Started in 1989, AKC CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The AKC Canine Good Citizen Program®, sponsored by K9 Advantix®, is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

AKC's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program Sponsored by K9 Advantix®

There are 10 tests in the AKC CGC program that your dog must pass to earn his or her CGC certification. Over the next few months, we'll be providing tips on mastering the ten steps. The following is the first test in the 10-step series and some training tips:

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
Your dog must allow the CGC evaluator to come up to you, shake your hand and greet you while ignoring the dog.

Training for Test 1
Arrange several social encounters by inviting friends to your home or taking walks in your neighborhood. One of the easiest ways to teach your dog to meet a new person is to begin with the dog on a leash. Have your dog sit at your side and ask the person to approach and pet the dog. If your dog is too excited in the beginning, lightly touch the dog and back up. You should praise your dog for staying in the sit position. If the dog jumps on the person, give a gentle tug on the leash and a reminder, “sit. ”

If you choose to use food to aid in training, begin with the dog in the sit position at your side. As the person approaches, reward the dog with a bit of food for staying in the sit position. For a problem dog, you can have a helper approach to pet the dog. If the dog jumps up, the helper can say, “sit,” and reward the dog with a small piece of food only when the dog is sitting.

Look out for information on AKC CGC Test 2 in an upcoming issue of YourAKC! In the meantime, you can find more on the program here.

Show off your dog's new CGC award with an AKC CGC Visa Rewards Card. Click here to apply now!