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, the Supervised Separation is station 4, the last item for the handler and dog taking the test.

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 10: SUPERVISED SEPARATION

"This test demonstrates that a dog can be left in the presence of a trusted person and will maintain its training and good manners. Evaluators are encouraged to say something like, 'Would you like for me to watch your dog?'

"An Evaluator will hold the leash of the dog while the owner goes out of sight for 3 minutes. In the early days of the CGC Program, evaluators were asked to not talk to the dog so that the testing of this skill could be standardized across evaluators. We realize that most owners would not leave their dogs with someone who did not talk to the dog. Evaluators may talk to and pet the dog but should refrain from giving the dog excessive attention, playing with the dog, etc.

• "The dog does not have to stay in position.
• "If the dog continually barks, whines, or howls, it should not be passed.
• "The dog should not pace unnecessarily, should not show signs of agitation.
• "A dog that simply walks back and forth and looks for the handler is passed. There should be no signs of extreme stress, including panting, breathing hard, etc.
• "If a dog begins to look very upset or distressed (barking, whining, panting, pacing, pulling), the test should be terminated. The CGC test is an activity that should be fun. We do not want dogs or handlers to have a bad experience with the CGC. If a dog is extremely distressed, training is needed. (This training should not be done during testing.) This one incident of giving in to the dog’s insecure behavior is not enough to cause any lasting effect. The owner should be told nicely that separation is an issue for the dog and that some training would help the dog feel more secure.
• "If the Evaluator for Item 10 is sitting in a chair and a small dog tries to climb into the Evaluator’s lap, the Evaluator should stand up.
• "If a dog pulls on its leash (trying to get away) it should not be passed.
• "Any dog that urinates or defecates during testing should not be passed. The exception to this is in Test 10 when the test is outdoors, or between exercises (e.g., the dog urinates on a bush while being walked to the next test station). Dogs should not stop to relieve themselves while they are working with the handler in the exercises."

At the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club, the Evaluator for this test sits in a chair along a wall and near a door to a hallway. A small grooming table with a three-minute timer is against the wall where the Evaluator sits. For this exercise, you approach the Evaluator and give her your leash. You may put your dog in a sit-stay, a down-stay, or just leave your dog standing there. You walk out the door into the hallway. When the exercise is over, the Evaluator will call you back into the room.

We find that a number of dogs fail this test because they are not used to being with strangers without their owners. Owners of puppies are so intent on building a bond with their dog that they forget that at some point they may have to leave the dog with someone else. Some dogs are very good with strangers, but others have a difficult time if their owner goes out of sight. So, begin early to work with your puppy on stays, gradually building time and distance until you can go out of sight for three minutes.

If you would like to see a CGC Test or run your dog through a CGC practice session, the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club will have a CGC practice (a demonstration and run-through) at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 in Rooms 1 and 2. You may come and watch for free or run your dog through the test as a practice session for $10. No registration is necessary. Go online at www.aadtc.org to find directions.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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.