05/10/2024
Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test Outline:
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
- The dog must be calm while the Evaluator approaches the team and greats handler.
- Demonstrates the dog is safe when a stranger approaches and interacts with the handler. No reactivity or dangerous/fearful behaviors are present.
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
- The dog allows the Evaluator to pet them while the dog is in a sit
- Shows dog is safe for strangers to interact with no dangerous/fearful behaviors or jumping up
Test 3: Appearance and grooming
- The dog will allow an assessment to be done similar to that done by a vet/groomer
- Evaluator will brush the dog normally, check ears, and handle front feet to asses for any fear/dangerous behaviors (This will be hard for a lot of dogs)
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
- demonstrates the dog is attentive to the handler and not pulling on the leash.
The Evaluator will be looking for a loose leash, not a heel, and the dog can be on either side. The handler must be in control of the dog at all times.
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
- The dog is walking loose leash between people
- The Evaluator will be looking for how well the handler maintains control of the dog and no sign of fearful/dangerous behaviors from dog
Test 6: Sit and down on cue and stay in place
- Shows the dog has training and can follow handler instructions
- The dog has to do both on cue but the handler can choose which position the dog will successfully do a stay in. The Evaluator is looking for the dog being attentive and listening to the handler. Performed with a 20ft line attached to dog.
Test 7: Coming when called
- Showing the dog has a recall
- With the 20ft line attached, the handler walks away 10ft and calls the dog to them while the Evaluator notes how responsive the dog is.
Test 8: Reaction to another dog
- Showing the dog can be polite around strange dogs
- Two handlers walk towards each other while the dog remains neutral to the other team, stopping appropriately when handlers stop to interact. No fearful/dangerous behaviors towards the other team are allowed.
Test 9: Reaction to distraction
- The dog can handle a reasonable amount of distraction while working
- 2 distractions will be chosen at random, and the dog shouldn't panic or react dangerously. The dog startling and recovering is ok.
Test 10: Supervised separation
- Dog can maintain polite behaviors when left with a person other than the handler
- Handler must be out of sight for 3 minutes and the dog should not excessively bark, whine, etc. A mild level of nervousness is ok.
All this was summarized from the CGC link below:
https://www.akc.org/products-services/training-programs/canine-good-citizen/canine-good-citizen-test-items/
