Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America

GSMDCA Titles

Draft Dog

NDD — Novice Draft Dog
DD — Draft Dog
NTDD — Novice Team Draft Dog

Draft Tests are a series of exercises designed to develop and demonstrate the natural abilities of purebred Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs in a working capacity. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog has historically functioned as a draft dog in various capacities, and performance of these exercises is intended to demonstrate skills resulting from both inherent ability and training which are applicable to realistic work situations.

Dogs must be willing to work with their handlers and the exercises must be accomplished efficiently. It is also desirable that the dog evidence willingness and enjoyment of his work in a combination of controlled teamwork with his handler and natural independence.

To earn a GSMDCA Draft Dog title, the Swissy must earn a passing score in all elements of the draft test. A NDD title is earned at the Novice (on-leash) level, and a DD title is earned at the Open (off-leash) level.A team title is earned with two dogs attached to the same cart.

Please refer to the Draft Page for further draft information

Herding titles

JHD — Junior Herding Dog
HRDI — Herding Ranch Dog, Level I

The purpose of non-competitive herding tests is to offer herding breed owners a standardized gauge by which a dog's basic instinct and trainability are measured.

The Junior Herding Dog program, for dogs at the beginning levels of training, is run on a noncompetitive pass/not pass system, and leads to the title "Junior Herding Dog" (JHD). To earn a JHD, the dog must demonstrate its ability to collect and control stock, put stock in motion, move the stock in straight lines and turns, negotiate obstacles and come to a reliable stop at the pen. The stock must be taken through both corner panels and through the center obstacle to qualify. Course time is 8 minutes.

Herding Ranch Dog level I takes place on a course which vary in detail while including specific requirements. Exercises can include a gather, fetch/drive work, pen work, sorting work, and various elements such as chutes, bridges, holding the sheep in place, etc. HRD trials may use combinations of open fields, arenas and pens.

Pack Dog

NWPD — Novice Working Pack Dog
WPD — Working Pack Dog

Earning a Working Pack Dog title requires the dog to carry a percentage of its weight on a ten-mile hike on four separate occasions. At the Novice Working Pack Dog level, the dog carries 20% of its weight. At the Working Pack Dog level, the requirement is 30%.

Register of Merit

ROM-D — Register of Merit-Dog
ROM-B — Register of Merit-Bitch
VROM — Versatility Register of Merit
VROM-X — Versatility Register of Merit Excellent

The Register of Merit title is bestowed upon a Sire or Dam, for first generation progeny that receive the AKC Champion title. A dam must produce five (5) Champions and a sire must produce ten (10) Champions. D=Dog, B=Bitch

The Versatility Register of Merit and Versatility Register of Merit Excellent titles are awarded to a dam or sire for a required number of offspring attaining Versatility or Working designations. 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. 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.

Weight Pull Titles

WWD — Working Weight Dog
WWDX — Working Weight Dog Excellent
WWDS — Working Weight Dog Superior
Weight Pulling is akin to a tractor pull. Dogs compete to see who can pull the most weight 16 feet. The handler has no contact with the dog during the pull, so it is up to the dog's willingness to pull. To earn a GSMDCA weight pulling title, the Swissy must successfully pull the following:

WWD – 10 times their body weight at 4 separate qualified events
WWDX – 15 times their body weight at 4 separate qualified events
WWDS – 20 times their body weight at 3 separate qualified events