Back-to-School Time for Dogs & Owners
It’s almost back-to-school time in Washington DC! Sale flyers fill our mailboxes, store aisles burst with school supplies, and soon those big, yellow buses will rule the roads each morning and afternoon.
Formal education is required for all children as part of the process of teaching them to become good citizens; but what about our animal friends?
If we expect them to be good companions to humans, shouldn’t we spend time and effort training them as well?
In 1989, the American Kennel Club began a certification program designed to encourage proper training and behavior for dogs at home and in the community.
The Canine Good Citizen Program has two parts stressing responsible pet ownership for humans and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the ten-step Canine Good Citizen test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.
Once a dog is ready to take the Canine Good Citizen test, owners sign the Responsible Dog Owners Pledge. By signing, owners agree to take care of their dog’s health needs, safety, exercise, training and quality of life.
Owners also agree to show responsibility by doing things such as cleaning up after their dogs in public places and never letting their dogs infringe on the rights of others.
In Washington DC tests are offered by veterinarians, groomers, kennel owners, police K-9 officers, and more.Items on the Canine Good Citizen Test include:
Accepting a friendly stranger
Allowing a friendly stranger to interact with the handler while dog remains calm
Sitting politely for petting
Allowing a friendly stranger to touch the dog while with its handler
Appearance and grooming
Exhibiting an attractive appearance and willingness to be groomed
Walking on a loose lead
Demonstrating handler’s control of the dog, while dog walking
Walking through a crowd
Behaving politely and under control in public places when dog walking
Following commands such as “sit, down, and stay”
Coming when called
Reacting to another dog
Behaving politely with no more than casual interest in the other animal
Reacting to distraction
Showing confidence when faced with common distracting situations
Supervised separation
Maintaining training and good manners when left with evaluator while handler goes out of sightWhen your dog passes the test, he is rewarded with a certificate, and your dog’s name is recorded in the AKC Canine Good Citizen Archive. So have fun with your dog; go dog walking in Washington DC and show off his perfect behavior!
Becky O'Neil is a pet expert and owner of Becky's Pet Care a professional pet sitting and dog walking services provider in the Washington, DC area.