Harriet McCarthy is recognized by the American Kennel Club as an official Canine Good Citizen program Evaluator.

AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator

Well, it’s official. I am now recognized by the American Kennel Club ® as an Evaluator for the Canine Good Citizen ® program services/training programs/canine-good-citizen/.

The CGC Program is a two-part program that is designed to: 1) teach responsible dog ownership to owners and 2) certify dogs that have the training and behaviors needed to be reliable, well-behaved members of their families and communities.

Dogs who pass the CGC test should be under good control and be safe around people and other dogs. The purpose of the CGC Program is to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respected community member because it has been trained to be well-behaved in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs.

The CGC Program welcomes both purebred and mixed-breed dogs. The CGC Test is noncompetitive, and dogs are not required to perform with the same precision required in formal obedience.

Dogs that pass all ten items of the CGC test, including purebreds and mixed breeds, are listed in the CGC records at the American Kennel Club. Owners of dogs that pass all ten items of the CGC test may order an official CGC certificate from the American Kennel Club. If their dog has an AKC, PAL, or AKC Canine Partners number, it can be awarded an official title. Titles are listed on the dog’s title record, and the suffix “CGC” may be used after the dog’s name.

As an AKC Approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator, I assume responsibility for conducting the test according to the AKC protocol. Evaluators should ensure that each participant has an experience that is positive, educational, and fun. Handlers may talk to their dogs throughout the test, and the atmosphere should be relaxed. Praise should be given to dogs throughout the test, and evaluators may remind handlers who are nervous about reassuring their dogs with praise, smiles, hugs, and petting.

How we, the CGC Evaluators, conduct a CGC test and interact with participants may determine if a dog owner will become involved in dog training and activities in the future.

For more information from the AKC on the CGC program - click here