Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) -- A Gold Standard in Training
At Dog Obedience Group, we believe every dog has the potential to be a well-mannered member of the family—and the community. The AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program is one of the most recognized and respected benchmarks of that success.
Whether you want your dog to earn the official CGC title or simply want to enjoy stress-free walks, polite greetings, and reliable behavior in public, training toward CGC benefits every dog and every owner.
What Is the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Test?
The AKC Canine Good Citizen Test is a 10-skill evaluation that highlights your dog’s ability to demonstrate good manners at home and in the community. It’s open to all dogs—purebred or mixed breed—and is administered by an AKC-approved evaluator (which we have on staff!).
To earn a CGC title, your dog will demonstrate calm, confident behavior in everyday situations such as:
Accepting a friendly stranger
Sitting politely for petting
Walking loosely on a leash
Staying focused in a crowd
Coming when called
Reacting appropriately to distractions
Handling grooming and vet-like touches
View the full list of skills here: AKC CGC Program Overview »
Why Work Toward CGC?
Even if you don’t plan to officially take the test, the CGC framework gives your training purpose, structure, and real-world benefits:
✅ Improved behavior at home
✅ Better focus around distractions
✅ Confidence in new environments
✅ Respectful greetings with guests or strangers
✅ Foundation for therapy, service, or competition training
Many housing communities, insurance providers, and therapy programs recognize CGC as a sign of a well-trained dog.
How Our Classes Prepare You
We’ve designed our training progression to help dogs of all ages and skill levels work toward Canine Good Citizen success:
Obedience 1.0 – Lays the foundation: focus, sit, down, place, and loose leash skills
Obedience 2.0 – Builds consistency, adds distractions, and introduces polite greetings and CGC prep
Obedience 3.0 – Takes your training out into real-life settings, perfect for dogs nearing CGC test readiness
We even offer quarterly CGC Testing Days right here at our facility with our certified evaluators!
Is CGC Right for You and Your Dog?
Absolutely. Whether you’re aiming for the official title or simply want a dog who’s easier to live with, the CGC goals make life with your dog better. Every tail wag at the vet, calm sit during a patio lunch, or confident stroll through the park traces back to the skills CGC promotes.
Ready to Get Started?
Our certified trainers will guide you through each skill with positive, effective methods tailored to your dog. Take the first step by enrolling in Obedience 1.0 or 2.0—or reach out to ask if your dog is ready for testing.
🐾 Let’s turn your good dog into a Canine Good Citizen.