Canine Good Citizen

Training with Pat Brown-John

Training with Canadian Champion Pat Brown-John, director of All About Obedience

The American Kennel Club provides an opportunity for dogs to earn a Canine Good Citizen certificate which, as the name implies, recognizes those dogs who have passed a 10-step training test.

Started in 1989, the CGC program is designed to reward dogs who demonstrate good manners at home as well as in the community. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. A number of other countries (including England, Australia, Japan, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, and Finland) have developed CGC programs based on the AKC’s CGC program.

You do not need to have an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate to ensure that your dog is well trained.  In the photo here, for example, is Canadian Champion, Pat Brown-John who runs “All About Obedience.”  Pat has trained thousands of dogs, all of whom have excellent manners and could easily pass the Good Citizen Test.  (To contact her company, click here: All About Obedience.)

Many dog owners choose Canine Good Citizen training as the first step in training their dogs. As we now know, training promotes not only good manners for our dogs but enhances the bond between the dog and its human partner.

The essential ten tests are as follows:

Test 1:     Accepting a friendly stranger

Test 2:     Sitting politely for petting

Test 3:     Appearance and grooming

Test 4:     Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)

Test 5:     Walking through a crowd

Test 6:     Sit and down on command and Staying in place

Test 7:     Coming when called

Test 8:     Reaction to another dog

Test 9:     Reaction to distraction

Test 10:     Supervised separation

All tests must be performed on leash. For collars, dogs should wear well-fitting buckle or slip collars made of leather, fabric, or chain. Special training collars such as pinch collars, head halters, and electronic collars are not permitted in the CGC test. Any dog that growls, snaps, bites, attacks, or attempts to attack a person or another dog is not a good citizen and is dismissed from the test.

For additional information regarding each test, click here: Canine Good Citizen program tests.

Why would you want to have your dog become a Canine Good Citizen?  The AKC statement explains this very well:

Dogs who have a solid obedience education are a joy to live with–they respond well to household routines, have good manners in the presence of people and other dogs, and they fully enjoy the company of the owner who took the time to provide training, intellectual stimulation, and a high quality life. We sincerely hope that CGC will be only a beginning for you and your dog and that after passing the CGC test, you’ll continue training in obedience, agility, tracking, or performance events

With basic training and encouragement, almost every dog can pass the CGC test and receive a certificate as a Canine Good Citizen.

But, now that we think of it, wouldn’t it be a good
idea if PEOPLE had to pass a test like this?

For further information, click here: AKC Canine Good Citizen

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