Delta Canine Good Citizen™

The canine good citizen program aims to produce:

“GOOD CITIZENS ON BOTH ENDS OF THE LEASH”.

DEDICATION:
The Canine Good Citizen™ program is dedicated to a better tomorrow for the dogs we love, and to safeguard their future and the invaluable contribution they make to our quality of life.
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The goal is to produce:

A dog you would like to own
A dog you would welcome as a neighbour
A dog that can socialise with other dogs
A dog that can cope with the stresses of modern living
A dog that is accepted by the wider community
An owner fully informed on all aspects of responsible pet parenting

The purpose of the Canine Good Citizen™ program is to demonstrate that the dog as a companion pet can be respected and become a contributing member of the community. That the dog can be trained and conditioned always to behave at home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs in a manner that will reflect credit on the dog. That the owner is fully informed on all aspects of responsible parenting i.e. dog behaviour, health care and grooming, road safety, and the dog laws.

This full program will run for 8 weeks. Weeks 1 – 7 are about training you and your dog and week 8 is the optional CGC™ Test. Dogs being tested must be 12 months or older. At the completion of the 7 week program I will be able to help you decide whether you would like to undertake the test. The test is optional. Any one who chooses not to be tested will be invited along on the testing day as a volunteer and can join in the post assessment celebration.

Outlined below are the 12 areas standards we will be working towards. The owners education component will include in-class demonstrations ie First Aid and further research by the owner ie researching their councils dog laws.

THE ASSESSMENT: CANINE GOOD CITIZEN™

ELEMENTS OF COMPETENCY

A Canine Good Citizen™ dog should be friendly and outgoing but not so exuberant that it is a nuisance. The owner must have control of the dog in all situations and be well informed on all aspects of dog care and responsible ownership.

  • These assessments should be conducted in as near "real life" situations as possible.
  • All 12 assessments must be passed to gain CGC™ certification.

1. ROAD SAFETY:
The dog must be under control around traffic and when alighting from a vehicle.

2. OUT FOR A WALK:
The dog can accompany the owner on a walk, in a controlled fashion.

3. GROOMING AND VETERINARY EXAMINATION:
The dog will accept grooming, and tolerate a veterinary examination.

4. ACCEPTING A FRIENDLY STRANGER AND SIT POLITELY FOR PETTING:
The dog will remain quiet and controlled beside the owner while meeting a stranger and being petted.

5. CONTROLLED WALK:
The dog will walk close beside the owner for a short distance, and obey the basic cues "sit" and "down".

6. WALKING THROUGH A CROWD AND REACTION TO DISTRACTIONS:
The dog must be able to tolerate the close proximity of crowds, and other distractions they may encounter in everyday life.

7. PRAISE & INTERACTION:
The dog must be effectively calmed and controlled after arousal (with play) by the owner.

8. STAY IN POSITION (SIT OR DOWN):
The dog must remain in a sit or down position while the owner walks approximately 8 metres away and returns. (The dog may get up when the owner returns, but not run away or jump up).

9. REACTION TO ANOTHER DOG:
The dog must behave in a polite and controlled manner when in close proximity to other dogs and their handlers.

10. RELEASE AND RECALL:
The dog must return to the owner when called under distraction from a free running position and allow a lead to be attached.

11. TOLERANCE TO SEPARATION - SUPERVISED:
The dog must demonstrate that it can be left with a stranger for 1 minute, out of sight of the owner. The dog must be able to tolerate a friendly stranger who will hold lead and examine the council registration tags attached to his collar.

12. CANINE GOOD CITIZEN™ OWNER EDUCATION:
A written or oral assessment to ensure that the owner has an understanding of general pet health care, grooming, diet, control of external parasites, worming and vaccination, first aid, responsible pet ownership and the dog laws.

N.B. PRE-CONDITIONS FOR ASSESSMENT:

  • Council Registration and current vaccination certificate for that dog must be viewed before the dog can do the assessment.
  • The dog should be presented in a clean and healthy state.
  • The dog should be fitted with an appropriate collar or restraint for that dog (i.e. collar, gentle collar, head collar, harness), and a training leash. Note  No check chains or pinch collars shall be used.
  • All assessments must be performed on leash with the possible exception of no. 10: "Release dog and recall".
  • The owner may use praise, petting, and extra commands during all assessments.
  • The owner must carry a plastic bag (or other means of cleaning up after their dog) at all times and will be asked to produce one (or it) during the assessment.
  • The use of a food reward will be allowed only at the end of each exercise (no luring with food). A toy or other motivator may be carried for use in assessment no. 7: "Praise and Interaction".
  • The owner must complete a Questionnaire on the CGC™ Owner Education Component prior to the CGC™ Assessment.
  • A supervised "street walk" conducted toward the end of the program with the dog’s reactions and the handlers’ competency observed and noted by an accredited CGC™ Instructor, shall be an integral part of the Program.