CGC Preparation: Choosing an Examiner and Location

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

courtesy Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources via Flickr.com
In Your Dreams, Tanner!

Just as each evaluator will have a different approach to handling the test, each environment will vary. Knowing where the test will occur and possibly even the time of day, may affect your pup's ability to get through this lengthy exam. You know your dog's weaknesses better than anyone, so keep them in mind when arranging your test plan.

To locate local CGC evaluators, visit AKC.org and search by State. You can also check local AKC shows for CGC exams that may be held concurrently. The environment may be a bit chaotic at these tests, with lots of competitions going on and owners/dogs everywhere. Keep this in mind if you opt for this sort of test. 

Of course, the word of mouth method also works. Ask any trainer you meet and you'll get at least one name. Stop by a dog training facility and you'll likely get more help.

A brief chat with each may make a world of difference in getting your pup through this tough examination. Feel free to ask questions about things that may concern you. Now is your chance to get a feel for the evaluator and venue that may work best for you and your dog.

Why will the location matter? Sometimes a story answers a question best: Tanner once took the test with a delightful, patient, calm evaluator. I felt good about this experience going into it. Oliver and Xena proved their ability to strut their stuff, but the environment challenged Tanner. Here's how it all unfolded....

Having agreed to perform the exam at a nearby park where a lovely dog-friendly walk circles a lake, we arrived for the exam just as a rainstorm struck. As the down pour continued, my worries were more for Oliver and Xena and their anxiety over thunder. I didn't give Tanner a thought, as he is oblivious to storms.

Fortunately the rain passed after a 30 minute wait in the car. The evaluator, his helpers, and my threesome all met under the trees at the lakeside just as a flock of water-loving ducks descended on the area for bathtime, along with a little frisky action to spice up the evening.

You may know that Tanner is a Golden Retriever, a breed intended to collect downed ducks for hunters. Tanner's DNA kicked into high gear and his attention was clearly not on the exam. Although he was able to pass some parts of the test, in general it was an epic failure as he struggled to move closer and closer to his quarry, craning his neck around every bush we tried to work behind.

Looking back on this experience I now realize that I could have prevented it by recognizing that I chose a time of day and location that were prone to storms. Add the presence of a lake and I really shot the bulls eye. A venue indoors is often tough to locate, as strangers or helpers are needed to complete portions of the exam. If your evaluator is able to provide these, you could potentially test your dog in a home or business location.

Obviously, if you select a trainer/evaluator with an indoor training facility, all they require are a couple of volunteers to help with the exam. Keep this in mind as you seek out the perfect person to test your dog.

Finally, you may wish to tune into the preferences of your examiner in terms of dogs. No examiner will give this up in so many words, so you may need to ask around. Some fancy show dogs, while others prefer big dogs. Still others like to see bully breeds or tiny pocket pups earn their stripes. Without knowing it, most examiners have preferences that they probably do not even realize. We discovered this with Oliver's first examination when a class full of toy-sized dogs all failed merely because of an overly-rough examination of their paw pads.
I'll be back next week with a video example of a simplified exam. Join me for this helpful visual and a wrap up. Any questions? I'll be happy to address them as best as I can.

Here's the whole series so far:

• Introductory Tips to Getting the Canine Citizen Certification
• CGC Test 1: Accepting a Friendly Stranger
• CGC Test 2: Sit Politely for Petting
• CGC Test 3: Appearance and Grooming
• CGC Test 4: Walking on a Loose Leash
• CGC Test 5: Walking Your Dog Through a Crowd
• CGC Test 6: Sit/Stay or Down/Stay
• CGC Test 7: Come When Called
• CGC Test 8: Reaction to Another DogTest
• CGC Test 9: Your Dog's Reaction to Distraction
• CGC Test 10: Supervised Separation

 

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping!

Your Dog's Reaction to Distraction: CGC Test 9 Tips & Troubles

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Imagine a Man-Made Noise Like This

Bang! Bonk! Wham! Clunk! This is one of the most chalenging tests for many dogs whose owners seek to pass the Canine Good Citizen test. Why? Unexpected noises that are loud and sudden often startle or frighten our dogs. The goal of this test is to determine if your dog is able to settle after an initial startle, without bolting, barking, cowering, whimpering, or otherwise showing fear beyond noticing the sudden noise.

Acceptable startle behavior includes turning, backing up a step or two (no more), sitting, moving slightly away without pulling you, or looking to you for feedback. Anything beyond these types of reactions may be considered too much fear. Each evaluator will have a different take on the guidelines here, and may not agree with you on how to score your dog's reaction. While you can discuss the decision with the evaluator, his decision will ultimately be final.

I've seen some quite varying examples of this test and will warn you that you need to prepare your pup for most every kind of noise. What's worse is many of the examiners will have the noise occur behind or out of sight of you and your dog, meaning that neither of you are expecting it. So much for mental preparation. If you respond with fear, your dog will too. So preparation includes quelling your own response to sudden noise.

Here are some of the noises CGC evaluators have used at tests I have been present for:

• Drop a metal folding chair on a cement floor from about 4 feet high--very startling!
• Ask the handler and the dog to walk on a sidewalk along a busy roadway, without significant issue over semi-trucks and fire engine noise.
• Release the lifting mechanism of a pallet jack and allow it to drop to a cement floor--this one made me jump!
• While facing away from a doorway, a door was slammed hard by a third party assistant.
• A large bell with a deep and continuous bong was rung.
• A 2 x 4 board was broken over a firm, narrow surface. Funny, I can't remember what they broke the board on???
• Two heavy pots banged together at their bottoms.
• Pushing a grocery cart, walker or wheelchair directly past the test takers is a very popular approach to one of the attempts to frighten your dog.

You get the idea, right? The CGC examiner will be out to trip you and your dog up big time. It's their job to make sure your dog can take a brief startle and then settle himself without any further ado. Most test evaluators will attempt to frighten your dog twice during this part of the test, so be prepared for the second try. It will likely be a different method :)

Here are my suggestions for preparing:

1. Walk along busy roadways frequently and get your pup used to traffic, firetrucks and semi-trailers. They are unpredicable, bouncy, and noisy.
2. When your dog is playing in the yard, practice hitting your car horn often to get him used to hearing the noise.
3. Obviously, you can make some noise in the kitchen. Those cooking pots are great for startling Fido. Start small and gradually build up the intensity of the "bang". Your goal is to get him to the point where he tells himself, "Oh well, it's just mom or dad being noisy again".
4. Slamming doors (unbreakable ones, hopefully) is another excellent test that will likely be used.
5. If your dog has shown uncertainty around any particular object, that's your cue to train with that item. You could get unlucky and have that very object used in the test, so be prepared. Start practicing by having your dog sit at the end of a room, while the object lies on the floor. Tap it gently and watch Fido's reaction. Gradually increase the movement and noise. Roll it, set it down, drop it, bang it. He needs to be ready for them all.
6. Make use of your driveway or other cement surface by testing your dog's ability to tolerate heavy metal objects dropped on them. Start with your dog well away when it occurs. Allow him to watch so he understands that the noise is harmless. Remember that your reaction needs to be negligible also. He will begin to follow your lead. Eventually you'll want to be able to drop a really loud item right behind him and get nothing more than a head turn. Then he's ready for the test.
7. Find a grocery cart in a parking lot and walk your dog around with it. If you do this often enough he will become comfortable with the presense of this big object. You can also practice that at pet superstores where carts are available.

All this practice will take time. Although your prep class may only last a few weeks, these sessions of readiness should begin by 6 months and continue until you take the exam. If you discover a new noise, go toward it and see how Fido responds. Watch for everything that could trip him up and help him learn to accept it as safe, based on your calm reaction and lack of response. Remember, do not soothe or coo over your dog if he shows fear. You'll only be encouraging it. Ignore him and walk to the object showing no fear. Show him by example that this object is harmless. Time will embed this lessen and he'll get the idea. You've got his back!

Catch up on the earlier parts of this series here:

Introductory Tips to Getting the Canine Citizen Certification

CGC Test 1: Accepting a Friendly Stranger
CGC Test 2: Sit Politely for Petting
CGC Test 3: Appearance and Grooming
CGC Test 4: Walking on a Loose Leash
CGC Test 5: Walking Your Dog Through a Crowd
CGC Test 6: Sit/Stay or Down/Stay
CGC Test 7: Come When Called
CGC Test 8: Reaction to Another Dog

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping!

CGC Test #8: Reaction to Another Dog

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

courtesy dibytes via Flickr.com
A Calm Approach for Best Results

Welcome back to the Weekly Wag, our Saturday series designed to help you bond with your dog. Currently we are working through the Canine Good Citizen exam, discussing ways to help you with each test on this challenging exam. A 10-test examination, each dog must pass EVERY test in the entire exam in order to qualify for the coveted Canine Good Citizen certification. The exam is facilitated by a qualified AKC evaluator and each of your dog's ten test results are recorded separately on a evaluation sheet for every dog being tested. 

Today we're going to talk about Test number 8, Reaction to Another Dog. This test is often one that trips up younger dogs and those who are particularly enthusiastic in temperament. Your less social dog will have a better chance with this test, as long as he is happily accepting of both a human and a dog in the test format. Here's how it goes:

Two handlers each approach one another with their dogs. The handlers shake hands, chat briefly and continue walking past the other. This is intended to simulate a neighborly greeting and the handlers are generally encouraged not to get too enthusiastic. The dogs are expected to wait patiently without barking, jumping, showing signs of fear or aggression. They are not necessarily to be greeted by the other handler and the dogs should not insist on a social greeting.

A more aloof, yet socialized dog will often fly through this test without issue. If your Fido is young, playful, under-exercised or simply highly social, you've got a big challenge on your hands. It's a balancing act, for certain, to socialize your dog with humans and other dogs, while also expecting them to be non-reactive to this opportunity for social engagement. Many dogs, including mine, find the messages are confusing. Quite honestly, it is challenging to have it both ways.

This test is one best practiced in a place where dogs are generally present with their owners and on-leash such as a pet supply store or area where many owners walk their dogs. In order to get the message across clearly, you'll need to practice time after time after time. Repetitive experiences will eventually get your dog to understand what you expect. You are free to use verbal praise, cues or commands, but you should not have to correct your dog or walk away to avoid trouble with your dog's behavior.

Preparing for the CGC with a group is often the easiest way to get your dog ready. You'll find that many trainers offer courses that help with practice and training to ready your pup for this tough series of tests. This particular part of the exam is much easier to prepare for when you have multiple handlers and their dogs to practice with. However, keep in mind that your dog may have become accustomed to and comfortable with these other humans and dogs during the course of the prep class. It is important to also create some of your own individual training at a pet supply store or dog walk. There just no better way to gauge your dog's readiness for this test than to put him in a new atmosphere with different handlers and dogs.

As long as you've taken the initiative to go this far, why not finish the route and assure a better outcome? Good luck with this practice.

Next week we'll be talking about Test 9, Reaction to Distraction. This test is one that some dogs breeze through while others fail miserably. Join me next week for some excellent ways to prepare your Fido for this very different part of the exam.

Catch up on the earlier parts of this series here:

• Introductory Tips to Getting the Canine Citizen Certification
• CGC Test 1: Accepting a Friendly Stranger
• CGC Test 2: Sit Politely for Petting
• CGC Test 3: Appearance and Grooming
• CGC Test 4: Walking on a Loose Leash
• CGC Test 5: Walking Your Dog Through a Crowd
• CGC Test 6: Sit/Stay or Down/Stay
• GCG Test 7: Come When Called

 

 

Join us each week for the Weekly Wag bonding series, held during the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop. The hop is hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping!



Dog Appearance and Grooming: CGC Test #3

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

© Karin Beil via Flickr.com
Lucky Gets a Good Brushing

Thanks for joining us once again for our series on preparing your dog for the Canine Good Citizen exam by the AKC. Well, clearly I need to go back to school too. Am I the only one that noticed I completely skipped Test #3? BOL!!


The purpose of test 3 is to assure that your dog will accept a friendly stranger for grooming. This stranger may be a vet, friend, testing assistant, or groomer, and must be able to check your dog's ears and teeth, handle his paws and pads to check for cuts or ticks, gently run his hands over the dog's body to check for wounds, ticks or painful areas, check the tail, and brush the dog gently. 


Many CGC testers will allow you to bring your own brush. I highly recommend this for your dog's comfort level. He is likely to recognize his own brush if you use if often enough, and this will signal a positive experience if you have done your job to prepare him at home.


Although a long list, these procedures may be completed in just a couple of minutes and need not be extremely invasive. That said, if your dog has not been used to handling by you or a groomer, this test may made him a bit testy, (pun intended) making the test tougher to pass. He is not allowed to pull away from the tester, mouth her, bark, or show any aggression.


To prepare your dog for this test you'll need to get started now with a daily routine of simple grooming activities done by you. Gradually build up from gentle touching to brushing and checking each area that must be inspected: ears, teeth, body, paws/pads, tail.


Pads are often the most sensitive and this test will vary by examiner. Once Oliver's 6'6" tester shoved his very large thumb in between Oliver's tiny pads, eliciting a squeal of pain. This was quite a surprise as Oliver had his pads manipulated from a young age to assure he would always allow exam between his pads. Never before had he responded in this way. Obviously this reaction meant a failure of the test on that occasion. :(


Retesting with a gentler tester proved successful. If your first experience brings a similar result in only one or two tests, retesting with a new examiner is frequently worthwhile.


Preparing your dog to accept the mouth exam is generally easier than expected, much to my surprise. I have noted that each tester performed a simple maneuver whereby he held (hopefully gently) the dog's snout closed with one hand, while lifting the lips near the jaw to inspect the back teeth. I have not witnessed a tester lift the front of a dog's mouth or attempt to open the dog's mouth for a tongue inspection. I suppose this is a good safety measure.


Some dogs prefer not to have their ears handled and this can become an issue in the exam. Stroking, caressing and brushing your dog's ears on a regular basis often allows this action to become one that Fido finds pleasurable. That should be your goal in preparing your dog for this simple exam, where the tester will handle and lift the dog's ear to peer inside as a veterinarian may do.


Take your time as you practice these movements with your dog. Use a soothing voice and play soft music. Remember to treat your pup when done, if his response has been positive. He needs to associate this grooming experience with pleasure, and a treat often helps you accomplish this goal. Grooming is also a wonderful way to bond with your dog, both enjoying the pleasure of finishing up with a nice massage. Enjoy and good luck!

This post is part of the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop hosted by Life with Dogs, Two Little Cavaliers, and Confessions of the Plume. You are welcome to link up here, or check any of their sites for their rules of participation. Happy hopping!