The Canine Good Citizen program, developed by the American Kennel Club, is available to all dogs, purebred or mixed, of any age.   The training prepares the handler and dog to master ten basic skills while  instilling confidence and good manners.  

The class explains, demonstrates and teaches the following ten exercises:

1.  Accepting a friendly stranger. 2.  Sitting politely for petting. 3.  Appearance and grooming. 4.  Walking on a loose leash. 5.  Walking through a crowd. 6.  Sit and Down on command and staying in place. 7.  Coming when called. 8.  Ignoring a distraction). 10.  Supervised separation

Your dog must pass all ten exercises to pass the CGC test.  The awarded title given by AKC is a prerequisite to therapy dog training, could be required by some landlords, and some insurance companies might insure breeds not otherwise insurable. 

The test is performed on leash.  Special training collars, head halters, pinch collars or electronic collars are not allowed.   While AKC allows harnesses, we do not train with a harness and therefore you should not use a harness for the test.  

You will need a flat collar or a martingale, a 6’ leash and a brush or comb.  If you have a 20’ long line please bring it to class.  If not, we have a few to loan.  

As a result of frequent, ongoing requests from dog owners and instructors for AKC to recognize CGC as a title, dog owners will have the option of having CGC added to their dog’s title record and appear as a part of the dog’s titled name.

To compete or earn AKC titles, your dog must have an AKC number. This number can be one of three types:

1. An AKC registration number: Your purebred dog has “papers.” You would have received these from the breeder).

2. A PAL Number (Purebred Alternative Listing): For purebred dogs of AKC breeds with no papers (such as rescue or shelter dogs).

3. An AKC Canine Partners number: For mixed breed dogs, or dogs otherwise ineligible for AKC registration such as purebreds from other countries that are not AKC recognized breeds. All dogs can enroll in the AKC Canine Partners program.

We will distribute a new CGC Test/Registration Form (that you receive when your dog passes the CGC test) which includes the option to select one of these two choices:

1. CGC as a Title. The processing fee is $25. You will receive the CGC certificate, you may use the suffix “CGC” after the dog’s name, and CGC will be added to the dog’s title record. The dog must be registered or listed with AKC (an AKC number, PAL, or AKC Canine Partners)

4. CGC certificate only. The processing fee is $15. CGC will not be added to the dog’s title record.

Successfully completing Foundation 1 Obedience is a prerequisite.  Your dog should have these basic skills: walking on a leash, sit, down and come.