Canine Good Citizen® Becomes a Title!
As of January 1, 2013, Canine Good Citizen® will become an official AKC title that can appear on the title records of dogs registered or listed with AKC. Dog owners may list the suffix, “CGC” after the dog’s name.
Since the program began in 1989, CGC has been considered an “award,” meaning that it has not been listed on a dog’s title record.
As a result of frequent requests for AKC to include CGC as a title, this exciting change will begin January 1, 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions About CGC as a Title How Do I Get the CGC title for my Dog? What if My Dog Already Passed the CGC Test- Can We Get the Title? I was going to have my dog take the test before January. Should I wait? Finding CGC Training or a CGC Evaluator in Your Community How to Get an AKC Number (AKC number, PAL, or AKC Canine Partners)
1. How Do I Get the CGC Title for my Dog?
As of January 2013, when your dog passes the CGC test, you will be able given an option on the CGC form (that you receive when your dog passes the CGC test) to select either of these two options:
1) CGC as an official title listed on your dog’s record. The fee for a title is $20. You will receive the CGC certificate and you may use the suffix “CGC” after the dog’s name. Your dog must be registered or listed with AKC (an AKC number, PAL, or AKC Canine Partners), OR,
2) CGC certificate only. The fee for the certificate is $8.00. CGC will not appear on the dog’s title record.
2. What if My Dog Already Passed the CGC Test-Can We Get the Title?
Yes. There will be a grandfathering procedure for the new title. Owners of dogs who are on record as having already earned the CGC (e.g., you got a CGC certificate) after January 1, 2001 will be able to apply to have the CGC listed on the dog’s title record.
WE WILL NOT START THIS PROCESS UNTIL JANUARY 2013. Watch the CGC web page for updates. http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm
WE WILL NOT BE READY TO CHANGE YOUR CGC TO A TITLE UNTIL JANUARY.
3. I was going to have my dog take the CGC test before January. Should I wait?
If you have an opportunity to take the CGC test between now and January, we suggest that you go ahead and do this, but HOLD YOUR PAPERWORK UNTIL JANUARY. (Put it in a safe place so you don’t lose it).
In January 2013, an application form will be available that you can attach to your CGC form and send it in to receive CGC as a title. You can check the CGC web page for updates. http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm
4. Finding CGC Training or a CGC Evaluator in Your Community To find a CGC instructor or an Approved AKC CGC Evaluator in your community, see:
http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm
5. How to Get an AKC Number (AKC number, PAL, or AKC Canine Partners) See: http://images.akc.org/cgc/number.pdf
I think it is a great money making scheme for AKC. Otherwise, you would not have two options. Would you like hi-test or regular? Certificate or for $12 extra you can add CGC after your dog’s name.
Carole is right about following the money. Apart from that, it is a silly title and, I think, undercuts the purpose of drawing people into obedience training. A CGC test is not an obedience trial, and participants do not have the opportunity, which they have at trials, to see dogs doing more advanced work. Seriously, people, if you can pass the CGC you can get a Beginning Novice title–maybe more easily, depending on your dog’s reaction to various exercises (whether Beginning Novice should be a title is another question, which we can debate some other time). And while you are at the trial, watch the more advanced classes and think about how much you and your dog will learn about each other while playing these games.
I believe in people taking the CGC. It is important but a title? Of course I have seen countless websites where breeders already proudly claim their dogs have a “working title” because they have a CGC.
CGC is important because it highlights the importance of having a well mannered dog that can be a safe member of the community. It encourages owners to work for a measurable goal. This is good. CGC should be a minimum anyone who owns a dog should shoot for but a title? No. JMTC!