The AKC administers CGC as one of its training services. If your dog passes this test, people will know that your dog is well trained -- and that you are a devoted owner who has promised to take care of your dog's health, exercise, training and safety requirements.
CGC certification will help your dog in a number of ways. First of all, when you want to sign your pet up for some advanced training classes or get him into physical therapy after surgery, having CGC certification may get you in the door. If you want to rent a pricey loft but want to take your best friend with you, the landlord may be a little bit more forgiving if you have the CGC paperwork to show him -- that way, he will know that your dog will not tear up the place.
If you own a dog, then you are automatically taking on a considerable responsibility -- to love your dog and show it by feeding him, exercising him, keeping him safe and training him. You really made this pledge when you bought the dog, so there is no reason why you should not be willing to go ahead and sign this as part the CGC evaluation. These are things that you should be prepared to do anyway, so don't shy away from signing it.
During the test, you can expect your dog to have to show that he can obey your commands in a timely manner. You shouldn't have to repeat yourself. You are allowed to give treats or other positive reinforcements, just as you do in the training process. The dog will also be subject to some external distractions from the environment to see how reacts. If you have raised your dog to be calm, cool and collected, there should be no problem with this part of the test.
If your dog fails to obey your commands or behaves in such a way as to go against the precepts of the CGC mission, then your dog can be disqualified from the test. This does not mean that you cannot take the test again, but it does mean that he will not be able to complete the existing test. Just head back to the drawing board for training and try again when your dog is more ready for the requirements of the testing.
There are a lot of positive things that you can do to help your dog be a happier member of your family -- training is just one of them. However, if you have the time and the means to prepare your dog for the CGC test, then you are ensuring that your dog is even more effectively trained than the average canine.
Having a CGC certificate can be a good reason to get your dog trained, because it can give your best friend opportunities that it might not have otherwise. Use the tips in this article to prepare for the test.