AKC Good Canine Citizen - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Hamoth · 09-18-2005, 04:26 PM

The AKC has a standard called the "Good Canine Citizen" which tests your dog's obedience and social skills. http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm

Has anyone here gotten their Yorkie through this test? The standards seem really tough! I was wondering if I could get some advice from anyone who's pulled it off!

yorkiegold · 09-18-2005, 04:32 PM

We have our eyes on the CGC title! I don't think it's as hard as it sounds. Most Petsmart training classes train for the test.

Good for you! If I see one more Yorkie in a dress, I'll puke. They're real dogs and can do real dog work.

Good luck.

CJ

Hamoth · 09-18-2005, 04:56 PM

Hmm..Odd..I took the petsmart class (2 of them) and they never mentioned this! I wish they had, there's lots of great stuff in here.

Well in particular, I'm worried about the following:

Test 10: Supervised separation
Oy vey! Chewy is a bit of a drama queen when we are seperated, he's always had a lot of separation anxiety, but we've calmed it down...still I don't know if he would go 3 minutes without whining. I'm trying to figure out how to train for this!

Test 8: Reaction to another dog
If he ever met a polite dog himself, I could test this. I tried it with his buddies, but THEY wouldn't calm down enough...

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
He rarely lets strangers touch him...He often ducks away from any approaching hands. Perhaps my regiment of dominance training (and petting during reward) will get rid of that though...

Still, I have no idea how to train for the above items...
Good luck! Let's see who can get CGC, AKC Basic & Utillity first!

yorkiegold · 09-18-2005, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamoth

Hmm..Odd..I took the petsmart class (2 of them) and they never mentioned this! I wish they had, there's lots of great stuff in here.

Well in particular, I'm worried about the following:

Test 10: Supervised separation
Oy vey! Chewy is a bit of a drama queen when we are seperated, he's always had a lot of separation anxiety, but we've calmed it down...still I don't know if he would go 3 minutes without whining. I'm trying to figure out how to train for this!

Test 8: Reaction to another dog
If he ever met a polite dog himself, I could test this. I tried it with his buddies, but THEY wouldn't calm down enough...

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
He rarely lets strangers touch him...He often ducks away from any approaching hands. Perhaps my regiment of dominance training (and petting during reward) will get rid of that though...

Still, I have no idea how to train for the above items...
Good luck! Let's see who can get CGC, AKC Basic & Utillity first!

We went to the Petsmart class, basic and then advanced about a year or two ago. They had some information about the CGC test in the printed booklet they handed out and our graduation class was a mock-up of the test. Maybe they stopped doing it that way.

I'm lucky that my little man will do almost anything once he understands there's a treat at the end of it. But in general I try to break everything down to it's smallest component and practice that until it's automatic and then advance.

You touch him and treat him. When he thinks that's a fun game, then someone else he trusts, then someone he's only met a few times and then a stranger. Sometimes the supply of friendly strangers can be slim - that's why we went to the Petsmart class. Ditto with the strange dog. There was a built-in supply at Petsmart.

Same with the separation. A little bit then a little bit then a little bit more. You leave him for a few seconds in a safe place - treat and praise then a few more seconds then a newer place.

Okay good buddy - I'll take the challenge for CGC. My boy is 2.5 years. How old's yours?

CJ

Hamoth · 09-18-2005, 05:26 PM

1 year, and I've only a basic obediance certificate to his name...But he's devilishly quick at learning skills. I can work in two new simple commands per 24 hour period so far. Of course some aren't simple...like "let this guy pet you..." and "don't be a spazz while I'm gone".

Then again...thanks to your calm advice...I think I know how to train out the sep anxiety...his verbal skills are amazing and I think I can teach him to associate a word with 'wait for my return'. "be back" perhaps...

I'll experiment with that tonight.

We should track our progress and things we learn here. I'm amazed by the number of people who tell me that their Yorkie is "untrainable". Let's show em how trainable they are!

Meanwhile I'll look for a place in Seattle that does the training for CGC.

schatzie · 09-18-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkiegold

We have our eyes on the CGC title! I don't think it's as hard as it sounds. Most Petsmart training classes train for the test.

Good for you! If I see one more Yorkie in a dress, I'll puke. They're real dogs and can do real dog work.

Good luck.

CJ

Awww, that's too bad that a Yorkie in a dress gives you such ill feelings. I've never thought less of Schatzie being in a dress or any of the other Yorkie's here. They all look like real dogs to me who can do real work.

Wish you all the best in reaching your CGC title!

yorkiegold · 09-19-2005, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamoth

1 year, and I've only a basic obediance certificate to his name...But he's devilishly quick at learning skills. I can work in two new simple commands per 24 hour period so far. Of course some aren't simple...like "let this guy pet you..." and "don't be a spazz while I'm gone".

Then again...thanks to your calm advice...I think I know how to train out the sep anxiety...his verbal skills are amazing and I think I can teach him to associate a word with 'wait for my return'. "be back" perhaps...

I'll experiment with that tonight.

We should track our progress and things we learn here. I'm amazed by the number of people who tell me that their Yorkie is "untrainable". Let's show em how trainable they are!

Meanwhile I'll look for a place in Seattle that does the training for CGC.

Well, my boy is 2.5 years old and as the basic obedience certificate and the advanced. Not much more to crow about, eh? We had so much fun. I have some disabilities and it was a real challenge to get there, but we took pictures and met some great people. The Petsmart environment was perfect for socializing. We had people squealing to meet him from outside the training ring. He was a real star. My biggest worry before we started was that he would lift his leg on everything, but one accident the first day and that was it. He was engaged and ready to go.

If you can find a clicker class, my little boy has really responded to that. Look forward to hearing your progress.

CJ

Now you've jarred me back into working toward the CGC seriously!

yorkiegold · 09-19-2005, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzie

Awww, that's too bad that a Yorkie in a dress gives you such ill feelings. I've never thought less of Schatzie being in a dress or any of the other Yorkie's here. They all look like real dogs to me who can do real work.

Wish you all the best in reaching your CGC title!

Dresses are bad, but the baby talk is the worst. Yikes.

CJ

River · 09-19-2005, 05:57 AM

I haven't done any obedience with my Yorkie yet, trying to get his medical stuff resolved and then I will take him where I took my G. Shepherd. My shepherd, Hunter, got his CGC and the test wasn't that bad. The separation was definitely the worst. I had a friend help me with that, just kind of did it gradually. Then I had people that we didn't know very well hold him while I was out of his sight, it really helped get him past that test. Once he knew that I would come back he was OK and was good for the test. His sit, stay and come are excellent. Terriers are harder though I think. They are a little more independent and not quite so willing to please. Don't get me wrong, it's one of the traits I love most about the terrier breed and why I own a Jack Russell and a Yorkie. But it does make obedience a little more challenging. I'm looking forward to working with Indy as soon as he's well.

orinskye · 09-19-2005, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkiegold

Dresses are bad, but the baby talk is the worst. Yikes.

CJ

LOL. . . . i find that the baby talk is frustrating because i CANT READ IT... i am considered dislexic and messing with words by changing the letters is just frustrating. But if you dont like it that you can do like i do and just avoid it, there is no law that you have to read/agree with what other members post or do

Hamoth · 09-19-2005, 12:18 PM

Quote:

If you can find a clicker class, my little boy has really responded to that. Look forward to hearing your progress.

I did find one. I'm really excited about starting clicker training. We're going to be a crossover pair, as we transfer from traditional lure training to the clicker. I'm at a bit of a loss, but need to bone up on the basics of the method before I show up at the advanced training class totally clueless.

The basic clicker classes are WAY beneath Chewy's skills and would probably only confuse him, but the advanced is JUST at his level. I only hope that adding the clicker into the mix won't be too much of a shift from how he's used to learning. Still, it seems really great and I'm only wishing our first petsmart class had used clicker!

I'm going to go get a clicker today and start tryign to use it to shape "bow" behavior.

09-18-2005, 04:26 PM	#1
Hamoth YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 354	AKC Good Canine Citizen The AKC has a standard called the "Good Canine Citizen" which tests your dog's obedience and social skills. http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm Has anyone here gotten their Yorkie through this test? The standards seem really tough! I was wondering if I could get some advice from anyone who's pulled it off!

09-18-2005, 04:32 PM	#2
yorkiegold BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 215	We have our eyes on the CGC title! I don't think it's as hard as it sounds. Most Petsmart training classes train for the test. Good for you! If I see one more Yorkie in a dress, I'll puke. They're real dogs and can do real dog work. Good luck. CJ

09-18-2005, 04:56 PM	#3
Hamoth YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 354	Hmm..Odd..I took the petsmart class (2 of them) and they never mentioned this! I wish they had, there's lots of great stuff in here. Well in particular, I'm worried about the following: Test 10: Supervised separation Oy vey! Chewy is a bit of a drama queen when we are seperated, he's always had a lot of separation anxiety, but we've calmed it down...still I don't know if he would go 3 minutes without whining. I'm trying to figure out how to train for this! Test 8: Reaction to another dog If he ever met a polite dog himself, I could test this. I tried it with his buddies, but THEY wouldn't calm down enough... Test 2: Sitting politely for petting He rarely lets strangers touch him...He often ducks away from any approaching hands. Perhaps my regiment of dominance training (and petting during reward) will get rid of that though... Still, I have no idea how to train for the above items... Good luck! Let's see who can get CGC, AKC Basic & Utillity first!

09-18-2005, 05:26 PM	#5
Hamoth YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 354	1 year, and I've only a basic obediance certificate to his name...But he's devilishly quick at learning skills. I can work in two new simple commands per 24 hour period so far. Of course some aren't simple...like "let this guy pet you..." and "don't be a spazz while I'm gone". Then again...thanks to your calm advice...I think I know how to train out the sep anxiety...his verbal skills are amazing and I think I can teach him to associate a word with 'wait for my return'. "be back" perhaps... I'll experiment with that tonight. We should track our progress and things we learn here. I'm amazed by the number of people who tell me that their Yorkie is "untrainable". Let's show em how trainable they are! Meanwhile I'll look for a place in Seattle that does the training for CGC.

09-19-2005, 05:57 AM	#9
River Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: PA Posts: 178	I haven't done any obedience with my Yorkie yet, trying to get his medical stuff resolved and then I will take him where I took my G. Shepherd. My shepherd, Hunter, got his CGC and the test wasn't that bad. The separation was definitely the worst. I had a friend help me with that, just kind of did it gradually. Then I had people that we didn't know very well hold him while I was out of his sight, it really helped get him past that test. Once he knew that I would come back he was OK and was good for the test. His sit, stay and come are excellent. Terriers are harder though I think. They are a little more independent and not quite so willing to please. Don't get me wrong, it's one of the traits I love most about the terrier breed and why I own a Jack Russell and a Yorkie. But it does make obedience a little more challenging. I'm looking forward to working with Indy as soon as he's well.