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Canine Good Citizen
Started in 1989, Canine Good Citizen (CGC) is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. It is also the pre-cursor for therapy dog training.

It is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club (AKC). State legislatures began recognizing the CGC program as a means of advocating responsible dog ownership and 22 states now have Canine Good Citizen resolutions.

The AKC has developed a standardized 10-step test that all CGC candidates across the country must pass. Here are the items that are covered in the class and tested:
  • Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
  • Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
  • Test 3: Appearance and grooming
  • Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
  • Test 5: Walking through a crowd
  • Test 6: Sit and down on command and staying in place
  • Test 7: Coming when called
  • Test 8: Reaction to another dog
  • Test 9: Reaction to distraction
  • Test 10: Supervised separation

Visit the AKC website to see more detailed descriptions of these test items and the overall program.

Tucker Pup's is fortunate that our trainer, Debbie Bickford, is an official CGC evaluator. We invite you to take advantage of this relationship!


Course details:

  • Dates and times: Mondays at 7:00pm, starting December 7
  • Number of sessions: 6
  • Duration: 1 hour per class
  • Price: $195. We accept Visa, Mastercard, check, and debit (ATM) cards
  • Instructor: Debbie Bickford, one of Chicago's premier dog trainers and an official CGC evaluator. View Debbie's bio
  • Prerequisite: Must have passed Good Manners 1 or Polite Puppy (or basic obedience training with a reputable trainer)
  • Requirements: Click here for our requirements.
  • Maximum class size: 8.
  • What to bring: A 6-foot leash (flexileads are not recommended) and favorite treats. A treat bag is recommended. Prong collars are not allowed in class.
  • Positive reinforcement only: As with all training classes at Tucker Pup's, this class uses only positive reinforcement techniques such as treats and praise. We do not use shock collars or dominance methods to achieve success.


>> Register now <<    Space is limited!

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