AKC CANINE GOOD CITIZEN
Build The Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Have
Prepare for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test while developing reliable manners, confidence, and obedience that carry over into everyday life.
*Available to clients that have completed basic training
Official AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluators
What is Canine good citizen training?
Canine Good Citizen training helps your dog become calm, reliable, and well-mannered in everyday situations. From walking politely in public to staying composed around distractions, this program focuses on the real-world skills every dog owner wants.
The AKC Canine Good Citizen test is recognized nationwide and may help with apartment approvals, therapy dog preparation, and building a stronger foundation for advanced training. Most importantly, it creates a dog you can confidently take more places and enjoy life with.
Canine Good Citizen is a 10-skill test that teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their owners.
WHY CHOOSE MSK9
FOR AKC CGC Training
We build calm, confident, well-mannered dogs who can handle real world and earn the AKC Canine Good Citizen title.
TRAINING FOR REAL LIFE
EXPERIENCED TRAINERS
MORE THAN JUST A TEST
AKC CGC PREPARATION
What Our Pawrents Are Saying
what your dog will learn
the 10 skills of
canine good citizen
The AKC Canine Good Citizen™ (CGC) program provides a perfect framework for training your dog to become a polite member of society.
The 10 test items on the CGC test are practical, functional behaviors that every dog should have to be welcomed in the community.
Accepting a friendly stranger
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation.
HOW IT WORKS: The evaluator approaches the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler do a pretend handshake (hands not touching) and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness.
Sitting politely for petting
This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler.
HOW IT WORKS: With the dog sitting at the handler’s side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.
Appearance and grooming
This test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, groomer, or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner’s care, concern, and sense of responsibility.
HOW IT WORKS: The evaluator examines the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy, and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it, and give encouragement throughout.
Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog when the dog is walking on a leash.
HOW IT WORKS: The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog’s position should leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler’s movements and changes of direction. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn, and an about turn with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the dog, or give commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may sit the dog at the halts if desired.
Walking through a crowd
This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control when on leash in public
HOW IT WORKS: The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should continue to walk with the handler, without evidence of over-exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash.
Sit and down on cue and stay in place
This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler’s cues to sit and down and will remain in place (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers).
HOW IT WORKS: The dog must do sit AND down when cued by the handler, then the owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog’s leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one cue to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler’s cues. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns, and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side.
Coming when called
This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler.
HOW IT WORKS: With the dog still on the 20 ft. line from Test #6, the handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to “stay” or “wait” or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog.
Reaction to another dog
This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs.
HOW IT WORKS: Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, pretend to shake hands (hands do not touch) and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler.
Reaction to distraction
This test demonstrates that the dog is always confident when faced with common distracting situations.
HOW IT WORKS: The evaluator will select and present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.
Supervised separation
This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners.
HOW IT WORKS: Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, “Would you like me to watch your dog?” and then take hold of the dog’s leash. The owner will go out of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or management attempts (e.g., “there, there, it’s alright”).
The 10 Skills of
Urban canine good citizen
AKC Urban CGC is a public access test that demonstrates dogs are well-behaved and well-trained when in public settings. The Urban CGC test can be used by dog- friendly business (e.g., lodging, retail, transportation, public facilities) to recognize and accept dogs with good manners.
Exit/enter doorway with no pulling in dog-friendly buildings
With your dog next to you on a loose leash, you will walk your dog through an entrance and exit of a dog friendly building. Prepare for different entryway doors as some businesses have a push/pull door and some have sliding doors.
Walk through a crowd on a busy urban sidewalk
Dog and owner will walk through a busy crowd on a loose leash. The evaluator is assesing how your dog tolerates distractions (people wearing hats, coats, men, women, etc).
Appropriate reaction to city distractions
This includes movement, noises, and walking on a variety of surfaces.
Examples:
Noises: horns, sirens, construction noise, etc.
Moving objects: skateboard, bike, carts, person running
Surfaces: concrete, grass, grates, plastic tarp, wet sidewalk
Crossing street
Stop at corner, stand or sit to wait and cross with no pulling (on leash, with owner). Crosses street under control.
Ignore food on sidewalk
Evaluator will drop an enticing article that once held food. You and your dog will walk by it while your dog ignores the food. A dog that picks up the article will result in a fail.
Person walks up and pets the dog
May be carrying an item such as a small dog in a bag, a computer bag, etc. Person does not put the bag down to pet the dog.
Public Building (that is dog friendly)
Walks under control in building (slick surface, carpeted floor). Down stay (3 min) in lobby or outdoor area, or waits while owner has a meal or snack.
Stairs, steps, or elevator under control
Steps (at least 3 – up and down)
Elevator (Enters under control, exits, rides under control)
Housetrained for apartment, condo, city living
Owner may verify this item. Evaluator may also observe in public buildings, or have observed in training classe
Transportation
Car. Enters/exits, remains under control during the ride. (Crate? Seatbelt?)