| The starting point in
building a human/Airedale team that can enjoy many activities together is through some
basic obedience training and conditioning your dog to the human world. The training needed
to prepare your dog to be a Canine Good Citizen will provide you and your dog with the
foundation needed to undertake many more activities. What is a "Canine Good Citizen"?
A "Canine Good Citizen" is friendly, well-mannered dog.
He is a dog that can be taken anywhere without risk or bother to other people or other
dogs. He can greet people politely without jumping. He doesn't lunge at other animals. In
other words, a Canine Good Citizen is a welcome member of his family and of the community.
In 1989 the American Kennel Club developed the Canine Good Citizen
Program to encourage dog owners to train and condition their dogs to act properly at home,
in public places and around other dogs.
To become a Canine Good Citizen a dog must pass a 10-part test.
Any dog passing the test will receive a certificate from AKC and will automatically be
recorded in the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Archive.
What is the Canine Good Citizen Test?
The CGC test is a non-competitive, 10-part test scored on a
pass/fail basis. Dogs must pass all 10 exercises to earn the CGC award. The exercises in
the test are:
- Accepting a Friendly Stranger
- Sitting Politely for Petting
- Appearance and Grooming
- Out for a Walk (Walking on a Loose Lease)
- Walking Through a Crowd
- Sit and Down on Command and Staying in Place
- Coming When Called
- Reaction to Another Dog
- Reactions to Distractions
- Supervised Separation
Preparing For the Test
Dogs are not born Canine Good Citizens: they need training and
conditioning to learn the skills and self-discipline necessary to get along in a human
world. To pass the test your dog must know basic obedience commands (sit, down, stay,
recalls, loose lease walking). Your dog must also show that he is polite and comfortable
dealing with the human world (i.e. allowing gentle handling from a stranger, politely
dealing with groups of people, tolerating mild distractions and accepting a brief
separation from his owner).
The place to start your preparation is with a basic obedience
class. Many obedience classes are designed to prepare dogs for the CGC test. But you also
need to get your dog accustomed to the real world (noises, people, kids, animals, etc.).
This means taking your dog to parks, stores, on walks, anyplace where he can experience
different sights, sounds and actions. Remember to start with relatively calm experiences
and gradually increase the level of activity.
Taking the Test
Any dog (purebred or mixed breeds) can take the CGC test. The dog
must be old enough to have received a rabies vaccination and proof is required. The dog
must also be wearing a flat collar. Choke collars, prong collar and halters cannot be used
during the test. Tests are often held in association with local breed and obedience shows
or matches, 4-H club shows, through professional dog trainers or through dog training
clubs.
The CGC test should be a positive experience for you and dog.
Relax. This is not a competitive obedience competition. Precision and neatness do not
matter. You can (and should) talk to and praise your dog as much as you want during the
test. To calm your dog (and you) down before the TEST, take your dog for a long walk or
play a game of fetch.
Some of the things that can cause you and your dog to fail or be
disqualified include:
- Failure to perform one of the 10 tests.
- Dog displays disruptive or aggressive behavior (e.g. barking,
lunging, jumping up, growling biting etc.).
- Dog eliminates during the test.
- Inhumane treatment or harsh corrections by the handler.
For more information on the Canine Good Citizen Program contact
your local dog training professional. Information is also available at The American Kennel
Club's web site (www.akc.org). |
