AKC Canine Good Citizen Testing

At Wolf Song Acres K9 Academy, we are proud to offer the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC), the AKC Urban CGC, and the AKC Advanced CGC (also known as Community Canine) testing, programs designed to recognize and reward well-behaved dogs that have mastered essential obedience skills and display good manners at home and in the community. As a certified AKC CGC evaluator, I am dedicated to helping dogs and their owners achieve this prestigious title through a structured and supportive training program.

Class Overview: Each CGC class is a comprehensive 6-week course, held once a week, where dogs and their handlers work together to prepare for their CGC test. Throughout the course, we will cover all test items required by each AKC CGC program, ensuring that each dog is well-prepared to succeed.

Final Test: At the end of the 6-week course, dogs will undergo the official CGC test, where they must demonstrate their ability to perform the required tasks. Successful completion of the test will earn them the AKC Canine Good Citizen title, a testament to their good behavior and training.

Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

The AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program is designed to recognize dogs that exhibit good manners at home and in the community. The CGC test consists of ten test items that evaluate the dog's behavior and obedience. These include accepting a friendly stranger, sitting politely for petting, walking on a loose lead, and more. Successful completion of the CGC test earns the dog the CGC title, which is a testament to their training and good behavior. This program is an excellent foundation for any dog, promoting responsible pet ownership and well-behaved pets.

Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGC-U)

The Canine Good Citizen Urban (CGC-U) title is an advanced level of the CGC program that evaluates the dog's ability to demonstrate good manners in urban environments. This test includes elements of the traditional CGC test but adds urban-specific challenges such as navigating through busy sidewalks, riding in elevators, and safely crossing streets. The CGC-U title is ideal for dogs that frequently accompany their owners in city settings, ensuring that they can handle the unique distractions and obstacles found in urban areas.

Prerequisites: AKC CGC

Advanced Canine Good Citizen
(CGC-A)

The Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGC-A), also known as the Community Canine, is the next step after the CGC and focuses on the dog's ability to demonstrate advanced obedience and good manners in community settings. The CGC-A test involves more challenging scenarios, including off-leash work and interactions with various distractions. Dogs must already have their CGC title to be eligible for the CGC-A test. Earning the CGC-A title shows that the dog can perform reliably in real-world situations, making them an exemplary member of the community.

Prerequisites: AKC CGC-U

AKC S.T.A.R Puppy

The AKC S.T.A.R Puppy class is a foundational training program for puppies under the age of 10 months, emphasizing Socialization, Training, Activity, and Responsibility (S.T.A.R), helping young dogs develop confidence, manners, and early obedience skills.

This class introduces essential beginner behaviors such as sit, down, stay, come, and loose-leash walking, along with proper handling, grooming tolerance, and responsible puppy ownership. Puppies also participate structured socialization and temperament exercises to ensure they are developing into stable, well-adjusted companions.

Upon completing the class, puppies are eligible to take the AKC S.T.A.R Puppy evaluation. Successful completion allows owners to submit the paperwork to the AKC to recieve the official S.T.A.R Puppy certificate and S.T.A.R. Puppy Medal. This program lays a strong foundation for future training and prepares puppies for more advanced work, including AKC's Canine Good Citizen.

CGC Classes - Terms and Conditions

Prerequisites

Basic Obedience Requirement: Dogs must have completed the Basic Obedience Level 1 group class or undergo a consultation to ensure they can safely and appropriately participate around other dogs. This prerequisite ensures every dog entering the CGC class has the foundation needed to succeed.

Class Structure

Scheduled Sessions: Our CGC class is a 6-week course with sessions held once a week. Each session focuses on the specific skills required for the official AKC Canine Good Citizen test, including polite greetings, loose leash walking, distraction work, supervised separation, and more.

Evaluation and Titling

Final Test: During the final week of class, dogs will complete the official CGC test. The cost of this evaluation is included in the class fee.
AKC Registration: To take the CGC test and earn the title, dogs must have AKC Registration, Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL), or an AKC Canine Partners number for recording. Clients can apply for a Canine Partners number if their dog is not a purebred.
Application and Fees: After passing the test, owners are responsible for submitting the $30 CGC title fee directly to the AKC. This fee is separate from class and evaluation costs.
Evaluation Only Option: This option is available for dogs enrolled in board and train, as well as for owners who prefer to complete the test without taking the full class. The evaluator's fee is $50, which includes the full test, required paperwork, and any setup needed for distractions or group components. Owners are responsible for submitting the AKC's certificate and titling fee directly to the AKC after passing.

Pricing

Basic Obedience Level 1: $150.00 - This is a 6 week group class that is required before enrolling in the CGC course unless a consultation determines otherwise.
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy: $180.00 - This is a 6 week group class that includes the full course and the STAR Puppy evaluation during the final week.
AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC): $180.00 - This is a 6 week group class that includes the full course and the official CGC evaluation during the final week and is a prerequisite to taking the AKC CGC-U.
AKC Canine Good Citizen - Urban (CGC-U): $180.00 - This is a 6 week group class that includes the full course and the official CGC-U evaluation during the final week and is a prerequisite to taking the AKC CGC -A.
AKC Advanced Canine Good Citizen (CGC-A): $180.00 - This is a 6 week group class that includes the full course and the official CGC-A evaluation during the final week.

Evaluation Only Options

S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluation Only: $50.00
- $40.00 - evaluator's hourly rate
- $10 - AKC Test Materials
CGC, CGC-U, & CGC-A Evaluations Only: $50.00
- $40.00 - evaluator's hourly rate
- $10 - AKC Test Materials

It is the owners responsibility to submit AKC's certificate and Titling fee directly to the AKC after passing. This fee is separate from class and evaluation costs.

These evaluations include the full test, required paperwork, and any setup needed for distractions or group components.