The Versatility and Working titles are designed to spotlight dog/handler teams that work together in a wide variety of events. They are awarded in recognition of the accomplishments of GSMDs in a wide range of activities: conformation, obedience, drafting, weight pulling, packing, stock work, and other activities in which certification is earned.

It is recommended that only GSMDs who are of an appropriate age and physical condition for the work intended compete for these awards. Each GSMD potentially participating in these activities should do so only following a thorough physical examination and in accordance with the recommendations of a qualified veterinarian. All GSMDs should be closely monitored for pain, lameness, and other changes in their physical and mental condition when participating in these actives.

It is advised that radiographs of hips and elbows be submitted to recognized orthopedic registries for evaluation, and that clearances regarding additional physical structures be obtained from appropriate health registries. The results of these evaluations should be given serious consideration when assessing a dog's physical limitations for these activities.

Application for these awards must be made to the Versatility/Working Chair. It is the owner's responsibility to supply documentation of the completion of all requirements for the Versatility and Working titles to the Versatility/Working Chair.

Versatility Greater Swiss (VGS)

The Versatility Greater Swiss title is designed to honor the special individuals of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed that have proven their merit in multiple arenas; conformation, obedience, and performance.

The Versatility Greater Swiss (VGS) title is awarded to dogs whose achievements have been recognized with at least four (4) conformation, obedience, and performance event certifications. Dogs receiving the VGS title must have completed at least an AKC conformation Championship (CH), and AKC Companion Dog (CD) title, and two (2) other titles from two (2) of the other performance categories (C through I).

Versatility Greater Swiss Excellent (VGSX)

The Versatility Greater Swiss Excellent title is designed to honor the special individuals of the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog breed that have proven their merit in multiple arenas at advanced levels of participation.

The Versatility Greater Swiss Excellent (VGSX) title is awarded to dogs whose achievements have been recognized with at least four (4) conformation, obedience, and performance event certifications earned beyond primary levels. Dogs receiving the VGSX title must have completed at least an AKC conformation Championship (CH), and AKC Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title, and two (2) other titles from two (2) of the other performance categories (C through I) at advanced levels.

Working Greater Swiss (WGS)

The Working Greater Swiss title is a means to recognize dog/handler teams who have distinguished themselves in the obedience and performance fields. The conformation category (A) is excluded as a requirement for this title. All dogs that are eligible to compete in AKC obedience trials, including those that are on limited registration and/or spayed or neutered, are eligible and encouraged to compete.

The Working Greater Swiss (WGS) title is awarded to dogs whose achievements have been recognized with at least four (4) obedience and performance event certifications. Dogs receiving the WGS title must have completed at least an AKC Companion Dog (CD) title and three (3) other titles from at least three (3) of the other performance categories (C through I).

Working Greater Swiss Excellent (WGSX)

The Working Greater Swiss Excellent title is a means to recognize dog/handler teams who have distinguished themselves in the obedience and performance fields at advanced levels of participation. The conformation category (A) is excluded as a requirement for this title. All dogs that are eligible to compete in AKC obedience trials, including those that are on limited registration and/or spayed or neutered, are eligible and encouraged to compete.

The Working Greater Swiss Excellent (WGSX) title is awarded to dogs whose achievements have been recognized with at least four (4) obedience and performance event certifications earned beyond primary levels. Dogs receiving the WGSX title must have completed an AKC Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title and three (3) other titles from at least three (3) of the other performance categories (C through I) at advanced levels.

A GSMD Will Not Be Awarded Both the VGS/VGSX and WGS/WGSX Designations:
If a dog has its AKC Conformation Championship title and meets the requirements under this document's VGS or VGSX paragraphs, it will be awarded a VGS or VGSX designation. A dog with its AKC Conformation Championship title will not be awarded a WGS or WGSX designation, as the granting of these designations are intended for dogs who are either ineligible or choose not to compete in conformation competition. The WGS or WGSX designation is also intended for those dogs who have not yet received an AKC Conformation Championship title. If a dog is awarded either a WGS or WGSX designation, and subsequently earns its AKC Conformation Championship title, the WGS or WGSX will be negated and will no longer be displayed behind the dog's registered name. Instead, the dog will be awarded the designation of VGS or VGSX to replace the former WGS or WGSX designation.

REGISTER OF MERIT PROGRAM FOR VERSATILITY AND WORKING DESIGNATIONS

Versatility Register of Merit (VROM)

Awarded to a dam or sire for a required number of offspring attaining Versatility or Working designations. There are no requirements for the dam or sire, themselves, to earn conformation or working titles. A dam shall be designated a VROM when she has produced three (3) or more offspring having attained VGS or WGS titles. A sire shall be designated a VROM when he has produced six (6) or more offspring having attained VGS or WGS titles. If any of the offspring has attained a VGSX or WGSX, these will quality towards the VROM designation.

Versatility Register of Merit Excellent (VROMX)

Awarded to a dam or sire for a required number of offspring attaining Versatility or Working Excellent designations. There are no requirements for the dam or sire, themselves, to earn conformation or working titles. A dam shall be designated a VROMX when she has produced three (3) or more offspring having attained VGSX or WGSX titles. A sire shall be designated a VROMX when he has produced six (6) or more offspring having attained VGSX or WGSX titles. The designations of VGS or WGS on any offspring do NOT qualify a dam or sire for a VROMX designation.

CATEGORIES

1. AKC Conformation

   Champion (CH)

2. AKC Obedience

   1. Primary
      1. Companion Dog (CD)
   2. Advanced
      1. Companion Dog Excellent (CDX)
      2. Utility Dog (UD)
      3. Utility Dog Excellent (UDX)
      4. Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH)

3. 1. Primary
      1. Tracking Dog (TD)
   2. Advanced
      1. Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX)
      2. Variable Surface Tracker (VST)
      3. Champion Tracker (CT)

4. AKC Agility

   Regular Standard Classes and Regular Jumpers with Weaves Classes

   1. Primary
      1. Novice Agility (NA)
      2. Novice Jumpers with Weaves (NAJ)
   2. Advanced
      1. Open Agility (OA)
      2. Open Jumpers with Weaves (OAJ)
      3. Agility Excellent (AX)
      4. Excellent Jumpers with Weaves (AXJ)
      5. Master Agility Excellent (MX)
      6. Master Excellent Jumpers with Weaves (MXJ)
      7. Master Agility Champion (MACH)

   Preferred Standard Agility Classes and Preferred Jumpers with Weaves Classes

   1. Primary
      1. Novice Agility Preferred (NAP)
      2. Novice Jumpers with Weaves Preferred (NJP)
   2. Advanced
      1. Open Agility Preferred (OAP)
      2. Open Jumpers with Weaves Preferred (OJP)
      3. Agility Excellent "A" Preferred (AXP)
      4. Excellent Jumpers with Weaves "A" Preferred (AJP)
      5. Master Agility Excellent "B" Preferred (MXP)
      6. Master Excellent Jumpers with Weaves "B" Preferred (MJP)

5. GSMDCA Working Draft Dog

   1. Primary
      1. Novice Draft Dog (NDD)
      2. (Equivalency:  Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America NDD)
   2. Advanced
      1. Draft Dog (DD)
      2. (Equivalency: Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America DD or Newfoundland Club of America DD)

6. GSMDCA Working Pack Dog

   1. Primary
      1. Novice Working Pack Dog (NWPD)
   2. Advanced
      1. Working Pack Dog (WPD)

7. Stock Dog

   1. Primary
      1. AHBA Junior Herding Dog (JHD)
      2. CKC Herding Tested (HT)
      3. GSMDCA Pre-Trial Tested (GSMDCA-PT)
      4. ASCA Started Trial Dog (STD)
   2. Advanced
      1. AHBA Herding Trial Dog (HTD)
      2. AHBA Herding Ranch Dog (HRD)
      3. AHBA Herding Trial Championship (HTCH)
      4. CKC Herding Started (HS)
      5. CKC Herding Intermediate (HI)
      6. CKC Herding Advanced (HA)
      7. GSMDCA Herding Started (GSMDCA-HS)
      8. GSMDCA Herding Intermediate (GSMDCA-HI)
      9. GSMDCA Herding Excellent (GSMDCA-HX)
      10. GSMDCA Herding Trial Champion (GSMDCA-HC)
      11. ASCA Open Trial Dog (OTD)
      12. ASCA Advanced Trial Dog (ATD)
      13. ASCA Post Advanced Trial Dog (PATD)
      14. ASCA Working Trial Champion (WTCH)

8. GSMDCA Working Therapy Dog***

   ***(Pending GSMDCA Approval)

9. GSMDCA Working Weight Dog

   1. Primary
      1. Working Weight Dog (WWD)
   2. Advanced
      1. Working Weight Dog Excellent (WWDX)
      2. Working Weight Dog Superior (WWDS)

10. Special and Meritorious Achievements

    Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs that have actively worked in a specific realm of activity (but may have not fulfilled the specific requirements for a title) may, under certain special and meritorious circumstances, be granted exemptions to be applied toward the Versatility Champion and Working Dog awards.  Examples of activities eligible for recognition under this category include (but are not limited to) search and rescue (SAR), employment by law enforcement agencies for substance detection, and service dog work.  Such exemptions must be approved by a majority of the GSMDCA Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Versatility/Working Chair, and must be accompanied by ample documentation that the GSMD in question has received the necessary training and has been certified as operational by an appropriate organization or agency.