GET CERTIFIED
CANINE GOOD CITIZENS
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB’S CANINE GOOD CITIZEN CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE DOG OWNERS TO TEACH THEIR DOGS GOOD MANNERS AT HOME AND IN PUBLIC. THE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES AND REWARDS GOOD MANNERS FOR DOGS AND RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP.
THE CANINE GOOD CITIZEN TEST IS OPEN TO ALL DOGS, WHETHER PUREBRED OR MIXED BREED. ALL DOGS WHO PASS THE 10-STEP CGC TEST RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE FROM THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB.
TRAINING FOR CGC TEACHES GOOD MANNERS AND BUILDS THE SKILLS NEEDED FOR TRAINING IN OBEDIENCE, RALLY, AGILITY AND OTHER FUN DOG EVENTS. CGC TRAINING ALSO LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR A DOG AND HANDLER TO TRAIN FOR PET-ASSISTED THERAPY ACTIVITIES.
IN THE SIGNUP PAPERWORK FOR THE CGC TEST IS A RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS PLEDGE TO BE SIGNED BY THE DOG’S OWNER. IN THIS PLEDGE, OWNERS AGREE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR DOG’S NEEDS FOR A LIFETIME, TO ALWAYS CLEAN UP AFTER THEIR DOGS IN PUBLIC AREAS, AND TO KEEP THEIR DOGS FROM BOTHERING PEOPLE AT HOME AND AWAY.
DURING THE TEST, NO TREATS, TOYS, OR OTHER TANGIBLE ENTICEMENTS ARE PERMITTED, BUT THE HANDLER MAY PRAISE, TALK TO AND ENCOURAGE THE DOG AS MUCH AS DESIRED, BETWEEN EXERCISES, THE HANDLER MAY ALSO PET THE DOG. ALL TESTS ARE PERFORMED ON LEACH, AND DOGS MUST WEAR BUCKLE OR SLIP COLLARS OR SPECIAL TRAINING COLLARS ARE NOT PERMITTED. THE CGC EVALUATOR SUPPLIES A BRUSH OR COMB FOR THE GROOMING EXERCISE.
THE TEST IS NOT COMPETITIVE AND NO GRADES ARE GIVEN. EACH OF THE 10 EXERCISES IS JUDGED PASS/FAIL AND THE DOG MUST PASS ALL 10 TO EARN THE CGC CERTIFICATE. THERE IS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR AGGRESSION DURING THE CGC TEST. THE OFFICIAL WORDING IN THE AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN REGULATIONS STATES, “ANY DOG THAT GROWLS, SNAPS, BITES, ATTACKS OR ATTEMPTS TO ATTACK A PERSON OR ANOTHER DOG IS NOT A GOOD CITIZEN AND MUST BE DISMISSED FROM THE TEST.”
TEAMS WHO FAIL THE CGC TESTS ARE ADVISED TO GO HOME AND TRAIN MORE ON ANY EXERCISES THEY HAD DIFFICULTY PERFORMING, AND THEN TAKE THE TEST AGAIN AT A FUTURE DATE. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF TIMES A TEAM MAY ATTEMPT THE TEST, BUT TEAMS MAY ONLY TEST ONCE PER TEST DAY.
HERE ARE THE 10 CANINE GOOD CITIZEN EXERCISES:
TEST 1: ACCEPTING A FRIENDLY STRANGER
THE EVALUATOR APPROACHES AND GREETS THE HANDLER, SHAKING HANDS AND CHATTING IN A FRIENDLY WAY, WHILE IGNORING THE DOG. THE DOG MUST NOT BREAK POSITION OR TRY TO GO TO THE EVALUATOR AND MUST NOT SHOW RESENTMENT OR SHYNESS.
TEST 2: SITTING FOR PETTING
WHILE THE DOG SITS AT THE HANDLER’S SIDE, THE EVALUATOR PETS THE DOG’S HEAD AND BODY. IF THE DOG STANDS DURING THIS, THAT’S PERMITTED, BUT HE MUST STAND IN PLACE. THE DOG MUST NOR EXHIBIT SHYNESS OR RESENTMENT.
TEST 3: APPEARANCE AND GROOMING
THE EVALUATOR INSPECTS THE DOG FOR CLEANLINESS AND GROOMING, ALERTNESS AND HEALTH, THEN SOFTLY BRUSHES OR COMBS THE DOG. THE EXAMINER ALSO GENTLY EXAMINES THE DOG’S EARS AND EACH FRONT PAW.
TEST 4: WALKING ON A LOOSE LEASH
THE DOG MAY WALK ON EITHER SIDE, AS LONG AS HE IS ATTENTIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE HANDLER. FORMAL HEEL POSITION IS NOT REQUIRED, NOR IS THE OG REQUIRED TO SIT WHEN THE HANDLER STOPS. THE HANDLER IS WITH THE DOG AS DIRECTED BY THE EVALUATOR. THERE WILL BE A RIGHT TURN, LEFT TURN, ABOUT TURN, AT LEAST ONE HALT ALONG THE WAY AND ANOTHER AT THE END.
TEST 5: WALKING THROUGH A CROWD
THE DOG/HANDLER TEAM WALKS AROUND AND PASSES CLOSE TO A “CROWD” OF AT LEAST THREE PEOPLE. THE DOG MAY SHOW INTEREST BUT NOT SHYNESS OR OVEREXUBERANCE, AND MUST NOT JUMP ON THE PEOPLE OR PULL ON THE LEASH.
TEST 6: SIT, DOWN, AND STAY
A 20-FOOT LINE REPLACES THE DOG’S LEASH, THEN THE DOG MUST DO A SIT AND A DOWN ON COMMAND. THE HANDLER MAY USE MORE THAN ONE COMMAND TO GET THE DOG TO SIT AND LIE DOWN, AND MAY GENTLY GUIDE THE DOG PHYSICALLY, BUT MAY NOT FORCE THE DOG INTO POSITION. THE HANDLER HEN LEAVES THE DOG IN EITHER A SIT OR DOWN STAY, WALKS TO THE END OF THE LINE, THEN WALKS BACK TO THE DOG. THE DOG MUST STAY UNTIL THE EVALUATOR TELLS THE HANDLER TO RELEASE HIM.
TEST 7: COMING WHEN CALLED
STILL WITH THE DOG ON THE 20-FOOT LINE, THE HANDLER WALKS 10 FEET AWAY, TURNS TO FACE THE DOG, THEN CALLS THE DOG, THE HANDLER MAY TELL THE DOG TO “STAY” OR “WAIT” OR MAY SIMPLY WALK AWAY, GIVING NO COMMANDS TO THE DOG.
TEST 8: REACTION TO ANOTHER DOG
TWO HANDLERS WITH DOGS APPROACH EACH OTHER FROM ABOUT 20 FEET AWAY. THE HANDLERS STOP, SHAKE HANDS, CHAT BRIEFLY, THEN CONTINUE WALKING FOR ABOUT 10 FEET. THE DOGS SHOULD SHOW NO ORE THAN CASUAL INTEREST IN EACH OTHER OR THE OTHER DOG’S HANDLER.
TEST 9: REACTION TO DISTRACTION
THE EVALUATOR CREATES TWO SIGHT-AND-SOUND DISTRACTIONS, SUCH AS DROPPING A CHAIR OR OTHER ITEM, ROLLING A WAGON OR STROLLER PAST THE DOG, OR HAVING A PERSON RUN IN FRONT OF THE DOG. THE DOG MAY SHOW INTEREST AND CURIOSITY AND/OR BE MILDLY STARTLED, BUT SHOULDN’T PANIC, BOLT, BARK, OR ACT AGGRESSIVE.
TEST 10: SUPERVISED SEPARATION
THIS TEST DEMONSTRATES THAT THE DOG CAN MAINTAIN GOOD MANNERS WHEN LEFT BRIEFLY WITH A TRUSTED PERSON. THE EVALUATOR SAYS SOMETHING LIKE, “WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO WATCH YOUR DOG?” AND THEN HOLD THE DOG’S LEASH. THE OWNER GOES OUT OF SIGHT FOR THREE MINUTES. MILD AGITATION OR NERVOUSNESS IS ACCEPTABLE, AND THE DOG MAY CHANGE POSITION BUT SHOULDN’T CONTINUALLY PACE OR VOCALIZE. EVALUATORS MAY REASSURE THE DOG BUT NOT EXCESSIVELY.
TEACHING YOUR DOG THE SKILLS NEEDED TO PASS THE CGC TEST WILL IMPROVE HIS MANNERS AND RESPONSIVENESS. IT WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN AND DEEPEN THE RELATIONSHIP AND CONNECTION BETWEEN YOU. TRAINING AND PRACTICE FOR THE TEST SHOULD BE ENJOYABLE FOR ALL. AND SEEING YOU PRACTICE FOR THE TEST SHOULD BE ENJOYABLE FOR ALL. AND SEEING YOU PRACTICING WITH YOUR DOG MAY FAVORABLY IMPRESS FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WITH YOUR DOG’S EXCELLENT MANNERS AND YOU HIGH LEVEL OF OWNER RESPONSIBILITY.