Socialization, Training, Activity and Responsible Ownership (S.T.A.R. Puppy)
Your dog can start training at any age to receive their CGC, however, puppies are developmentally more suited for getting their AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Certificate first, then moving up to CGC after graduation. The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy program isn’t a mandatory prerequisite to get the CGC, but it creates a solid foundation for puppies who continue on to additional training. Must be completed prior to 1 year old.
Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program was created by the AKC (American Kennel Club) to help you and your dog be the best you can be together. This program was created in 1989 to help your dog understand the basics of dog training and teach them how to behave in crowds and other public situations.
This program is also a prerequisite for many therapy dog certifications and is an essential part of service dog training. Plus, it is a great introduction to more advanced dog programs like agility training.
Community Canine Good Citizen (CGCA)
AKC Community Canine is the advanced level of the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Program. Dogs who pass the AKC Community Canine Evaluation earn the official AKC Community Canine title that is designated by the letters “CGCA” (Advanced CGC) on the dog’s title record.
The difference in CGC and CGCA comes down to the evaluation. During the Canine Good Citizen Evaluation, your dog will be tested in a class-type setting and all situations are simulated, for example, 3 helpers will serve as a “crowd”. The AKC Community Canine Evaluation is done in a real-life situation like a classroom, at a show, or somewhere in the community with many more distractions to test your dog.
Urban Canine Good Citizen (CGCU)
AKC Urban CGC requires that the dog demonstrate CGC skills and beyond in a setting that includes traffic, crowds, noises, smells and other distractions that are present in a city or town. As with Canine Good Citizen, AKC Urban CGC is a 10-step evaluation of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Urban CGC title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.
AKC Urban CGC is a public access test that demonstrates dogs are well-behaved and well-trained when in public settings. The Urban CGC Evaluation can be used by dog- friendly businesses (e.g., lodging, retail, transportation, public facilities) to recognize and accept dogs with good manners.
Passing the Urban CGC test or Canine Good Citizen test does not make a dog a service dog or emotional support dog. A key distinction of service or emotional support dogs is that the owner/handler has a disability. It is unethical to misrepresent a pet dog as a service or emotional support animal.
