Some of you may have seen capital letters that precede or come after the name of a dog. AKC Titles are given to dogs for accomplishing certain skills, knowledge or tests. These are called prefixes and suffixes and they help to communicate what the dog has achieved in his or her lifetime!
You can begin adding the “CGC” letters as a suffix to your dogs name by completing the Canine Good Citizen at your local Petco! The Canine Good Citizen program enables pet parents and their dogs to learn together, mastering 10 key skills that are helpful both at home and while interacting with dogs and people in the wider world. The emphasis is not on forcing dogs into obedient behavior but on equipping dogs and their pet parents with good communication skills and clear cues that produce desired results. The Canine Good Citizen program is as much a training course for pet parents as it is for their pups, and parents are required to be responsible pet parents. By the end of CGC training, dogs and pet parents are a true team, capable of bringing good citizenship skills into just about any situation they’ll encounter.
Though highly regarded, the Canine Good Citizen class is not exclusive. Embedded into the Canine Good Citizen program is the belief that all dogs are trainable and can become good citizens. The CGC certification is open to all dogs—regardless of their age, breed or prior training experience. Puppies may get more out of their Canine Good Citizen training if they first complete AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® training, but it is not a prerequisite for participation in Canine Good Citizen. I have made every effort to expose your puppy to opportunities of learning in order to assist in your completion of the S.T.A.R. program. Please make note of behaviors 1-6 which refer to the owners responsibilities.
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy: 20 Steps for Success
The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program focuses on all the things every puppy and owner need to have a great start together.
STAR stands for Socialization, Training, Activity and a Responsible owner and in six weeks of STAR puppy classes, puppies and dogs learn the following behaviors and skills:
OWNER BEHAVIORS:
1. Maintains puppy’s health (vaccines, exams, appears healthy)
2. Owner receives Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge
3. Owner describes adequate daily play and exercise plan
4. Owner and puppy attend at least 6 classes by an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator
5. Owner brings bags to classes for cleaning up after puppy
6. Owner has obtained some form of ID for puppy-collar tag, etc.
PUPPY BEHAVIORS:
7. Free of aggression toward people during at least 6 weeks of class
8. Free of aggression toward other puppies in class
9. Tolerates collar or body harness of owner’s choice
10. Owner can hug or hold puppy (depending on size)
11. Puppy allows owner to take away a treat or toy
PRE-CANINE GOOD CITIZEN® TEST BEHAVIORS:
12. Allows (in any position) petting by a person other than the owner
13. Grooming-Allows owner handling and brief exam (ears, feet)
14. Walks on a Leash-Follows owner on lead in a straight line (15 steps)
15. Walks by other people-Walks on leash past other people 5-ft away
16. Sits on command-Owner may use a food lure
17. Down on command-Owner may use a food lure
18. Comes to owner from 5-ft when name is called
19. Reaction to Distractions-distractions are presented 15-ft away
20. Stay on leash with another person (owner walks 10 steps and returns)
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy prepares pups to move on to Canine Good Citizen training. For example, in STAR, puppies must walk on a leash in a straight line. In CGC, the task becomes more advanced with dogs walking in a pattern that includes right and left turns and stops.
The skills in AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy classes are practical and functional. Teaching puppies to tolerate grooming, handling, and basic exams of the ears, feet, and mouth will result in well-mannered puppies that veterinarians are happy to see.
There are so many different types of opportunities and events to really take your pup to the next level so be sure to check all the titles out on AKC to see if any of them might be a way for you and your family to learn valuable life skills, have fun, and spend quality time with your dog!