Canine Good Citizen Training

The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) exam is recommended for every dog, no matter if he is purebred or a mixed breed.  This program was designed by the American Kennel Club (AKC) to promote responsible dog ownership.

Now we have a program to help you and your dog train for it!  This training program is also ideal if you wish to advance your basic obedience skills to the next level of difficulty, even if you don't wish to take the CGC exam.

Why train for this certification?

Because you can!  Many people take their dogs to basic obedience training and complete it successfully.  But then that's where training stops for most dogs.  Often, without consistent training interaction, dogs can become mentally under stimulated.  In addition, many owners do not feel confident enough to compete or even know how to advance in their training with their dog.

But the Canine Good Citizen exam is different.  You and your dog take the test on your own.  There is no competition.  It is a series of ten tests which are scored on a pass/fail system:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger
2. Sitting politely for petting
3. Appearance and grooming
4. Walking on a loose leash
5. Walking through a crowd
6. Sit and Down on command/ Staying in place
7. Coming when called
8. Reaction to another dog
9. Reaction to distractions
10. Supervised separation

Upon passing, you will receive a certificate of your dog's Canine Good Citizen exam from your evaluator.  You will also have the option of purchasing CGC patches, CGC tags, and a formalized ready-to-frame CGC certificate from the AKC.  You can find more information about the Canine Good Citizen Test at the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen page.

Training for the Canine Good Citizen exam takes time, energy, and patience, but it is well worth the effort.  Dogs that have passed the CGC exam are recognized as almost perfect pets and are a joy to be around.  And you'll get the pride of telling your friends, neighbors, and family that your dog is a Canine Good Citizen!