Canine Good Citizen Certificates

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I thought it might be a good idea to post information about the Canine Good Citizen certificate somewhere in the training group so that those of us who have not researched or achieved this honor with our dogs could get first hand information from those of you who have.  Did you take a class or classes? Depending upon where your dog's skill level was, how much time was spent practicing specifically for the exam? Did your dog pass the first time?  What was the examination like? What was easiest for your dog?  What was hardest? What advice would you give so that the dogs could be better prepared?

According to Wikipedia:

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. 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 represent after the dog's name, abbreviating it as CGC; for example, "Fido, CGC".

The evaluation consists of ten objectives. All items must be completed satisfactorily or the team fails. Test items include:

• Accepting a friendly stranger.
• Sitting politely for petting.
• Allowing basic grooming procedures.
• Walking on a loose lead.
• Walking through a crowd.
• Sitting and lying down on command and staying in place.
• Coming when called.
• Reacting appropriately to another dog.
• Reacting appropriately to distractions.
• Calmly enduring supervised separation from the owner.

Evaluators sometimes combine elements during the actual test.

If all ten objectives are met, the handler can apply for a certificate and special dog tag from the AKC stating that the dog has earned the CGC.

Dogs do not have to be registered with the AKC to earn a CGC, nor do they have to be purebred or, in fact, registered with any canine organization. The goal is to promote good citizenship for all dogs.

Since its inception, the CGC program has become the model for similar programs around the world, is the backbone of other exams, such as those given for therapy dogs, and is a good starting point for more advanced dog training.

[Adina P]

Rosco was 18 or 19 months when he got his CGC.  We did not take any classes but simply worked hard in training for basic obedience and for a few weeks prior to the test we emphasized greeting other people with their dogs.  Rosco passed but only because it was the CGC's evaluator's 1st test and she was easy on us.  It was my understanding that I couldn't 'correct' so I went into it super nervous and not sure of how to 'act' because so much of it was NOT about obedience.  We took the test inside a sporting goods store, outside the store, and in PetSmart or PetCo (?).  He reacted to one dog but that was excused because none of these dogs/people were part of the test so it was kind of spur of the moment.  So we used another dog and that was fine.  It was NOT Rosco's normal public, on leash behavior...it surprised me and I would not have passed him...lol.  You can

You CAN take the exam on a choke chain so that was good but I was a mess.  

Also prior to the exam I tried to tire Rosco out and walk and run him in a local park, working him when I could.  I think that instead of helping it hurt him and he was just 'done' with all this obedience business by the time we tested.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks, Adina.  I am beginning to think I would like to try Ned and Clancy on this and was hoping with a bit more work in our classes they might be able to pass.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Guinness passed CGC last year, and it was a little before he turned one.  I took an actual CGC prep class, so he was sort of "proofed" for everything they would ask him to do in the evaluation.  We practiced the test over and over.  He did fine, but I would say the most difficult thing for him was the separation from the owner.  I had to leave the room, and that was hard for him.  I think because we had practiced it so many times in the same facility where the test was held, he was able to handle it.  I then put him right into the TDI prep class, and with CGC as a base that was pretty easy for him.  Much of that evaluation was the same as CGC.  We were not allowed to give any treats during that evaluation, so I rubbed the treats all over my hands.  He thought I had treats in my pocket the whole time.  I never used corrections (other than verbal) for Guinness, so his motivation to perform was all treat based.

[Ron Carnes]

Zack passed his CGC at 15 months. I also think it is harder on the handler than the dog. We had a practice session the week before for the handlers and dogs. With the practice run Zack was familiar with the people and dogs. I am not sure he would have made it otherwise. The 90+ temperature outside was also a benefit. 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Roo and TIgger and DH and I went to a six week class and then took the test on the 6th week.  The class was very good and fun.  We had to have the dogs in flat collars, no halters, prongs, etc.  Also no treats, just for the test.  The best part was that the class spent three weeks "on the road" and met in different small downtowns that were very dog friendly.  It was fun and great practice.

Tigger passed easily.  Tigger is the least reliable off leash, but a total "brown-noser" on leash, no pun intended since he has a brown nose.  But really he is the kid in the class that always has to be perfect.  But take him off leash and all bets are off.

Roo was generously given a pass, although it took three tries to meet and greet the new dog appropriately.  I think it was because I finally just dropped the leash on the third try and used my voice.  Roo should work for Nordstrom's or Walmart.  He lives to meet and greet ( jump on, lick, roll on the ground with, just celebrate life) anything that moves.  On leash I must not put evenly the tiniest bit of tension on the leash, it must be completely slack so he cannot sense any reaction of tension or anxiety from me.

 

For us the test was sort of anti-climactic, the learning was in the class.

 

[Susan, Zeke. Lily & Jasper]

Our experience sounds very much like yours except for the on the road practice.  The six week class was all practice of the elements of the test.  Zeke had no problems with any of it, Lily needed extra practice with the seperation exercise and even then on test night she whined a little and Jasper had a weird problem with the come because he didn't like dragging the leash behind him (they were required to be on a long leash).  What Jasper did was very slowly advance toward me, looking back at the leash sometimes and when he finally got to me he went to heel position instead of a front ( which was ok for the test).  Like others have said, most of the evaluators are very generous in the scoring.  I think the reason is because this is not for absolute obedience but to test a dogs readiness to go out in public confidently and safely.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks for all of the input so far.

[Adina P]

Knowing how many things you're working on in class it seems very likely that you and Skip could get Ned and Clancy to pass shortly after class because:

 

• Accepting a friendly stranger.
  

They are able to do this.  Neither is weird about people right?

• Sitting politely for petting.

They don't have to hold a STRICT sit stay...they are allowed to wiggle, wag their tail, even move their paws from a strict sit...so totally can pass.

• Allowing basic grooming procedures.

You'd have to try this with someone that is NOT you.  Maybe a sit stay or stand stay or both for practice.  They don't really groom...just run a brush (that YOU Bring) over the dog and touch it and handle it AS IF they are being groomed.  Too bad you can't just bring a note from your groomer ;-)

• Walking on a loose lead.

Heeling NOT required.  They just can't pull you around.

• Walking through a crowd.

Again no heeling required.  And with both the above and these you can talk your dog through it and encourage your dog, etc.

• Sitting and lying down on command and staying in place.

You've got that down.

• Coming when called.

Ned might need a little more practice but he's not far off.  And no special "sit in front" required.  You'll just look extra amazing when he does it.

• Reacting appropriately to another dog.

Check!

• Reacting appropriately to distractions.

Check!  Typically this is where someone drops a book or a pot or something loud some distance from the dog.  They just want to see that your dog doesn't startle excessively or freak out.

• Calmly enduring supervised separation from the owner.

You can practice 'out-of-sight' stays to accomplish this. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

hmmmm .... the thing that would require the most practice is the grooming.  Ned and Clancy do not like to be groomed.  That groomer note would be a wonderful idea -too bad, she thinks they are great.  I thought the grooming part was just touching and maybe lifting a foot.  Perhaps if I used a human baby brush; the evaluator would not need to know Ned needed extra strength steel for a brush and comb!

[Adina P]

It is mostly touching and lifting a foot...but they still run the brush over the dog.  You could ask your evaluator (when the time comes) when you sign up about this part, mentioning that they have difficult coats and how much real 'brushing' is she planning to do?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Good idea and I really could provide a brush that is so soft that is wouldn't really do any pulling. Our method of grooming is Skip holds and I brush/comb.  This is so I can get all over Ned.  We just do the same thing with Clancy and even though his coat isn't matted, it takes some tugging to get through some of it. I know they are still/good for the groomer on her table and wiggly for me.

[Linda]

In my CGC and TDI test, all the evaluators did was run their hand over his back and slightly down his legs. Webster doesn't really like his feet to be touched. He had no problems with this part of the test.

I agree with Adina's suggestion, ask your evaluator before the test. I doubt it should be a problem at all. The test is to see how your dog will behave as a therapy dog - not how they behave while being groomed. They just want to be sure your dog will be alright if others are touching him/her.