Canine Good Citizen Test In A Day For Dummies

Help your four-legged friend pass the Canine Good Citizen Test in a day? Easy! The AKC's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program is one of the most rapidly growing programs in the American Kennel Club. With useful tips and quick fixes that will put a stop to all sorts of bad habits, Canine Good Citizen Test In A Day For Dummies helps owners build solid relationships with their dog based on positive reinforcement, trust, and obedience.

This handy little guide gives you a better understanding of the test itself, the essential skills tested, and the benefits of this unique training program. It covers the test's requirements and various elements, and is packed with expert tips and advice for mastering all ten sections of the test.

• A detailed description of the entire test's requirements and elements
• Tips and tricks for mastering each the of 10 sections of the test
• The do's and don'ts of taking the test

• Online component takes you beyond the book with bonus content and features
  Canine Good Citizen Test In A Day For Dummies gives you everything you need to help your dog master the skills and proficiencies necessary to pass the AKC's Good Canine Test.

Auteur

Jack and Wendy Volhard (Brandy Station, Virginia) are consummate dog people, internationally recognized for their contributions to training, health, and nutrition. For the past 30 years, the Volhards have taught dog owners how to communicate effectively with their pets. At the heart of their teaching is the "Motivational Method," a unique approach to training that is aimed at people who value dogs first and foremost as pets and companions.

Contenu

Introduction 1 What You Can Do In A Day 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 3

Chapter 1: Introducing Canine Good Citizenship 5

Looking at the AKC Certification Programs 5

Starting on the Right Paw with the STAR Puppy Program 6

Accepting the Responsible Dog Owner's Pledge 7

Attending training and earning your pup's STAR medal 8

Building on Your Dog's Skills with the Canine Good Citizen Program 9

What Exactly Does Training Mean? 10

Identifying a Well-Trained Dog 11

Defining a well-trained dog 11

Defining an untrained dog 12

An Exercise to Get You and Your Pooch Started 13

Chapter 2: Looking at the Specifics of the Canine Good Citizen Test 15

What to Expect during the Test 15

Interacting with Strangers 17

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger 17

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting 17

Test 3: Having a clean appearance and behaving during grooming 18

Walking and Waiting 19

Test 4: Walking on a loose leash 19

Test 5: Walking through a crowd 19

Test 6: Staying in place 20

Test 7: Coming when called 20

Handling Other Dogs, Distractions, and Separation Like a Pro 21

Test 8: Reacting appropriately to another dog 21

Test 9: Reacting appropriately to distractions 22

Test 10: Succeeding at supervised separation 23

Knowing the Do's and Don'ts of Taking the Test 23

Chapter 3: Mastering the Basics: Sit, Down, and Stay 25

Sit! Good Boy 26

Getting Buddy into a sitting position 26

Sitting on command 28

Introducing Down Commands 29

Warming up with the Long Down exercise 29

Teaching the Down on command 32

Staying in Place 33

Teaching the Sit-Stay command 33

Administering the Sit-Stay test 36

Holding the Down-Stay 38

Chapter 4: Canine Cruise Control: Walking On-Leash and Coming When Called 39

Walking Your Dog 39

Born to pull: Teaching Buddy to respect the leash 40

Making it real: Adding distractions 43

Winning the Game of Coming When Called 45

Teaching the Come command 46

Adding distractions 49

Advancing to off-leash distractions 49

Chapter 5: Refining Your Training for the Canine Good Citizen Test 51

Training for Interactions with Friendly Strangers 52

Teaching your dog to stand patiently 52

Introducing the Stand command 52

Teaching Buddy to stand still 54

Showing Buddy how to stand still without holding him in position 54

Working on the Stand-Stay command 54

Leaving Buddy in a Stand-Stay 55

Teaching Buddy to accept petting from a stranger 56

Training for Appearance and Grooming 57

Teaching the Shake trick 58

Adding the High Five trick 60

Training for Reacting Properly to Another Dog 61

Training for Reacting Appropriately to Distractions 61

Training for Supervised Separation 62

A Final Piece of Advice: Reinforcing Training 62

Chapter 6: Where to Go from Here 65

Taking Your First Steps 65

Visiting dummiescom 66