AKC's Canine Good Citizen Program "CGC" Test

Some may ask,"Why should I  CGC test my dog.. and my answer would be, "Why not have your dog CGC certified? So, here are the requirements for passing the test:

1.  Dog must accepting a friendly stranger  - this means the evaluator must approach, shake your hand, but does not touch your dog.
2. Dog must sit quietly while being petted. - meaning: as the evaluator pets your dog, it must not show shyness or resentment, as well as jump all over the person trying to pet it.
3. Appearance and Grooming - evaluator inspects your dog, combs or brushes it lightly,  examines it's ears and both FRONT paws.
4. Out for a walk - you can take your dog for a short walk, including right, left, about turn, then stop.  This must not be a "heal" position, but shows that your dog is alert to you and your body language.
5. Walking through a crowd - you and your dog walk close to several people. Your dog may show "casual" interest, but no jumping up is allowed.
6. Sit and down on command/staying in place - you show your dog will do a sit and down on command then you must decide which position you want to leave your dog in, and walk to the end of a 20 ft line and return immediately. - usually you are asked to go towards the direction opposite the direction your dog is facing.
7. Coming when called - With your dog still on it's 20 ft line from Test 6, you must walk 10 ft away and call your dog to you.
8. Reaction to another dog - You and another person with a dog approach, shake hands, say a few words to each other then continue walking in the direction you were headed before you met.
9. Reaction to distractions - Different distractions are presented near your dog. Your dog must not show any panic or aggression.
10. Supervised Separation - You go out of sight for 3 minutes. Your dog is held on a 6 ft leash by the evaluator until you return. Dog must not show signs of anxiety. 

It seems simple enough, right? Yet, quite a few dogs have problems with these tasks. It is something that each dog should know. How to behave in public settings, how to accept strangers on command, and acting alertly, but quietly towards other dogs. There is a time and place and as a handler, you must be able to let your dog know when the time and place is. If I were being approached by a stranger that I was afraid of, I would expect my dog to react in a negative way towards that stranger.. yet, when I act friendly towards someone, I would expect my dog to do the same. Simple? Not always. So, how do I get my dogs ready for a CGC test? We work from day one to socialize them to different situations, meeting strangers, and above all, give them positive reinforcement when they do something right. What happens in the first 8 weeks of your puppy or dogs life does make a difference. Puppies that have not been given the positive guidance at young ages can show timidness, aggression as well fear when put into situations when they are older.  

So I CGC test my dog.. he/she passed.. now what? Easy, why not work towards a BH title? Stay tuned!