What is it?
The AKC Canine Good Citizen is a training program designed to help dogs and their humans be the best they can be together. It teaches dogs and their humans how to behave well and responsibly in public. Each dog and the human team can earn their AKC CGC Certification after completing a test on the following 10 skills:
- Accepting a friendly stranger
- Sitting politely for petting
- Appearance and grooming check
- Walking on a loose lead
- Walking through a crowd
- Sit and down on cue and stay
- Coming when called
- Reaction to another dog
- Reaction to distraction
- Supervised separation
We offer two different courses to help you prepare for the CGC test:
AKC CGC/Rally Basics
This course is great for those just beginning their journey toward the AKC CGC certification. In this 4-week course, we cover the following basic skills:
- Sit and down on cue
- Stay in place
- Come when called
- Get into heel position
- Walk in heel position
- Ignore a friendly stranger
- Greet a friendly stranger on cue
- Body handling
*This class is not appropriate for dogs that bark, growl or lunge at people or other dogs.
AKC CGC Prep
These drop-in sessions take place in different environments and run through all 10 of the CGC test items. Attend as many as needed to practice for the exam. When you think your team is ready to pass the test, we can run the test for you in class or schedule a separate session. Want to work towards your AKC Community Canine or Urban CGC? No problem; continue to attend our drop-in prep sessions after passing your CGC, and we will be sure to provide those challenges for you.
*This class is not appropriate for dogs that bark, growl or lunge at people or other dogs.