Tucker Pup's Dog Activity Center

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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: None scheduled at the moment - let us know if you're interested
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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A Happy Customer

I thought that it was very useful information that you included about grooming questions/issues. I was very happy with my experience yesterday and Zoe looks great. She is happy and relaxed, and looks great!

- Colleen Nelson
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Fun Class Series

In our new Fun Class series, you choose which dates and classes you attend, in an open enrollment format. Pay for one at a time, or prepay for multiple classes and receive a discount.

Classes in the series:
Agility
Treibball
Freestyle Dance
Tricks
Rally Obedience

Click here to learn more.

Agility Competition

Our next Agility Competition is on:
None currently scheduled.

Click here to learn more.

Get Into Agility

Watch video

This is a great indoor activity that is fun and sharpens training skills.

Click here to learn more about agility.