Community Canine Good Citizen (CGCA)

Classes
Community Canine Good Citizen (CGCA)

This course prepares you and your dog to take the American Kennel Club’s Community Canine (CGCA) test, the AKC’s advanced certification program designed to reward dogs who demonstrate exemplary manners out in the community. The class is a guided forum to practice all of the skills necessary to pass all ten items on the test. This is a challenging class! But getting these skills nailed down will prove to yourself and the world what an amazing team you and your dog are together!

As with Canine Good Citizen (CGC), the Community Canine has a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Community Canine title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at the AKC.

Whereas the CGC puts you through abbreviated trials to demonstrate confidence and control, the Community Canine test pushes those boundaries out into the real world and asks you and your dog to perform every day activities amongst people and distractions that you would encounter all of the time during a typical day. When we walk through a crowd, we’re not just going to walk through a few assistants and bystanders…we are walking through a crowd in public!

Get the idea?

Are you and your dog ready to put your awesome skills to the test and show the world what you’re made of? Then let’s do this!

Your CGCA test is included with the class!

Training Curriculum (CGCA)

Dog stands, sits or lies down and waits under control while the owner sits and has a snack or visits with another person (e.g., at a park)
Walks on a loose leash; does not pull
Walks on a loose leash through a crowd
Dog walks past distraction dogs present; does not pull
Sit + stay in small group (3 other people with dogs)
Dog allows person who is carrying something (backpack, computer bag, etc.) to approach and pet it.
Dog walks by food and follows owner instructions, “Leave it.”
Down or sit stay plus distance (20′)
Recall with distractions present (20′)
Stay while owner enters/exits a doorway or narrow passageway

CGCA Test is Included!

Need to know:

Age: 19 weeks of age or older.

Prerequisites: Must have a Canine Good Citizen test on record with the AKC. Must have an AKC number of one of 3 types: AKC registration number, PAL number, or AKC Canine Partners number. Must be friendly with other dogs and people.

Vaccines: Rabies and vaccines must be up to date.

Length and Fee:

This class is $120 before sales tax for six consecutive weekly sessions, unless a break is mentioned. CGCA test included.

Each session is approximately 50 minutes and will meet on the same day and time each week. A minimum of 3 dogs is required to run a class.

The CGCA Testing fee is included in the class price, although the AKC’s fee for submitting paperwork to obtain your dog’s certificate is not. The test must be taken during the week #6 class in order for it to be free.

Resources: Learn more about the AKC’s Community Canine Program.

Further details about scheduling and cancellation policies can be found on the Policies Page.