Intro to the AKC CGC

Bringing home your new, furry companion is always an exciting day, but it can be overwhelming to know where to start with training your puppy or dog. As dog owners, it is

our responsibility to empower our dogs to become functional in our communities. Whether your dog is going to be a service dog, sports prospect, or beloved family pet, the AKC Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) Test is a family place to start!

Training for the CGC begins before you bring your puppy home. The key socialization period for puppies, or when they are first learning to trust the world and building confidence, starts when they are 6 weeks old and typically goes until they are 12 weeks old. Since puppies are unable to go to their new homes until they are at least 8 weeks old, it is the breeder’s responsibility to get them started on the right track by exposing them to different toys, textures, smells, and sounds. 

Once you bring your puppy home, building your connection and bond is the first step. A confident puppy/dog is one that knows you’ve got his back! Playing, grooming, snuggling, going on walks, and feeding your canine companion all build and strengthen your bond. This bond is crucial for continuing the work in socializing your puppy, as your puppy will be more confident exploring new things when they trust you. I go deeper into puppy socialization in another blog article here: From there, keep training sessions with your dog or puppy short. 5-10 minutes for puppies and 10-15 minutes for older dogs. Doing short sessions every day (or most days, let’s be real) will lead to better and faster results than longer sessions less often. Attending a CGC class is a great support, but not necessary if you have a group of well-socialized dogs you can meet with. Weekly pack walks or other forms of training outside of your home are perfect.

The Canine Good Citizen test contains ten test items:

1. Accepting a Friendly Stranger

2. Sitting Politely for Petting

3. Appearance and Grooming

4. Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)

5. Walking through a crowd

6. Sit and Down on cue and Stay in Place

7. Coming When Called

8. Reaction to Another Dog

9. Reaction to a Distraction

10. Supervised Separation

These may seem like a lot, but once you start working toward your CGC, you’ll realize that these items are fun and help build your confidence as a team. Puppies can be tested to earn their CGC title as young as 6 months old, but it is recommended to wait until they are 12-months old as a lot of key developments occur between 6-12 months (when they start adolescence) that can change how well they can pass.

Every puppy purchased from Rock Canyon Goldens gets a free, 6-week hybrid course on the CGC where the littermates learn the CGC items together. In addition, Rock Canyon Goldens will cover the title application fee with AKC for any puppy that completes their CGC or any of the following CGC tests (AKC Community Canine - CGCU and AKC CGC Urban - CGCU). 

Remember that training never ends, and even a puppy or dog that has passed the test or is titled will need consistency and maintenance with their training. Completing the CGC will set you and your furry friend up for success for the rest of their lives, and we are here to help you! Let me know your thoughts and I look forward to watching your training journey!