The american Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Program

The American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen program is a great opportunity to start learning responsibilities with your dog or testing your relationship. Bels Dog Training believes every dog has potential to be a great dog and owners to be a great dog owner!

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

Join our 6-week training program and learn alongside your canine companion what it takes to be a true Canine Good Citizen! Over the course of six weekly classes, you'll master essential skills and strengthen the bond with your dog. At the end of the program, you'll have the opportunity to test your hard work and earn the prestigious AKC CGC title and/or certificate, proving your dedication and training success.

• Test 1 : Accepting a friendly stranger
• Test 2 : Sitting politely for petting
• Test 3 : Appearance and grooming
• Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
• Test 5: Walking through a crowd
• Test 6: Sit and down on cue and stay in place
• Test 7: Coming when called
• Test 8: Reaction to another dog
• Test 9: Reaction to distraction
• Test 10: Supervised separation

CGC is open to all dogs–purebred and mixed breeds. There are no age minimum or limits for participating in the Canine Good Citizen program, because yes, you can always teach an old dog new tricks! At this time Bels Dog Training will require participants dogs to be 6 months of age or older and current on vaccinations. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program will soon be available. 

By training in CGC, you and your dog will build a better relationship 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. 

After you have earned the certification and/or title of CGC, there is CGCU (canine good citizen urban) and CGCA (AKC community canine) which is more advanced.