Dana's Dog Care

What is CGC?

At the AKC, we believe that all dogs can be good dogs, and all owners can be great owners, all it takes is a little bit of training, lots of love, and of course, plenty of praise along the way.

That’s why we created the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) program: an expert-made training program designed to help you and your dog be the best you can be–together.

Canine Good Citizen is a 10-skill test that teaches good manners to dogs and responsible dog ownership to their owners.

By training in CGC, you and your dog will deepen your bond and become a more connected team. Not only will you and your dog learn the basics of dog training and master skills like sit, down, and stay, but your dog will become a welcomed community member when out in public.

The CGC title is a prerequisite for many therapy dog certifications, as well as a great introduction to more advanced dog sports and activities.

AKC Urban CGC is a title in the Canine Good Citizen family of awards and titles that also include AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, Canine Good Citizen and AKC Community Canine.

AKC Urban CGC requires that the dog demonstrate CGC skills and beyond in a setting that includes traffic, crowds, noises, smells and other distractions that are present in a city or town. As with Canine Good Citizen, AKC Urban CGC is a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Urban CGC title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.

AKC Urban CGC is a public access test that demonstrates dogs are well-behaved and well-trained when in public settings. The Urban CGC test can be used by dog- friendly business (e.g., lodging, retail, transportation, public facilities) to recognize and accept dogs with good manners.

The Setting All skills are tested on leash. AKC Urban CGC should be administered in a place where there are cars, streets to be crossed, noises, and distractions. This test is administered in the real world; it should not be simulated in a ring at a dog show.

When test items (such as riding on an elevator) are administered in public buildings, the buildings must be dog friendly or evaluators must have permission in advance from the business owners, managers, etc.