March Training Assignment....CGC Exercises

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

 

 

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".

For our March training assignment we thought it would be a great idea for "our Doodle trainers" to select items from the CGC evaluation criteria.  Many of us are already working towards acquiring a CGC certification, so it seems to make sense that we would want our assignment to be in line with our goals.  Nancy posted the CGC objectives in an earlier discussion, and I've restated them here.  You may want to select a few "challenges" from this list to work towards during the month of March. Let us know what you'll be concentrating on, and as always please share your progress throughout the month.

 

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.

[Dori & Rua]

Rua and I are on board.  Our goal...er...my goal is for Rua to earn her certificate this year.  From there, go on to because a therapy dog.  Last night Rua just had her third week of "Rock Solid Recall" training.  There are only 3 other dogs (started with 4 and one dropped out).  Next week it ends on Monday, and on Wednesday we start AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class.

 

It appears part of the class works on the following in preparation for CGC:

12. Allows (in any position) petting by a person other than the owner
13. Grooming-Allows owner handling and brief exam (ears, feet)
14. Walks on a Leash-Follows owner on lead in a straight line (15 steps)
15. Walks by other people-Walks on leash past other people 5-ft away
16. Sits on command-Owner may use a food lure
17. Down on command-Owner may use a food lure
18. Comes to owner from 5-ft when name is called
19. Reaction to Distractions-distractions are presented 15-ft away
20. Stay on leash with another person (owner walks 10 steps and returns)

 

So, I am rating Rua right now on a scale of 1 to 10 where she is:

• Accepting a friendly stranger.  7 (as long as they aren't coming to our front door!!!)
• Sitting politely for petting.  5 (she stands mostly, I need to work on getting her to sit)
• Allowing basic grooming procedures.  8 (I have never trimmed her nails myself)
• Walking on a loose lead.  3 (still not good, works better if I have a harness)
• Walking through a crowd. 4 (not much practice, our Petco isn't too busy)
• Sitting and lying down on command and staying in place.  without distractions 9/8/4
• Coming when called. in training now...hopefully will be an 8 or 9
• Reacting appropriately to another dog.  7 - OK in Petco and classes... 3 growls and barks with they go by outsidee
• Reacting appropriately to distractions.  4 just starting to work with distractions. 
• Calmly enduring supervised separation from the owner. 7 - does just fine in daycare, don't see this as an issue 

So, we got a ways to go.  For this month, Recall is still going on and then we start STAR.  We will work on sitting politely for petting and when distracted this month.  I am also going to do some "staying in place".  But not marathon stays...just a minute or so.  Loose lease walking won't be till April when the weather gets nice.

[Dori & Rua]

Rua and I have been going to our "Rock Solid Recall" class.  She is doing fairly well...we did recalls with distractions (other than the normal ones) on Monday night.  She was a bit afraid of one of the trainers who was on one of those big balls.  We have one at home she is a bit freaked by it.  We did get Rua to actually go up to the trainer who was still on the ball and take a treat.  (Sidebar...the ball is in the corner downstairs and she is actually going up to it now, so that is good.)

 

At home, we are working diligently.  We have done at least 450 recalls since 2/14.  At first it was on a short leash at home, no distractions.  NO PROBLEM.  She is velcro-puppy, I have treats in my hands, and I didn't feed her supper yet!  I now mix it up (in my house) with no leash at all, leash on and not held, long lead on not held and NO PROBLEM.  I did some downstairs while my DH was there and most incredible, Rua's sister PuffDog (the cat).  She did great.  This morning, my DH went to get the paper while I was doing a set of 10 recalls, and she ran to the front door as he went out.  I used that opportunity to do 2 recalls (she was on a long lead but I wasn't holding it).  The first "come" (our MUST OBEY word), she turned right around and came a-running!  I praised her all the way and gave her a treat and loving.  She went back to the door...called her again.  DH was walking back up the sidewalk...she watched him for a split-second, and then turned and ran to me!  YEAH Rua!

 

My biggest problem is the distractions.  It is hard to create them at home (no other dogs or people...I have tried locations in the house, toys on the floor, DH and cat in the room...those are harder...I am mostly training after work when DH isn't home yet and PuffDog, well is a cat, 'nuff said.  Our backyard isn't fenced in so I can't train there.  The weather has been cold, ground is soggy.  Our dog park wouldn't be the right place to work on this...due to the conditions and the fact that the area is WAY to big...and we aren't ROCK SOLID yet.

 

Last Saturday, I did take Rua to Petco and did a some recalls (on a leash) there.  She did just fine.

 

On top of that, I have been sick, for months, it seems.  Trip to MN at Christmas, got a cold.  Trip out to CA in January, got a cold.  Trip out to FL in February, came back..got bronchitis and an ear infection.  Monday of this week, started my day with a stomach bug...was home two days (I perfer my own bathroom when this happens, thank you very much).  It is still there...but fortunately not once an hour.  Stomach was bugging me a few hours ago, so here it is 4:31 and I have been up since then.  Haven't felt like venturing out anywhere!  LOL

 

I need to increase the distractions.  Being at the training facility works better for Rua...more distractions.  I need to replicate something like that provides some distraction, 'cause as I said, at home, she is Velcro-puppy!  It is an 45 minutes, round-trip to the training facility...not far...but, once I get home from work, I hate going back out again...especially in the dark.  Need to find a closer area.  I am 2.5 miles from Petco...they must have a training room there (I don't see a section of the store barricaded off and they offer training)...I think I will call them tomorrow and see if they allow people just to use the area. 

 

Sorry for the long post...that's what happens at this time of the morning.  :-)

 

[Adina P]

You can use the outside of the dog park and your backyard -- you'll just need her to be on leash. That's not a bad thing and likely necessary in more distracting environments. I love working outside the dog park because I know there is a barrier between the dogs and my dog and I get to hoose how close to the fence I get. You can have her recall parallel to the fence OR coming to you perpendicular to the fence while you stand with your back to the fence OR coming to you perpendicular to the fence where she starts with her back to the fence. You can also let her have some free time to sniff and then randomly call her to come and then release her again or do what you normally do after a recall.

Regular people parks are good places too :)

[Dori & Rua]

Adina, good suggestion!  I stopped by Petco yesterday and they don't have a training room...they just put up some barricades in the store when they have a training class.  My DH wanted a tie-out for her, so I got one from Petco. 

 

The place I take Rua to now for training, BonaFide Dog Academy, has quite a number of really great trainers and a great environment.  Perhaps I will see if there is time before or after her classes that I can work in an area.  

 

SInce it was a bit cold and windy out today, and I am still feeling pretty crappy (pun intended), I spent some time with Rua outside doing some recall.  I put her on the lead (20') and she was enjoying sniffing the ground, the air, listening to the sites and sounds.  The lead anchored to the tie-out really helps...I don't have to worry about her running, but she has enough space to move around it...no more VELCRO dog when she is outside. 

 

I would let her get distracted sniffing and I would walk away (always making sure she wasn't going to closeline herself).  Then I would call "RUA, COME".  They was one recall that she was REALLY interested in what she was sniffing...but, she finally turned and ran to me!  Yeah.

 

I also did a recall when she was off-leash and PuffDog was right there next to her.  She came right away too!  I guess the 500 repetitions are starting to pay off.  Now, if only she does it tomorrow night off-leash!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Yea for Rua.  Ned and Clancy's recall is not solid yet at all so I am quite envious.

[Dori & Rua]

Yeah - a Training Success!  We finished our last "Rock Solid Recall" class tonight.  Last week, they fenced off and area and started with one of the dogs for an off-leash recall.  They had both trainers in with the owner and the dog.  Hopefully, you would call your dog and they would come!  If not, you had to do a "walk down".  Tense body language, hands at sides, fisted.  You basically walk down and through your dog unitl they give.  FYI...No treats on you nor could you say anything to the dog after you did the one recall.

 

The guy last week timidly called out...the dog didn't come.  Took 20 minutes before the dog gave in (walked down)...this down literally rolled over at the feet...but it was of the trainer.  I think the dog is Beta and his owners are Omega!

 

So, tonight, the 2nd dog got his turn (only 3 dogs in the class).  Dog didn't pay any attention, but after 15 minutes of "walk down", they dog was able to be retreived.

 

So, now it is Rua's turn.  We have practiced...in our house...on lease...off leash...on lead...off lead...no leash...with DH near by...with Puff Dog near by.  I have a Velcro dog, as you may already know.  Not quite sure what Rua would do.  In the pen we go with the two trainers.  I let Rua start sniffing around, get distracted and I walk to the other side (50'...not good at distances).  Here goes..."RUA..COME"!  OMD...was I a proud Momma.  She turned right around and RAN full out to me.  

 

Apparently the trainers thought that was too easy.  So, they elevated it a bit.  They called Rua over to them while I walked to the other end.  So, now she is enjoying being petted and talked to.  Here goes again..."RUA..COME"!  And my little Princess DID!  I was beaming.

 

Well, the trainers apparently want to make EVERYONE go through a walk-down.  So, they took out a jar of PEANUT BUTTER and mostly unscrewed it.  THAT IS SOOOO UNFAIR.  Guess what we give Rua every morning in a Kong before we leave to work.  She, RACES to her crate to wait for it.  Well, temptation was too great.  I had to walk her down.  The only thing I can say is the odds of there being a jar of peanut butter out somewhere when I really need a "COME" are close to 0.  We did it a fourth time, and she "CAME" to me even with the peanut butter jar on the floor!!!!  Which was what they really wanted to see happen.  After Rua did, she got a little bit of peanut butter. 

 

I was really happy and surprised at how well she did.  We start AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class on Wednesday.  I will continue working recall and I hopefully the weather will cooporate this weekend and I can follow Adina's suggest!

 

Thank you all so much for your help and ideas.  I have learned so much and it is making me be a better and more responsible trainer for/to Rua.  I really don't ever plan on doing Rally Obedience or anything like that, but I want Rua to be welcome anywhere we go (that permits dogs, of course) and not have to worry about her misbehaving.  I know that the main reason dogs are well-behaved is because their owners taught them to be like that!

[Adina P]

That's awesome!  Go Rua!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ned and Clancy say, "Give, Rua, a big gold star covered in peanut butter! You go, girl!"

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Rally obedience is the most fun of all the classes!  With a velcro dog that is focused on you, Rua would be a star.

[Dori & Rua]

Training update:  On Wednesday evening, we finished the 2 week of AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Training.  We worked on settling down on our "spot" (had to bring a mat or blanket), dog greetings, and people greetings.  Rua did really well with proper dog greetings, and she was the only puppy in the class that stayed in a "sit" when the trainer came over to pet!  So, think I can upgrade Rua's ratings for the first item to an 8 and the second to a 7.  Went to Petsmart today and did some training while I was buying a backseat cover and a seatbelt harness...not much of a crowd, but she did well. 

 

I had worked just a bit on sit/stays, but never down/stays.  We started that in class.  I could get Rua to sit and a short stay, but her downs are more touch-and-gos (a flight term).  I asked the trainer about that and she told me to put a leash on her, get her in a down, and step on the leash close to her collar so she gets what I mean.  I had to do that two times.  And then that was it.  She now will do a down/stay.  I am gradually increasing the time.  I got some freeze-dried liver treats today (yuck) but figured I needed a really special treat for that.    She is getting was better with distractions...I have to just find them sometimes.

 

I have worked on her not barking every time the neighbor across the street opens his garage door or takes his garbage can out (Rua will just bark at the garbage can).  A little bit ago, he came out to work on his yard and Rua did a few low growls and some little woof woofs...but that was it.  He has both doors open and he is coming and going and she isn't paying him any attention!

 

As part of our training on socialization, the trainer emailed us some information as well as an article we had to read.  The article from flying dog press is VERY long, but a very good read.

 

Socialization

Please remember that socialization is teaching your dog how to act in social situations-- not necessarily "play" or having to greet every other person or thing in the environment.  As our pups mature, it's important for them to see us as their pack.  Think of it this way-- you come in contact with many people every day while you're out and about, shopping, perhaps at work, etc.  I don't go up and talk to every person I see-- hardly!  And if I had a child out with me, we'd certainly work on when it's appropriate to say "hi" to a person and how to correctly do that, wouldn't we?  For the most part, we go about our lives living peaceably with people around us all the time, ignoring most of them.  It's very natural for young dogs to want to investigate everything and anything, but it's also very important to teach them self-control and give them opportunities to do so when it's safe and appropriate.

 

http://flyingdogpress.com/content/view/42/97/

 

[Dori & Rua]

We finished week 6 of AKC STAR Puppy training class tonight!   YEAH....RUA PASSED!  Our biggest challenge is Rua is a real Momma's girl.  When I walked away...she wanted to come with me.  She watched me intently when I walked over and visited another dog.  She wasn't afraid of the trainer...she just wanted to be with me.  I'll have to work on that one. 

 

Tomorrow night I attend a Dog Speak class.

 

On May 5th, Rua starts a 4 week puppy agility, and on 5/7, a 6 week Teen Cornerstone class.  We are also going to do a summer field trip program where we do excursions and work on loose leash walking, recall, restraint, greetings, etc!

[Kyoko]

Yay!! Congratulations! Rua and Dori !!!