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.

This elite award was created in 1990 by Helen Franklin who provided years of service and dedication to the German Shepherd Dog.

Each recipient will be presented with a Crystal Trophy, a GSDCA gold medallion and an AOE pin in conjunction with the National Specialty Show. The Crystal Trophy will be engraved with the dog’s full name including approved titles. The owner’s names will also appear on the trophy provided they are GSDCA members at the time the award was earned. This presentation will take place at the Annual Meeting, after the Opening
Ceremony, the Awards Ceremony, just prior to the Parade of Greats, at the National Specialty Show in between dog and bitch specials, or the Victory Dinner.

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 names of 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. NO VIRTUAL TITLES
5) The dog must pass the GSDCA Temperament Test.

The approved minimal level titles: NO VIRTUAL TITLES ACCEPTED
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

All titles must be earned before JUNE 30 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 mailed or emailed to the chair no later than JULY 15 in order to be recognized that year as an AOE recipient at the GSDCA National Specialty Show.