canine good citizen - Page 1

after completeing the test and becoming certified as a good citizen... do they achieve a title? or just the certificate?

It's not an official title, but I see a lot of people add it to their dogs name.  And you will receive a certificate for it.  Congratulations, if you already passed the test! 

no no, i am just considering the training this year.

HAHA he wil sit and lay down but as far as walking like those ones do in the videos, right next to me and looking at me, it will be a lot of work.

CGC is really the first step to Therapy dog.  If you'd like to go to that you are one step closer.  Congratulations!

Gretsch, for a CGC this type of walking is not required, just when you go for the BH, then you need to have this attention. In the CGC only loose leash walking is required, and you always can encourage your dog to follow you. The dog does not have to look at you like in attention heeling. Other parts of the CGC are:

- walking through a crout that includes a wheelchair and a walker, a jogger and someone with a cane

- noise tolerance by dropping a metal food bowl, as well as opening an umbrella close to the dog

- meeting of a friendly stranger with a friendly dog (your dog is not allowed to be further in front of you then your toes)

- sitting for examination of ears and paws, as well as being brushed by a stranger- the dog is not allowed to move out of position

- seperation from the handler for I think it was 3 min, handler goes out of sight

- stays and recall, which are very brief and short

It seems today that it is good to have this certificate as it is more and more required like in campgrounds, state parks, community areas and so on. Does that mean a certifite dog never will do harm or is of flawless character and gets along with other dogs and people ----- absolutely not.

The training and interaction with other handlers is fun, so go for it!

It's an award, not a title. Once you're dog passes CGC evaluating, you have to send in your paperwork with $5.00 to the AKC in order to get the AKC to send you a frameable certificate to show you got the award. But it's still something worthwhile to earn as a beginner thing with your dog for prepping for obedience. Minimal age to get a CGC is 6 mos. I usually get it with the TDI for my dogs once they're 12-17mos old(minimal age for TDI evaluating is 12 mos old).

The AKC now has a brand-new program for puppies that is handled much like the CGC, but they have to go thru like 6wks worth of obedience training in order to get the award. Not a title, tho-just a nice little program for dog lovers.

when you pass you get a cerificate and you can pay for a name tag with cgc on it. a lot of therapy dog groups want this on a dog before they will certify it for therapy work. some people don't think much of it, but at the very least, it is good PR for the breed and it does show that you have gone thru training with your dog so he will be "sociable". especially with breeds that some people are afraid of, it pays to reassure "the public" that you have taken steps to have a "nice" dog.

My girl would have her CGC except for the cat factor, she would rather eat them herself than share.

Moons,  you might wanna read up and contact a local evaluator to see if a cat has to be involved with CGC Evaluating.  I've been a CGC Evaluator for years and I'm not aware of any mandatory cat involvement, nor have I ever required it in evaluating. I am not a dual therapy dog evaluator(I only do CGC), but I've had 5 GSDs to pass both at the same time (CGC and TDI evaluating) with little problem. One of my CGC & TDI girls can even do bitework.  http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm. If you're also wanting therapy dog certification, now THAT is different. But the CGC alone doesn't involve cats.

Very good, Angus-you're exactly right. While the CGC is not a title and not a major endeavor, it still helps promote positive dog ownership in one's community. Our breed in particular has enough bad press as is-so anything anyone does positively with their GSD to promote the breed in the community, in my opinion, is worthwhile and to be appreciated.

I have been through the CGC several times and there's no cat, lol.  Sorry, I got a kick out of that one.  I put Chaos through it twice to make sure his temperament hadn't changed and then he went through his TDI and passed that also.  Neither are titles, but you do get a certificate to frame.  And when someone ask if your dog is vicious lol you can show him the TDI badge etc. and say no he's not!