AKC Canine Good Citizen Program
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy
AKC S.T.A.R. (Socialization, Training, Activity, Responsibility) Puppy is a program designed to get dog owners and their puppies off to a happy and healthy start. The S.T.A.R. program is an incentive program for loving dog owners who are willing to take the time and invest in basic training classes. A S.T.A.R. Puppy should be able to walk on a leash, be comfortable with strangers walking/petting him or her, be nonchalant while being groomed and follow basic commands.
AKC Canine Good Citizen
The Canine Good Citizen, or C.G.C., is a program that is recognized as the Gold Standard for dog behavior. It references responsible owners and well-mannered dogs. In Canine Good Citizen, dogs who pass the 10 step C.G.C. test can earn a certificate and/or the official AKC C.G.C. title. Dogs with the C.G.C. title have the suffix, “C.G.C.” after their names.
AKC Community Canine (Advanced C.G.C.)
The AKC Community Canine is an advanced title which expands on the AKC Canine Good Citizen title. This is the third and most advanced level of the Canine Good Citizen Program where dogs can earn the CGCA (Advanced CGC) title. The goal of AKC Community Canine is to test the dog’s skills in a natural setting. For example, rather than the dog being tested in a ring, in AKC Community Canine, the “walks through a crowd” test item will involve the dog walking through a real crowd at a dog show, on a busy sidewalk, at a training club or in a local park.
By providing a model of good behavior dogs can learn to mimic desired behavior. Our trainers might have another dog act as the model, praising them for completing tasks on command. You may see us often walking in tandem or as a group to achieve the desired results.
Our goal is to assess each dog’s individual situation and help to modify the behavior though reconditioning and positive reinforcement. We believe that all canine behavior can be modified using a strong obedience foundation. We form a strong relationship with our clients. Communication and cooperation between our staff and clients is vital when training and is a crucial element in becoming successful.
