Just read the AKC Good Citizen Criteria - LMAO!

[Jen and Annie]

I just read the AKC Good Citizen criteria and realized that I've got a very BAD citizen.  Mainly it's the 'enthusiastic greeting' to everyone she sees.  She is still young at just under 9 months, but we are really struggling with this!

Who has tips on jumping up!?  This is Annies worst attribute.  She just LOVES People so much and jumps up on everyone she can.  I correct her when she does it, and she 'gets it' once I correct her, but heavens.  This is how it would go if I tried to take Annie to this evaluation:

 

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not break position or try to go to the evaluator. This dog jumped on the evaluator and knocked her down. The evaluator was able to pet the dog, but only while the dog had her front paws on the evaluator's chest. FAIL.
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting at the handler's side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment. This dog jumped on the evaluator and knocked her down. The handler kept saying "AH AH AH AH" and tried to control the dog by holding the harness. The evaluator got up with a very wet face from dog kisses. FAIL.

Test 3: Appearance and grooming
This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner's care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and give encouragement throughout. The dog appears healthy and well groomed. When the evaluator brushes the dog, the dog tried grabbing the brush, and turning around in circles. The dog jumped on the evaluator and knocked her down. FAIL.

Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog's position should leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler's movements and changes of direction. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn, and an about turn with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the dog, or give commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may sit the dog at the halts if desired. The dog started out very attentive and walking calmly on leash with the handler. The dog caught sight of a squirrel and pulled the handlers arm out of socket. The handler was saying "AH AH - Annie, No!", and was dragged on her face along the ground for 3 feet. The dog jumped on the evaluator and knocked them down. FAIL.

Test 5: Walking through a crowd
This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash. The dog tried jumping on every single person that walked by. The dog was wagging her tail and wanted to see EVERYONE for a pet. There is no question that this is a friendly dog. The dog jumped on an old woman and tore her dress. FAIL

Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler's commands to sit and down and will remain in the place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog's leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler's commands. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side. The dog sat when told, and stayed seated for 3 seconds. The dog broke her sit stay and jumped on the handler. The dog turns her attention to the evaluator and jumped on them. FAIL.

Test 7: Coming when called
This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to "stay" or "wait" or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog. Surprisingly, The dog actually listens to the handler when she is called. PASSED.

Test 8: Reaction to another dog
This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler. The dog approaches the new dog and sniffs it's butt. The two dogs dance in a circle, sniffing each others butts. The dog then gets into a play bow and jumps toward the other dog. The dog then jumps on the other dog's handler. FAIL.

Test 9: Reaction to distraction
This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise. The evaluator drops a chair, causing a great noise. The dog runs whimpering to her handlers side, with her tail between her legs and squeezes herself between the handlers legs. The dog then growls at the chair, and remains entangled with her handlers legs. FAIL.

Test 10: Supervised separation
This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, "Would you like me to watch your dog?" and then take hold of the dog's leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g, "there, there, it's alright") The dog whimpers and thrashes at the sight of her handler leaving. The dog pulls away from the evaluator and continues whimpering and scratching at the door that the handler walked through. This dog is a nut case. FAIL.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Well- I have been through the gamut on my lunch hour reading through Doodle Kisses-  I just read about poor Riley passing and cried my eyes out at my desk here at work.  Thankfully,  I just turned to this post and laughed so hard---yup, more tears.  It is a good thing that I have an office that I can close the door because my staff already thinks I am a nut job.  Thanks Jen and Annie for lifting my spirits back!  I gotta go put some make-up back on!  

[Jen and Annie]

LOL, glad to have helped - Annie is a nut case, if you ever met her you might not find her greetings so funny!  She is like a runaway train when she sees someone she wants to meet - and usually goes sailing through the air from about 5 feet away, launching her front paws somewhere in the midsection of her unwitting victims... watch out men, she has been known to give a good punch to the crotch when her aim is off!

[Heidi Fischer]

I have a 11 month labradoodle that would totally fail this test too...now I realize I have an epic fail on my hands lol...

[Gem's Jewel]

LOL...just remember it is the journey that counts and you will have one heck of a journey!! Keep on trekking :)

[Ashley, Sadie and Coal]

Love this!  Thanks so much for brightening my day.  Our four-month old pups are greeting people exactly as you have so fabulously described.  We are working on it, but not getting very far.  Doodles do seem to LOVE people!

[Jen and Annie]

WOW!  It's been over a year since I posted this.  IF we spent an hour at the dog park and then tried to take this test, I have no doubt Annie would now pass with flying colors.  We have spent a lot of time since this original post working on our loose leash walking, and not jumping on strangers - HOWEVER, if Annie has been cooped up all day with no fetch or running, she would still fail and jump on everyone she sees. 

In the past year I have learned more than ever - that a tired dog is a well behaved dog. I knew this before, but until you put it into practice, you can't really see it.  After an hour at the dog park, we can walk through petsmart or petco and not jump on a single person.  Daily sufficient exercise is kryptonite to a hyper dog. :-)

[Robin and Libby Louise]

So funny.  I know you are serious about wanting Annie to pass the test, but your sense of humor came through!  Libby is 7 and although she is not necessarily a jumper, she has a mind of her own and probably would fail most of these tests.  Even the one that Annie passed.  Libby will come when called, if she feels like it!  Many times she turns on her selective deafness and just stares the other way.  And forget the brushing and combing - that's out of the question.  But you still have a youngster - it's worth the effort!

[Pat and Traveler]

Hilarious!!   I think Trav could pass everything except the "Reaction to another dog."  He just doesn't meet new dogs with casual interest.    Oh, and appearance--since I've been doing his grooming lately.  :)

[MaryJane & LillyPearl]

Mary Jane is in CGC class and tests in 2 weeks. She is mastering the items nicely at 10 mo old UNTIL A NEW DOG IS INTRODUCED. I treat treat treat while learning and that's helped. But you can't treat during the test. I'm crossing my fingers the instructor uses a familiar-to-Mary Jane dog for the test!

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Oh my this is funny! Thank you for brightening my day a bit! We are struggling with pulling on the leash so I feel your pain. Loki however has finally figured out that he can't jump on people however. He now just jumps in front of people and resembles a kangaroo! I'm not sure if this is bad or not though because without fail he never touches people but always jumps up and down a safe distance away from them- no clue where he picked this up!