General Information About the CGC

In this segment you will learn what handlers are allowed to do in a CGS. The information listed below comes from the American Kennel Club (AKC). These are not recommendations from Leerburg.

4 min 45 sec

Collars, Leashes, & Equipment

All tests must be performed on leash. Your dog should wear a well-fitting buckle or slip collar (including martingales) made of leather, fabric, or chain.

They may also wear body harnesses for the CGC test. Body harnesses should not restrict the movement of the dog.

Special training equipment such as pinch collars and head collars are not permitted.

The leash should be made of either leather or fabric. Retractable leashes may not be used in the CGC test.

The Evaluator should have a 20-ft. line available for Test #6 (Walking through a Crowd). We recognize that special training collars may be valuable equipment in the beginning stages of dog training, however, we feel that dogs are ready to be tested after they have been transitioned to a slip or buckle collar (body harnesses are also acceptable).

If an evaluator is teaching classes and does not feel comfortable with one of the permitted collars, you may be required to take the test in the type of collar used in class (as long as it is permitted by AKC for testing). If the CGC test is advertised for the general public, all of the permitted collar types and body harnesses will be allowed in the test.

Corrections

The Canine Good Citizen Program is a program that encourages owners to have fun with their dogs. Harsh corrections are not permitted in the test and are grounds for dismissal. Throughout the CGC test, Evaluators can encourage you to PRAISE and interact with your dog. If you're nervous when beginning, you may be reminded about the importance of communicating with your dog.

Disabilities - Dogs

Dogs with disabilities such as the loss of a leg, deafness, or blindness in one eye are welcome in the Canine Good Citizen Test. Dogs must perform all of the 10 items to pass the test, however, handlers may use hand signals, gestures, or other cues to which the dog has been trained to respond.

There are no breed specific exceptions to the test requirements (e.g., dogs may not skip the sit exercise because “this breed doesn’t like to sit.”)

Disabilities - Handlers

Handlers with disabilities are encouraged to participate in the Canine Good Citizen Test. Sometimes, it may be necessary to make minor changes to standard procedures to accommodate handlers with disabilities.

Eliminating (urinating/defecating) During Testing

Any dog that eliminates during testing should not pass the test. The only exceptions to this are that elimination is allowed between exercises (e.g., the dog urinates on a bush as he is being walked to the next test station) and in Test 10 (Reaction to Distractions) when the test is held outdoors.

Fees

Test-giving organizations and individual Evaluators may charge a fee for conducting a Canine Good Citizen test. Fees are used to cover the costs of test kits, mailing, copying, and advertising related to the test. Private trainers sometimes charge a fee for a testing session that is commensurate with their hourly rate of service.

Most commonly, the fee for CGC testing is $10.00. Evaluators may decide the fee depending on what is appropriate in the given community. Sometimes fees are higher when proceeds will be donated to a good cause such as a police K-9 unit, animal shelter, etc. There is an $8.00 processing fee that you'll pay to the AKC when ordering the CGC certificate.

Food

You will not be permitted to use food as a reward during the CGC Test. While we recognize that food can be effectively used as a reinforcement during training, it is considered a training aid and should not be used in the CGC test. The purpose of the CGC Test is to determine if the dog has learned all of the skills on the test and if the dog can be controlled when no special incentives are offered.

Retesting

You may choose to allow your dog, who has only missed one test item to take the test again at the end of the day’s testing.

Service Dogs

Service dogs help people with disabilities. Dogs that pass the CGC test are not service dogs and they do not have special access rights in public places (stores, restaurants, planes, etc.)

Therapy Dogs

While some therapy dog groups require passing the CGC test as a first step, AKC does not certify therapy dogs.

Several of this country’s largest therapy dog organizations use the CGC Test as a partial screening tool for therapy dogs. In most cases, for therapy dog screening, the CGC Test is given with some additional testing. For example, in the test involving a crowd, therapy dog groups might require that someone in the crowd use health care equipment such as a walker, cane, or crutches. Additional paperwork is provided by and submitted to the therapy dog group. Some therapy dog groups also require that their evaluators be certified through the therapy dog organization.

Is CGC a Title?

From the time the CGC Program began in 1989 until 2012, CGC was not an official title. It was considered an award. However, due to frequent, ongoing requests from proud dog owners, Canine Good Citizen became an official AKC title in January 2013. This means that CGC is listed on the dog’s title record and owners may use the suffix, “CGC” after the dog’s name.

Vaccines and Licenses

As of June 2003, evaluators no longer must require proof of vaccines. Owners sign the Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge to attest that their dogs are in the care of a qualified veterinarian.