Chair: Dawn VanDyken
616-299-7778
aoe@gsdca.org

Award of Excellence Application >>

Award of Excellence Recipients >> 

This title is the most prestigious “conformation” award given by the GSDCA in recognition of the quintessential German Shepherd Dog. These dogs excel in
conformation, are sound in body and have keen minds which make them capable of and suitable for the many different jobs society has placed on them. In other words, this award exemplifies THE TOTAL DOG.

All titles must be earned before August 1 for presentation of the award at the National. Only titles earned at the time of the application will be included on the award. All titles must be AKC, SV or GSDCA Parent Club titles.

The AOE application form and all documentation must be emailed to the chair no later than August 15 in order to be recognized that year as an AOE recipient at the GSDCA National Specialty Show.

This elite award was created in 1990 by Helen Franklin who provided years of service and dedication to this breed.

Each recipient will be presented with a Crystal Trophy, a GSDCA gold medallion and an AOE pin at our National Specialty Show. This presentation will take place in conjunction with the Annual Meeting, Victory Dinner, or at the National Specialty Show in between dog and bitch specials, or the Parade of Greats.
The Award of Excellence recipients will be acknowledged in the November/December Review with one full page for each dog or bitch. This page will include a photo, all AKC, SV and GSDCA titles, a three generation pedigree, OFA information and list the owners and breeders.

The title of AOE is placed before the dog’s name, ahead of Select, Champion or Grand Victor/Victrix. The AOE becomes an immediate indication that this dog is one of the best, demonstrating all the attributes of the total German Shepherd Dog.

The requirements to obtain the title of AOE are as follows:

  1. The owner must be a member of the GSDCA before the title is earned.
  2. The dog must be an AKC champion and earn a Select rating at the National.
  3. The dog must be OFA or SV certified normal for both hips and elbows.
  4. The dog must earn an approved performance title.
  5. The dog must pass the GSDCA Temperament Test.

The approved minimal level titles:

  • Agility: NA, NAJ, NAP, NJP
  • Herding: HT, PT, any HS, HI or HX title
  • Obedience: BN, CD
  • Rally: RN
  • Scent Work: SCN, SEN, SIN, SBN, SHDN
  • SV: BH
  • Tracking: TD, TDU

(note: by definition all the AOEs are Sel Ex and have TC and OFA H&E)