Canine Good Citizen (CGC) is a two-part program that teaches responsible pet ownership for owners and good manners for dogs. The program was originally created to encourage responsible dog ownership by rewarding a certificate to well-mannered dogs, also known as a “good citizen.” The CGC test was established by the American Kennel Club and is always conducted by a different trainer than the trainer who taught the program.
Why get the certification? Besides it being a fun program for both owners & dogs, the Canine Good Citizen Program lays the foundation for other AKC activities such as obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events. In addition, it is often a required first step to becoming a registered therapy dog. Plus, some apartment buildings require it before your dog is allowed to move in.
The program is a ten-step training that any age and breed of dogs may take. The following steps must be passed in order to receive the CGC certification:
- Greet a friendly stranger.
- Sit politely for petting.
- Welcome being groomed, brushed; allows paws and ears to be handled.
- Walk as directed on a loose leash.
- Move politely through a crowd.
- Sit, lay down and stay in place on command.
- Come when called.
- Behave politely around other dogs.
- React with confidence to distractions.
- Can be left with a trusted person.
When all the training is done and the test is passed, you won’t remember the time before your little canine was a respected member of your community. Stay tuned – Fitdog will be launching a CGC training program and certification, so your dog can not only be a Fitdog, but a Good Citizen too!