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

When we conduct the CGC Test at the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club, we normally group the items below, what we call “command items,” into station 3. They are all done with one evaluator in one place.

Since we want to provide for you the exact rules and regulations of the test, we will use copy directly from the Evaluator Guide of AKC Canine Good Citizen Program. It is a noncopyrighted document, but what we use from this guide will be set in quotes to credit the American Kennel Club.

ITEM 6: SIT AND DOWN ON COMMAND / STAYING IN PLACE "This test demonstrates that the dog has training and will respond to the handler’s commands to sit and down, and will remain in the place commanded by the handler. The dog needs to (1) sit on command and (2) down on command, then (3) stay in a sit or down.

"For the Stay in Place test, the handler may choose to leave the dog in a sit or down position.

"So, it looks like this: 'Show me your dog can sit on command. Great! Now show me your dog will go down on command. Great! Now it’s time for the Stay—you choose the position, sit or down, leave your dog and walk out to the end of this line.'

"Prior to this test, the dog’s leash is removed and replaced with a 20-ft. line (or a 15-ft. line attached to the dog’s leash). The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to make the dog sit and then down. The Evaluator must determine if the dog has responded to the handler’s commands. The handler may not use excessive force to put the dog into either position, but may touch the dog to offer gentle guidance.

"When instructed by the Evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks to the end of the 20-ft. line, turns, and returns immediately to the dog at a normal pace, at which time the Evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog must remain in the place it was left (it may change position such as stand up) until the Evaluator instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or side.

• "The 20-ft. line is used for safety. If the CGC test is indoors in a secure area, the Evaluator may choose to have the dog drag the leash or work off lead in this exercise. Any time the test is given in an outdoor area, the Evaluator should keep in mind that the safety of the dog is critical. • "There are no breed specific exceptions for sitting. • "Pulling the dog’s front legs out from a sit position (so that the dog automatically drops into a down) is beyond gentle guidance and the dog should not be passed. • "To prevent beginning handlers from tugging on the 20-ft. line as they leave the dog (and pulling the dog out of the stay) Evaluators can do the following: (1) lay the 20 ft. line stretched out on the floor, (2) instruct the handler to attach the line to the dog’s collar, (3) after the handler attaches the line, give the handle end of the line to the handler and (4) instruct the handler to walk to the end of the 20-ft. line (holding on to the end). • "The dog is left for the stay in a sit or down. As the handler returns, if the dog simply stands but does not leave the place it was left, the dog passes the test. Dogs who start walking forward to the handler should not pass. • "Dogs who do not sit or down after a reasonable period of time need more training and should not be passed. • "Do not have handlers go to the end of the line and call the dog; they should return to the dog."

As you can tell, these exercises are straightforward and are not formal obedience exercises. We don't care how straight your dog sits; we're only concerned that she follows your directions and does what you ask. A happy and pleasant but firm voice is helpful. You may touch your dog and guide him, but if you push forcefully on your dog's rear to get him to sit, or push on his back to get him to down, your dog needs more training. One or two repetitions of the command "sit" or "down" is OK, but if you have to tell your dog over and over to sit or down, your dog needs more training.

ITEM 7: COMING WHEN CALLED

"This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. With the dog still on the 20-ft. line from Item 6, the handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and will call the dog. The handler may use body language and encouragement when calling the dog.

"Handlers may tell the dog to 'stay' or 'wait' (or another similar command) or they may simply walk away. The dog may be left in the sit, down, or standing position. If a dog attempts to follow the handler, the Evaluator may distract the dog (e.g., petting) until the handler is 10 feet away. This exercise does not test 'stay'; this exercise tests whether or not the dog will come when called.

"The test is complete when the dog comes to the handler and the handler attaches the dog’s own leash. • "Dogs who attempt to follow the handler may pass the test. The Evaluator should distract the dog. The test begins when the handler calls the dog. • "The handler can bend down to call the dog, pat his or her legs, and make encouraging sounds. • "Handlers may call the dog more than once (two or three attempts) but if many, repeated prompts are required, the dog should not be passed. • "Dogs should not be passed if handlers have used the long line to “reel in” the dog. Dogs should come on their own when called. The Evaluator who sees that a handler is starting to reel the dog in may stop the exercise, give instructions to the handler, and start over."

For this test item, being happy and upbeat when you call your dog is more likely to get the response you desire. We work in class all the time to make sure that "come" is always associated with pleasant reinforcement, and we stress that when your dog is moving toward you, it is always PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE!

Next week we'll talk about the final CGC test item, Supervised Separation.

Bruce and Tracy Willoughby have taught dog training at the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club for several years. They can be reached at bew@umich.edu.