AKC Canine Good Citizen Titles

The AKC® Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Course is a comprehensive training program designed to instill good manners and obedience in dogs, making them well-behaved members of the community. The course focuses on teaching dogs essential skills such as sitting politely for petting, walking on a loose leash, responding to commands like "sit" and "stay," and behaving appropriately around other dogs and distractions. The CGC course also emphasizes the importance of responsible pet ownership, educating dog owners on best practices for managing their dogs in public and ensuring their pets are a positive reflection of the community.

Upon completing the course, dogs are eligible to take the CGC test, which evaluates their ability to perform the learned behaviors reliably in real-world situations. Passing the CGC test earns dogs the official Canine Good Citizen Certification®, a recognized standard of good behavior. This certification is not only a testament to a dog’s training but also opens doors to further activities such as therapy work, advanced obedience training, and participation in AKC® events. The CGC Course provides a solid foundation for dogs and their owners, promoting a harmonious relationship and a greater sense of confidence in various social settings.

AKC Urban CGC requires that the dog demonstrate CGC skills and beyond in a setting that includes traffic, crowds, noises, smells and other distractions that are present in a city or town. As with Canine Good Citizen, AKC Urban CGC is a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Urban CGC title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.

AKC Urban CGC is a public access test that demonstrates dogs are well-behaved and well-trained when in public settings. The Urban CGC test can be used by dog- friendly business (e.g., lodging, retail, transportation, public facilities) to recognize and accept dogs with good manners.

AKC Community Canine is the advanced level of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. As with CGC, AKC Community Canine has a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Community Canine title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.