We are pleased to announce a new member of the Canine Good Citizen family- AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen.
AKC Urban CGC is beginning in April 2015. The first AKC Urban CGC test in the country was recently administered by the Obedience Training Club of Palm Beach County.
Organized by CGC Evaluator Marti Hohmann, dogs and their owners went through AKC Urban CGC testing at CityPlace, a premier dog friendly shopping destination. Hohmann and her Border Collie, Lark, walked by teenagers on skateboards, a trolley and Lark waited patiently while Hohmann had lunch in an outdoor cafe.
Vera, a retired racing Greyhound owned by Mary Macchia, was also among the first to earn her AKC Urban CGC title. “It’s so important for our dogs to be well-trained so they are welcome in public places,” said Macchia.
Small dogs were present at the Palm Beach AKC Urban CGC test and they showed that with proper training and exposure, they too can be unflappable in the presence of city noises and distractions. Catherine Anne Cassidy’s Miniature Longhaired Dachshund, Sophie, performed all of the Urban CGC test items with ease, including hopping into a dog friendly cab. Cassidy said, “As long as your dog appears calm and under control, people welcome you and your pooch– and even appear glad to see dogs around.”
Giving responsible owners a whole new level of achievement for their dogs, the American Kennel Club (AKC) announced today the launch of “AKC Urban CGC” to the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) training program. The new title focuses on city-dwelling dogs and the special skills they require.
Since 1989, more than 700,000 dogs and their owners have been recognized by the CGC program, which rewards the dogs’ good manners at home and in the community. As with CGC, AKC Urban CGC requires a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Urban CGC title. AKC Urban CGC skills dogs must possess include:
- Exits/enters doorways (of dog friendly buildings) with no pulling
- Walks through a crowd on a busy urban sidewalk
- Reacts appropriately to city distractions (horns, sirens, etc.)
- Waits on leash, crosses street under control
- Ignores food and food containers on sidewalk
- Person approaches on sidewalk and pets dog
- 3-minute down-stay in lobby of dog friendly building
- Safely negotiates stairs and elevators
- Housetrained
- Enters, exits, rides dog-friendly transportation (car, subway in a carry bag, cab)
“City dogs require a very special set of skills, including waiting to cross a street, ignoring food tossed on a sidewalk, behaving in building lobbies and riding elevators,” said Mary Burch, Ph.D., Director of the Canine Good Citizen program. “Urban CGC reinforces practical, everyday skills for the millions of dogs living in urban areas today, creating safer, more responsible communities.”
To be eligible for the AKC Urban CGC title, dogs must have a CGC certificate or title on record at AKC and must have an AKC number (AKC registration number, PAL number, or AKC Canine Partners number). Dogs passing the AKC Urban Dog test will earn the “CGCU” title.
With the introduction of AKC Urban CGC, the AKC's CGC program now provides a variety of training options for dog owners and their dogs. Beginning with AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, progressing to Canine Good Citizen, AKC Community Canine and now AKC Urban CGC, the CGC program trains dogs through all stages of life and in all settings to be well-behaved in society.
Instructors can learn more about the program and begin training their students on AKC Urban CGC skills by visiting the AKC Urban CGC page. Urban CGC test materials are now available in the AKC store.
AKC Urban CGC testing will be administered by approved AKC CGC evaluators nationwide beginning this month.