The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program, established in
1989, is an
American Kennel Club program to promote responsible dog
ownership and to encourage the training of well-mannered
dogs. The CGC is widely recognized as an acceptable
behavioral description of your dog by many cities,
apartments and insurance agencies. A dog and handler team
must take a short behavioral evaluation of less than half an
hour; dogs who pass the evaluation earn the Canine Good
Citizen certificate, which many people proudly denote after
the dog's name, abbreviating it as CGC; for example,
"Fido, CGC".
Canine Good Citizen Course
Canine Good Citizen Course is geared for the canine student to prepare to take the 10-step CGC test. Classes will instruct you to train your dog how to behave in a socially acceptable style under distractions at home and in public.
Opportunity to test for the certificate from the American Kennel Club is hosted at a date closely following graduation.
Test includes:
- Accepting a friendly stranger
- Sitting politely for petting
- Appearance and grooming
- Out for a walk (walk on a loose leash)
- Walking through a crowd
- Sit and down on command/staying in place
- Coming when called
- Reaction to another dog
- Reactions to distractions
- Supervised separation