AKC Family Dog Program
The AKC Family Dog Program, or Canine Good Citizen Program, is a training and evaluation program designed and upheld by the American Kennel Club. It is the only behavioral program recognized by the U.S. Senate for ideal and acceptable training and behavior for pet dogs. Only approved Canine Good Citizen evaluators are permitted to evaluate and pass dogs for behavioral tests.
Home Manners
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the AKC designed a Home Manners evaluation that can be assessed virtually through a recording or live video session to aid new dog owners in developing household behaviors in their dogs during lockdown.
Now though, it is used as a framework to build off of for pet dogs and those looking to advance their training.
It is a 10-item test with differing test items for adults and puppies up to 1 year old. This evaluation has an in-person option as well and is your starting point in the CGC track for adult dogs.
Canine Good Citizen
The Canine Good Citizen evaluation is another 10-item test for adult dogs in households, as well as dogs used in show or sport. It tests how adaptable and well-mannered dogs are in mildly distracting situations and around others. Practice sessions with an approved evaluator are recommended before attempting the evaluation to set up mock scenarios and role-playing situations to better prepare your dog for the evaluation. Dogs must pass all 10 items to be awarded the CGC completion.
CGC evaluations are typically done in groups in mildly distracting environments, simulating real-life situations you may come across every day such as greeting another dog or asking someone to watch them for a brief moment. In the evaluation, you are not allowed to use treats or other training tools like clickers or special collars; you may talk with your dog to keep them engaged. Upon successful evaluation, you’ll receive a ribbon from your evaluator and completed paperwork to send to AKC for your title and certificate.
Urban Canine Good Citizen
The Urban CGC evaluation is another 10-item test for adult dogs, but this one has emphasis on urban-living integration — well-behaved entering buildings, traveling through a crowd or busy sidewalk, and be housetrained for apartment living — just to name a few of the items. Practice sessions with an approved evaluator are recommended before attempting the evaluation to set up mock scenarios and role-playing situations to better prepare your dog for the evaluation. Dogs must have their CGC title already and pass all 10 items to be awarded the Urban CGC completion.
This kind of evaluation is done within the dog owner’s urban community like an apartment, condo, townhouse, or downtown in a city for use of different everyday occurrences within the test. More than one dog can be evaluated at a time. Similar to the CGC evaluation, you may not use treats or any training tools in the evaluation, but you may talk with them. Upon successful evaluation, you’ll receive a ribbon from your evaluator and completed paperwork to send to AKC for your title and certificate.
AKC Community Canine
AKC Community Canine, or Advanced Canine Good Citizen, is another 10-item test for adult dogs, but this one has an emphasis on community living and public manners beyond CGC — sitting and waiting patiently while owners chat or have a snack, ignores distractions while on leash, and can sit-stay around other dogs — as a few examples. Practice sessions with an approved evaluator are recommended before attempting the evaluation to set up mock scenarios and role-playing situations to better prepare your dog for the evaluation. Dogs must have their CGC title already and pass all 10 items to be awarded the AKC Community Canine completion.
This kind of evaluation is done within the dog owner’s community like out at a park or other pet-friendly location to simulate real life experiences as much as possible and is typically evaluated with other attendees present. Similar to the CGC evaluation, you may not use treats or any training tools in the evaluation, but you may talk with them. Upon successful evaluation, you’ll receive a ribbon from your evaluator and completed paperwork to send to AKC for your title and certificate.