At the AKC, we believe that all dogs can be good dogs, and all owners can be great owners: all it takes is a little bit of training, lots of love, and of course, plenty of praise along the way.
That’s why we created the Canine Good Citizen™ (CGC) program: a two-part course designed to help you and your dog be the best you can be–together. Since 1989, over 1 million dogs and their owners have participated in CGC, mastering ten basic skills that instill confidence and good manners in and out of your home.
Not only does CGC training create long-lasting trust between you and your pup, but also ensures you’ll be good neighbors and friends to everyone around you—and, if you’re interested in going beyond the basics, CGC also lays the foundation for other AKC sports and activities like obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events.
Canine Good Citizen test is a nationally recognized program that instills a sense of responsibility and good manners in dogs and owners alike. The heart of the CGC program is the 10-step CGC test. CGC The test consists of the following practical exercises:
Accepting a friendly stranger
Sitting politely for petting
Appearance and grooming
Walking on a loose leash
Walking through a crowd
Sit and down on command and staying in place
Coming when called
Reaction to another dog
Reacting (or not reacting) to a distraction
Supervised separation.
Available CGC CLASSES:
Currently our CGC program is incorporated into our Family Dog 2 classes. Available classes will appear on the Family Dog class page.
