Help Your Dog Become a Good Canine Citizen

Is your dog a gentleman or lady? If so, you
may be able to get an award to prove it from
the American Kennel Club (AKC) through its
Canine Good Citizen Program.

This certification program is for all dogs,
whether purebred or mutt. Any dog who has
completed his vaccinations can be tested, and
there is no upper age limit.

Ten behaviors are tested:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger

2. Sitting politely for petting

3. Letting someone brush and groom him

4. Walking on a loose leash

5. Walking through a crowd

6. Staying in place (sit and down)

7. Coming when called

8. Reacting to another dog

9. Reacting to distractions

10.Being separated from owner for 3-minutes.

If your dog can’t pass these, you need to
initiate a training program. These are the
social skills required for living with humans
in urban America.

The tests are done at dog shows, community
colleges and private training facilities. The
AKC charges $5 for the certificate (if you
pass) and some organizations charge a nominal
amount for the test ($10).

To find a location, go the AKC website at

I’m really, really encouraging you to take
advantage of this program.

You owe it to your dog to assure that he
can survive in an urban setting and that he
remains adoptable by someone else if
something happen to you. Not everyone would
put up with a nippy, barking, high-strung
dog who thinks he’s the king of household.

Your participation also encourages the AKC
to continue this program. It’s been around
since 1989 but hasn’t been publicized the
way it should.

The AKC raises more than $50M a year from
registration fees and does a lot of great
work for purebreds.

The Canine Good Citizen is a way for them
to help all dogs and dog owners no matter
what they’re background – something not all
AKC members support.

More participation will ensure funding
continues and the AKC expands the program.

We’re also hopeful that insurance companies
and landlords will start accepting the
certificates and giving homeowners or renters
a break on insurance rates or damage deposits.

With the increase in “dangerous breed” laws
and rising homeowners insurance rates
when you have a dog, it’s important for
all our dogs to be good citizens and
respected members of the community.

Louise Louis is a long-time dog person
and creator of http://www.ToyBreeds.com