What is the AKC
Canine Good Citizen Program?

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Wet Nose Dog Training’s American Kennel Club – Canine Good Citizen (AKC-CGC) program is a more intensive training program that will teach you and your dog the skills to pass the following American Kennel Club exams: Canine Good Citizen (CGC), CGC Community Canine (the advanced version of the CGC), S.T.A.R. Puppy, Urban CGC, or Trick Dog. Having this nationally recognized certification will assure others that you and your dog believe that a solid training foundation is imperative to have a well-behaved dog. These certifications are open to all dogs – purebred and mixed breed – that focuses on teaching the basics of good manners and obedience, instilling the values of responsible ownership, and strengthening the bond between you and your dog at home as well as out in the community.

There are no age minimums or limits for participating in the Canine Good Citizen program because you absolutely can teach old dogs new tricks!

Canine Good Citizen

The CGC is a ten-skill set training program that is open to all dogs. When you have completed this program, not only will you and your dog understand the basics of dog training, and master skills like sit, down, and stay, but you’ll know your dog will be able to handle herself with grace in a crowd and be a welcomed client at the vet or groomer. The CGC title is also a prerequisite for many therapy dog certifications and a great introduction to more advanced dog sports and activities. Some homeowner’s insurance programs even offer discounts for CGC dogs, and an increasing number of apartments and condos see CGC awards as a major bonus for becoming a resident.

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S.T.A.R. Puppy©

The AKC-S.T.A.R. Puppy program is designed to get dog owners and their puppies (up to 1 year) off to a good start. S.T.A.R. stands for SOCIALIZATION; TRAINING; ACTIVITY; RESPONSIBILITY. This training is a natural lead-in to the AKC-CGC program. You will need to attend S.T.A.R. Puppy classes for at least 6 weeks. I will administer the test at the end of the course.

Even though a dog may start CGC at any age, puppies are sometimes developmentally more suited for getting their AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy award first, then moving up to CGC after graduation. Although AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy is not mandatory to participate in CGC, it creates a solid foundation for puppies who continue to additional training.
DOWNLOAD THE S.T.A.R. Puppy brochure
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Community Canine

The AKC Community Canine program is all about ensuring you have a well-behaved dog while you’re out and about in the community. Where CGC happens in a simulated environment, the 10-step AKC Community Canine test is conducted in real-life situations—like walking on a busy sidewalk or through a local park–giving you and your dog the confidence to enjoy every day to the fullest, no matter what comes your way. 
DOWNLOAD the AKC Community Canine Brochure

CGC-Ready

CGC-Ready is how the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program is implemented in settings where staff or volunteer trainers train dogs either 1) for their existing owners or 2) or prepare them for adoption.

HOW IT WORKS

1. Dogs are trained by trainers (staff or volunteers).

2. When the dog is ready in daycare or boarding settings, owners take a lesson, then take the dog through the CGC test.

3. In adoption-oriented settings, dogs can be advertised as, “If you adopt me, I am ready to take the CGC test with you.” Adopters take dogs through the test at adoption.

4. Owners are given CGC paperwork to send to AKC. Agencies may choose to cover the cost of the certificate.

Urban CGC

Another step beyond the basic CGC test is the AKC Urban CGC title, which tests your CGC skills in an active city or town setting. There are 10-steps to the test that your dog must pass to earn the official AKC Urban CGC title, but it is administered in a place where there are cars, streets to be crossed, noises, and fast-paced distractions.

AKC Trick Dog™

Trick dog training is a great way to provide your dog with physical and mental exercise. Going beyond the skills in your CGC training, you and your dog will learn how to high five or try more advanced tricks, like training your pup to jump into your arms. For someone brand new to dog training, trick dog training might seem like a big leap, but your CGC training provides a great foundation for you and your dog, to begin with, easy tricks and progress to more challenging activities together. By earning the CGC title first, you only have to perform 5 tricks from the Novice checklist to earn an AKC Novice Trick Dog title, commonly called “CGC + 5.”