We did it!
My hope was to try for Emma’s AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification before she reached the end of her second year, a goal we met with two months to spare.
I have mixed feelings about the AKC in general, but I do find value in their CGC evaluations. The 10-part test puts a handler and their dog through a series of exercises that mirror situations that they may face in everyday life. The successful completion of the 10 exercises reflects the dog’s ability to face everyday situations as a calm and well-behaved companion.
What I have found during my work in dog training is that most people just want a pet that is well-mannered, that can be taken into a variety of situations and (reliably) behave appropriately. No jumping up on people, no aggression, no hyper-sensitivity to other dogs, no panicked responses to unexpected noises, and some basic obedience to make handling the dog easier.
The CGC exercises are:
1) Accepting a Friendly Stranger: The evaluator approaches the handler/dog team and exchanges pleasantries with the handler. The dog must not show any signs of resentment and must not break position to try to go towards the evaluator.
2) Sitting Politely for Petting: The evaluator approaches the handler/dog team, and asks the handler for permission to pet the dog. The handler may interact verbally with the dog during the time the evaluator is petting it, but the dog must remain sitting at the handler’s side during the exercise.
3) Appearance and Grooming: The evaluator mimics a very superficial veterinary exam by looking in the dog’s ears, touching its paws, and grooming it gently with a brush provided by the handler. It is not required for the dog to hold a particular position during this exercise, but it cannot jump on the evaluator or show resentment towards being examined.
4) Out for a Walk: The handler/dog team is asked to walk around the ring, maintaining a loose leash. The dog can be on either side of the handler, but there must be no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding appropriately to the change in directions, etc.
5) Walking Through a Crowd: The handler/dog team maneuvers through several people, as if in a public place. The dog may show interest in the people as it passes, but cannot be over exuberant, shy, or resentful.
6) Sit and Down on Command Staying in Place: The dog in placed in either a sit or a down “stay,” and then the handler leaves the dog for a distance of 20 feet. The handler then returns to the dog’s side and releases the dog.
7) Coming when Called: Again, the dog is placed in a “stay” (or “wait”) and the handler leaves the dog for a distance of 20 feet. The dog is then commanded to “come” and should return willingly to the handler.
8) Reaction to Another Dog: Two handlers and their dogs approach one another and pause to exchange pleasantries. The dog being evaluated is expected to show no more than a casual interest in the other dog and to remain at the handler’s side.
9) Reaction to Distractions: A visual and/or an audible distraction is chosen to test the dog’s ability to remain calm and confident at all times when faced with common distractions. In Emma’s case, the evaluator dropped a metal chair onto the ground from a distance of about 10 feet away from us.
10) Supervised Separation: The handler leaves the dog on a “wait” command with the evaluator and steps out of sight from the dog for 3 minutes. The dog must remain calm and not bark, whine, howl, or pace during its handler’s absence.
During our evaluation, Emma’s biggest challenge turned out to be me. As the evaluator approached us at the beginning of the test, she pointed out how tense I was…which was having an obvious impact on Emma. Once I was able to relax myself, the rest of the test went very smoothly.
I am proud of my girl.
Next up, getting her registered as a therapy dog!
