The "Canine Good Citizen" or CGC is an award your dog can earn from the American Kennel Club (AKC).
This program has been been around since 1989. It has earned the AKC more than $50M a year from registration fees. The Canine Good Citizen program is a way for them to help all dogs and dog owners no matter what their background. More participation will ensure funding continues and the AKC expands the program.
Participants and dog lovers and owners are always hopeful that insurance companies and landlords will start accepting the certificates and giving homeowners or renters a break on insurance rates or damage deposits. The points tested for in your dog are considered the social skills required for living with humans in urban America. With the increase in "dangerous breed" laws and rising homeowners insurance rates when you have a dog, it's important for all our dogs to be good citizens and respected members of the community.
This certification program is for all dogs, whether purebred or mutt. Any dog who has completed his vaccinations can be tested, and there is no upper age limit.
Pets love to help. This is a way they can learn how to be "acceptable" and integrate in social circumstances (such as visiting the infirm) with society's acceptance, so that they are able and allowed to participate in such fulfilling activities.
Ten behaviors are tested:
1. Accepting a friendly stranger
2. Sitting politely for petting
3. Letting someone brush and groom him
4. Walking on a loose leash
5. Walking through a crowd
6. Staying in place (sit and down)
7. Coming when called
8. Reacting to another dog
9. Reacting to distractions
10. Being separated from owner for 3-minutes.
If your dog can't pass these, they need to do a training program and re-test..
The tests are done at dog shows, community colleges and private training facilities. As of this writing, the AKC charges $5 for the certificate (if you pass) and some organizations charge a nominal amount for the test ($10).
To find a location, go the AKC website. Type in citizen in their search engine and take it from there.
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