Max and I started our Canine Good Citizen Prep(CGC) class at the Seattle Humane Society today. Because I have two young dogs, I've taken quite a few training classes over the past year, but this was my first at the Seattle Humane Society, and I think it's going to be great.

Ali Johnson of Kinship Dog Training is our instructor and for the first class, she and her two volunteer assistants led all six dogs and their handlers through most of the ten items on the CGC test. One dog seems ready to pass the test on day one, but most of us (certainly Max and I) have some work to do!

The CGC class is not a basics class. All these dogs know how to sit, down, stay and many clearly are already pros at loose-leash walking. The ten item CGC test incorporates some of the elements of basic training into scenarios (walking through a crowd, being groomed) that are designed to test a dog's training in action, rather than as a static exercise.

The CGC certification, offered by the American Kennel Association since 1989, is meant to demonstrate that your dog has good manners at home and in the community. It is open to both purebred and mixed breed dogs.

Washington is one of the 23 states to have enacted CGC resolutions – essentially an endorsement of the test. In some localities around the country, a CGC certification can lower a homeowner's insurance rates or mitigate breed ban laws.

Some people argue that the test doesn't really demonstrate what your dog will do in a real world situation and while there is some truth to that, I think the same argument applies to a practical driver's license exam. A 16-year old (or a 40-year old, for that matter) might react differently in a test situation than in real life, but that doesn't make testing practical driving skills a bad idea.

For me, a big part of the value of the test is the structure of preparing for it, and the chance it gives Max and I to work as a team. Should he earn his CGC certificate six weeks from now, it certainly won't mean that he's a perfectly-trained dog, but working towards that goal is symbolic of the commitment that we made to him the day he joined our family. Could I prepare for the test on my own? Maybe, but, I appreciate the guidance of a professional trainer, and the great opportunity to work in a roomful of dogs and people. I also know that I am much more likely to do our homework when I will be accountable in class each week. And class makes it more fun!

The Canine Good Citizen Prep Class is one of many classes held at the Seattle Humane Society . It's a great place for you and your dog to learn something new! Most dogs adopted from the Seattle Humane Society are eligible for one free six-week training class.

For our special homework this week, Max and I are going to be working on our loose-leash walking and getting his attention on a verbal cue. Stay tuned.

Lynn
lynnseattlehumane@gmail.com