Canine Good Citizen
Set Your Dog Up for Success
What is CGC?
At the AKC, we believe that all dogs can be good dogs, and all owners can be great owners: all it takes is a little bit of training, lots of love, and of course, plenty of praise along the way.
That’s why we created the Canine Good Citizen™ (CGC) program: a two-part course designed to help you and your dog be the best you can be–together. Since 1989, over 1 million dogs and their owners have participated in CGC, mastering ten basic skills that instill confidence and good manners in and out of your home.
Not only does CGC training create long-lasting trust between you and your pup, but also ensures you’ll be good neighbors and friends to everyone around you—and, if you’re interested in going beyond the basics, CGC also lays the foundation for other AKC sports and activities like obedience, agility, tracking, and performance events.
Canine Good Citizen Test
When you start your Canine Good Citizen™ journey, you’re doing more than just teaching your dog ten skills to ensure they’re a good companion. You’re strengthening your bond and providing them with mental and physical exercise, as well as a healthy dose of socialization.
You can begin your CGC training with your dog at home or in formal classes. All you need is love, patience and tons of praise. To ensure your dog has proper socialization and expert training, we suggest exploring the options for CGC group classes in your area, or searching for private trainers nearby. If you’d like to get a jumpstart with training on your own, browse our video series to get tips and tricks, but be sure your pup still has plenty of opportunities to socialize with other dogs in group situations. The socialization aspects are the components where most dogs struggle to pass the ten skills on the exam—and we all want your dog to be an A+ student!
S.T.A.R. Puppy
At the American Kennel Club®, we’re not just champion dogs. We’re the dogs’ champion — all dogs. We believe that all dogs deserve training and a responsible owner and our goal is to reward responsible dog ownership.
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy is an exciting program designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a good start. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy is an excellent first in-person training class for puppies. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy provides a good lead-in to earning the Canine Good Citizen title.
AKC Trick Dog
Trick dog training is a great way to provide your dog with physical and mental exercise. Going beyond the skills in your CGC training, you and your dog will learn how to high five, or try more advanced tricks, like training your pup to jump into your arms. For someone brand new to dog training, trick dog training might seem like a big leap, but your CGC training provides a great foundation for you and your dog to begin with easy tricks and progress to more challenging activities together. By earning the CGC title first, you only have to perform 5 tricks from the Novice checklist to earn an AKC Novice Trick Dog title, commonly called “CGC + 5.”
AKC Therapy Dog
Another benefit of CGC is it allows you to prepare your dog for therapy dog training. In fact, many therapy dog program require the CGC award before their therapy-specific training begins. Whether they’re working with a child who is learning to read, visiting a patient in a hospital or a senior in assisted living, therapy dogs and their owners work together as a team to improve the lives of others. Dogs can provide a valuable sense of reassurance, joy, or calmness to people experiencing hard, stressful or lonely times in their life. Training your pup to become a therapy dog is a heartfelt way to share the love you have with your dog with the world.