The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program consists of three distinct levels designed to evaluate a dog's good manners and obedience: CGC, CGC-U, and CGC-A.
Understanding the CGC Levels
Each level of the Canine Good Citizen program progressively challenges a dog's obedience and behavior in various environments. These tests aim to promote responsible dog ownership and well-behaved canine companions within communities.
1. Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test serves as the foundational first step in the program. This evaluation assesses a dog's basic obedience and good manners in a controlled setting. Successfully completing this test indicates that a dog can respond to essential commands and behave appropriately around people and other dogs, demonstrating a solid understanding of fundamental dog etiquette.
- Key Focus: Basic obedience commands and polite manners.
- Environment: Typically conducted in a standard, controlled training or testing area with minimal distractions.
2. Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGC-U)
Following the successful completion of the basic CGC, the Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGC-U) test evaluates a dog's ability to maintain good behavior and obedience in a simulated or actual urban environment. This level introduces more real-world distractions and scenarios commonly encountered in city settings, such as navigating crowds or reacting appropriately to urban noises.
- Key Focus: Obedience and manners in a complex, urban setting.
- Environment: Urban areas featuring typical distractions like pedestrians, vehicle traffic, and diverse city sounds.
3. Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGC-A)
The Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGC-A) is the third and most advanced level in the program. This test builds upon the skills and reliability demonstrated in the previous two tests, requiring a higher degree of proficiency and control from the dog in more challenging and real-world situations.
- Key Focus: Advanced obedience and reliability in a variety of public settings.
- Environment: Often conducted in public places, requiring dogs to perform under diverse and unpredictable distractions.
Overview of CGC Levels
To provide a clear understanding of each stage, here is a summary of the three CGC levels:
| Level | Abbreviation | Primary Focus | Environment/Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canine Good Citizen | CGC | Basic obedience and good manners | Controlled setting with minimal distractions |
| Canine Good Citizen Urban Test | CGC-U | Obedience and manners in urban environments | Simulated or actual urban settings with city distractions |
| Advanced Canine Good Citizen | CGC-A | Advanced obedience and reliability (builds on prior levels) | Public places with various real-world challenges |
These progressive levels offer a structured path for dog owners to enhance their dog's training and demonstrate their canine companion's reliability in an increasing array of social and environmental situations.
