Urban Dog Living - Canine Good Citizen Owner's Commitment

When you take the Canine Good Citizen certification test you, the owner, sign a pledge.   I believe it is something that every owner should live by whether or not they aspire to pass the CGC.

I have reposted it here for everyone to read, understand and embrace.
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Canine Good Citizen Owner's Commitment to Responsible Dog Ownership

I  understand that to truly be a Canine Good Citizen, my dog needs a responsible owner.  I agree to maintain my dog's health, safety, and quality of life.  By Participating in the Canine Good Citizen test, I agree:

I will be responsible for my dog's health needs.  These include:

• routine veterinary care including check-ups and vaccines
• adequate nutrition through proper diet, clean water at all times
• daily exercise and regular bathing and grooming

I will be responsible for my dog's safety.

• I will properly control my dog by providing fencing where appropriate, not letting my dog run loose, and using a leash in public
•  I will ensure that my dog has some form of identification (which may include collar tags, tattoos, or microchip ID)

I will not allow my dog to infringe on the rights of others.

• I will not allow my dog to run loose in the neighborhood
• I will not allow my dog to be a nuisance to others by barking while in the yard, in a hotel room, etc.
• I will pickup and properly dispose of my dog's waste in all public areas such as on the grounds of hotels, on sidewalks, parks, etc.

• I will pickup and properly dispose of my dog's waste in wilderness areas, on hiking trails, campgrounds and off-leash parks. 

I will be responsible for my dog's quality of life.

• I understand the basic training is beneficial to all dogs
• I will give my dog attention and playtime
• I understand that owning a dog is a commitment in time and caring
  
  
  Tip for the day:
  Are you living up to the pledge listed above?   What can you change in your daily habits to have a healthier and happier dog?  Don't just think about that change!  Implement it!

Urban Dog Living - Canine Good Citizen Certification

The American Kennel Club has a certification program where you can have your dog tested to see if they are a Canine Good Citizen.  The minimum amount of obedience required for an urban dog is all covered in training for a CGC. 

Your dog will have to pass 10 tests which include:
Accepting a Friendly Stranger
Sitting Politely for Petting
Appearance and Grooming
Walking on a Loose Leash
Walking through a crowd
Sit/Down/Stay on Command
Coming when called
Reaction to another dog
Reaction to Distractions
Supervised Separation

The test is on a pass/fail basis.  If your dog fails any of the 10 elements they fail the whole test.  Jumping on people, growling, mouthing or pulling on the leash will result in a fail. 

This is a great goal for any pet-dog owner to aspire to because the AKC lets all dogs (regardless of their breed) participate.  Many training centers have CGC classes which help you train the basic obedience behaviors.   A good training center will offer a CGC test several times a year to its members.

Tip for the Day:
Run your dog through the tests listed above.   Can your dog successfully perform everything listed?  What do you need to work on?  Practice and get professional help if you need it.   Soon your dog too could be a Canine Good Citizen.