Dawn's Top Dogs
Training & Testing
The American Kennel Club (AKC) offers various titles to recognize your dogs strengths. These titles can be registered with the AKC and are abbreviated and put either in front ("prefix title") or after ("suffix title") the dog's registered name.
There are many reasons an owner may put in the time and resources necessary to earn recognition of their dog’s abilities: Most owners appreciate the honor and personal satisfaction that comes from the hard work that it takes to achieve it; Some may just choose to show off their dog's superior abilities. A lot of people enjoy both. Which ever category you may feel that you fall under, achieving a goal that you’ve set out to do is something you should be very proud of!
We offer the services listed below to help dog owners have their dog’s accomplishments recognized by the American Kennel Club. As an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator, Dawn can train and administer the test for your dog and supply you the required documents to send off to the AKC!
Canine Good Citizen
Canine Good Citizen is part of the AKC Family Dog Program and can be a great first step in training your dog. It can also provide a great foundation for getting started in dog sports. It is referred to as the gold standard of behavior for dogs in our communities. Almost one million dogs, both purebred and mixed breed, have participated in the program since it began in 1989. The tagline of the CGC program is, “Responsible Owners, Well-Mannered Dogs,” and that is what CGC is all about.
The CGC is a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Urban CGC title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.
As you work with your dog to teach the skills necessary for the CGC, you’ll discover the many benefits and joys of training. You’ll naturally enhance your communication with your dog, thus strengthening your bond. Dogs with basic obedience training are a joy to live with as they interact well with other people and dogs and they respond well to a change in environment and household routines.
The CGC program offers many practical advantages, too! The CGC award is a prerequisite for many therapy dog organizations. Some homeowner’s insurance companies encourage CGC testing, and an increasing number of apartments and condos require that resident dogs have passed the CGC test before approving a rental application.
The Test Setting
All skills are tested on leash. The test is performed indoors. One of the 10 steps of the test will utilize a crowd (can be made up of evaluators); one will utilize a distraction dog; one will utilize a stranger.