KC Good Citizen Awards

Well for me the answer to the second question is 'no' because I just opened this thread hoping that it would tell me what they were all about :D One of the dogs my mum bred won its Good Citizen class at Crufts, and I have no clue what it all is about???

Perhaps it is just me though :)
 
It just seems to be little things like meeting new people without jumping up, etc, and I think it would be nice to say oh this dog has such and such, but I don't know how strictly they're marked etc either, and if there is allowance for things like the fact that my bouncy border collie husky cross ain't going to sit around for 10 minutes. One of the tasks in the Gold Award is to send the dog to its bed on command though. Doesn't show very much allowance for dogs (like mine) who live outside in a heated shed and run, but don't have commands like this, because I respect their space and don't tell them where to go in it (unless they're giving cheek :P ).
 
Not something I'd bother with TBH. I don't need to take a test to prove my dog is 'well trained' and does daft tricks but he is well behaved and minds his manners because I put the work in. We didn't go to any training classes.
 
I read a very interesting article in one of the breed magazines comparing the KC GC awards to the working qualifications (Companion Dog, Companion Dog Excellent, etc) and the German qualifications.
I get the feeling after doing a very teutonic test that I could to the GC in my sleep :p

I laughed at the 'get to bed' one :p

However I welcome anything which encourages well behaved, sociable dogs and I will not negate the time and effort that anyone puts into qualifications like this.
 
I saw them doing a demonstration of the Gold Award at Crufts, and IMO the stuff they can do is ideal for your average family pet especially those owned by people that haven't a clue about training. The dogs were iin a simulated park situation and had to ignore other dogs, recall from distractions, be left without trouble etc etc. It also has a care part for the Owners to be tested on.
Like CC says, anything which encourages nice dogs and resposible owners isn't to be sneered at.
 
Having re-read my response I sound snotty (not saying CC & Hen are aiming their comments at me either)

I do agree with them both its just not something I'd pursue because I do it anyway is what I meant.
 
You'd did :p It must be having a corgi, makes you think you're better than the rest of us.. Just 'cos the Queen has them... :p :D

Nah, of course you didn't! That's what I meant when I said they are perfect for people that perhaps don't have the direction you do when it comes to training. Your average person might get to Sit, Stay, Heel, Come and be stumped what to do next.
 
Probably not really relevant because I doubt it's the same at all, but Bella beagle has her Canine Good Citizen award here in the U.S. from the American Kennel Club. If it is similar it is pretty basic but does consist of some things that a typical family pet might not be good at like sit/stay/come; heel; meeting dogs without reacting; not being frightened by strange objects; and finally, the big test for Bella, being able to leave your dog with a stranger and not having the dog panic or fuss at you being gone. The testers sent me away and came to get me and bring me back to Bella who was still in the test area. When I got back they told me she had been really good for them but after 5 minutes she had started to howl quietly for me. She passed though because she had only needed to be quiet for 3 minutes and they were late coming to get me. She's a good beagle! :)

Here's the U.S. website that lists what they have to do: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm

I don't think they have levels of this though ... I think the next step would be novice level obedience.
 
I personally don't think there's anything wrong with attending any type of dog training class, whether it be the Good Citizenship Awards based training or otherwise.

I don't consider myself to be an idiot, and I put alot of work in with Harvey before we attended dog training classes, but I still got alot out of it. Surely people don't honestly think that only clueless dog owners attend training classes?

People do fall by wayside as the course progresses, but they are the people who don't put the work/time in outside of the classes. You won't achieve a well mannered dog just doing training for an hour, once a week. It's a lifelong thing to continually reinforce the commands and responses in your dog.

I live on a farm which can be quite a secluded lifestyle for a dog. For me, the socialisation and being able to test his obedience in front of other dogs for distraction is such a bonus.
 
Sneaks off to hide Evies Gold GC Award.:o

You are right CC, they bear absolutely no resemblance to the BH or similar tests, but I do think they are a good idea for the average pet owner to achieve. Some of the tests are daft imo, e.g. go to bed, and also greeting a stranger at the door. I am sorry but someone knocking at a small door on a frame in the middle of a hall bears no similarity to someone coming to my door at home, strangely enough the dog doesn't bark at the former. However, the socialisation exercises are good, walking on the street meeting pedestrians and other dogs etc, and the out of sight stay. I found the tough part was the owners questions section, not because I didn'tknow the answers but because they are worded in such a strange way. The dog warden who tests at the club I went to is quite strict and failed a few people, in a couple ofinstances the dogs were fine but owners got the question wrong.
The GC class at Crufts is for dogs who have qualified for Crufts in the usual way but also hold GC awards.

Gerbilgirl, I get your point aboutgo to bed not being relevant to your dog, but it isn't so much the fact that you may use the command, more that you can teach the dog to do it.
Another quite good part of the test is that the dog must be shown to sit calmly in the back of the car when the car is started up as if going to drive off, and also wait in the car when the door is opened and not get out before a command is given. I see so many dogs fly out as the boot is opened, very dangerous.

And ditto Patches, if I didn't take my dogs to classes when they were younger they wouldn't see any other dogs than my own, not good for socialisation, although I am perfectly capable of doing all the training at home.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top