarded At The Annual Sieger Show |
| VDH | Verband Für Das Deutsche Hundewesen | Dog Society Of Germany – VDH (National Dog Club) |
| VH | Vorhanden | Present or Sufficient (Courage Test Rating) |
| VPG | Vielseitigkeitsprüfung für Gebrauchshunde | Versatility Examination For Working Dogs |
| WDA | – | Working Dog Association |
| WT | Wurftag | Date Of Birth |
| WUSV | Weltunion Der Verein für Deutsche Schäferhund | World Union Of GSD Clubs. |
| Z | Züchter | Breeder |
| ZTGL | Zuchttauglich | Suitable For Breeding (Passed The ZTP) |
| ZTPZTPr | Zuchttauglichkeitsprüfung | Breed Suitability Test (Hip Rating, Conformation & Basic Working Ability) |
| ZW | Zuchtwert | Breed Value Assessment |
Other German Words You Might Need To Know For Schutzhund!
| German Term | English Equivalent |
| Deutsche Schäferhunde | German Shepherd Dog |
| Führer | Handler |
| Ahnentafel | Pedigree |
| Vater | Sire (Father) |
| Mutter | Dam (Mother) |
Schutzhund Scoring Terms
| Schutzhund Score | German Word | English Meaning |
| V (286-300) | Vorzüglich | Excellent |
| SG (270-285) | Sehr Gut | Very Good |
| G (240-269) | Gut | Good |
| B (220-239) | Befriedigend | Satisfactory/Sufficient |
| M (0-219) | Mangelhaft | Faulty/Insufficient |
Here are some resources I used to build the tables above:
- GSSCC – Glossary Of Terms
- Sequoyah German Shepherds – Glossary Of Terms
- Von Lotta Kennels – Definitions & German Terms
- Geliebten Haus – Glossary Of Terms
General Abbreviations Used In The USCA Rulebook
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| USCA | United Schutzhund Clubs of America |
| WUSV | World Union of German Shepherds |
| FCI | Federation Cynologique International |
| IGP | International Utility Dog Trial Regulations (International Gebrauchshund Prufung- International Working Test) |
| NGPO | National Utility Dog Trial Regulations |
| USCA | United Schutzhund Clubs of America (LAO National Organization) |
| PL | Trial Secretary |
| AKZ | Training Degree |
| LR | Trial Judge |
| GST | Basic Position |
| PO | Trial Regulations |
| RA | Judge Instruction |
| HZ | Verbal Command |
| HL | Helper |
| HF | Dog Handler |
| FL | Track Layer |
| JC | Judges Committee |
| EB | USCA Executive Board |
Retrieved from the USCA Trial Rulebook.
Last Thoughts About Schutzhund & IGP Terms!
As you can see, there are several German words and abbreviations you should understand before competing in IGP. You don’t have to know every single term mentioned above. However, the more you can learn, the better.
Instead of using the long form of everything you want to say, it’s much easier and more convenient to use the short version. That’s why most handlers use Schutzhund terms, and they don’t really care about beginners that don’t understand them.
So let’s improve your German and learn new abbreviations related to this dog sport. It will help you keep up the conversation with other trainers and integrate their community. After some practice and time, I’m sure you will get used to hearing and using Schutzhund terms.
Have Fun Learning The IGP Jargon!