Ideal Age for CGC testing

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

Hi guys,

I know that every dog is different and there is no one right answer, I just wondered if there was a general consensus regarding when most dogs are ready to be tested for CGC.

Ludo finishes up Kindergarten in next weekend and while there are teenage and adult classes, it's all learning the same basic behaviors that he actually already knew going into kindergarten.

I personally think he'd be fine doing everything (though I haven't had other people brush him and look in his ears and stuff except the groomer and vet).  He can stay for several minutes even when I go out of sight, he greets people nicely, he is fine walking through groups without being distracted, etc.  However, he's only 6 months and still a puppy.  Am I silly for thinking about this now?  The CGC class would be 6 weeks of practice and then the test (with the trainer that he knows as the evaluator) so we'd still have lots of time to work on things and he'd be 7 or 8 months by the time we tested (since there isn't a class starting right away).

Thanks :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

As the owner of a doodle who first took and passed his CGC exam when he was two months shy of his 7th birthday, I say go for it. Why not? 

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

I guess that's true... nothing really to lose, huh?

[Emery & Watson]

I think if he can already do those things that you mentioned above.. I don't see why he wouldn't be ready for the CGC class and evaluation, but also keep in mind that you cannot take the test with any treats or toys on you to reward (or entice).  The class will give you some additional time to work on anything he is still struggling with and the class should also allow you to practice the different test elements.  

That being said.. my dog, Watson, is 8 months old now. We are in a CGC class and his test is coming up next week.  He can do most things in the CGC test with ease execpt when expected to greet a person or dog nicely (without lunging, jumping for joy and attention).  I'm not sure how I'll be able to keep a calm, well behaved dog without having any food to distract him when other dogs come around     :)

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

Yay Watson!  Good luck and let me know how he does!!  I didn't realize it was sans treats!  Ludo can totally still do those things, but I probably do need to work on phasing out giving treats for everything he does-- he'd certainly feel slighted if he did ALL those things without treats! :P

[Emery & Watson]

he PASSED!!! it was definitely harder without treats.  He struggled the most in loose leash walking during the test (not usually something he struggles with at all!!).  He was very distracted by new smells in the space that we were in and it was more interesting than following me at times.  

Some other dogs had more trouble because there was a girl dog in heat and some of the un-neutered dogs were struggling due to the extra distraction

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

YAYYY!!! Congratulations to both of you!!!  That's so exciting! I bet that's a huge relief! 

[Judith and Addie]

Good luck. Watson!  When I took my 9 month old puppy for his CGC, I walked him around a bit, especially around other dogs because I found after the first 10 minutes or so, he became calmer and could deal better with the other dogs. 

[Roz Liberman]

My 12 month old doodle just finished his class and passed everything but ignoring the other dog and heeling next to me around a series of cones. We're going for a private lesson Sunday, so Scout can retry those elements. We had unfortunately missed the last 2 classes prior to the test, so the instructor and I were surprised he did as well as he did. Good luck!

[Judith and Addie]

I personally think that if you feel your pup is ready, you should go for it. As you noted, you and he will be having additional training along the way.

A few years ago I had one of my dogs in an advanced puppy class and most of the pups were around the same age as yours. There was a golden retriever in our class, and at 7 months, he earned his CGC while still in the puppy class. When my pup was 9 months old, I had him tested at a Walk and Wag fund-raiser for our local Humane Society, and he passed, without taking a CGC class.

What I found a bit funny is when both dogs were around a year, we ended up in the same intro to agility class, and the golden at this time was off the wall and his owner thought he probably wouldn't have passed the CGC at that time. His owner was doing Agility and Rally with him because of his boundless energy.

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

Thanks for this! I'm glad to see so many pups who are able to pass at a young age and on the flip side, knowing that it really doesn't matter if he has to be tested a couple times.  That's so funny about the golden and his endless energy too!

[Kate, Mel, Tenley & Harper]

I'd go for it-- honestly, of all the obedience classes I've taken with all 3 dogs, the CGC class (and then the CGC-A class) was the most beneficial, I think because you're really "applying" what you've learned in the other classes so it finishes a dog off nicely. I plan to enroll Harper (5 months) in the CGC class the next time our training school offers it. 

[Kaitlin and Ludo]

Good luck to Harper when she starts her class.  I think I'll definitely sign up for the next class offered and see how it goes!