Is Your Dog a Good Citizen?

My Thoughts on the bookr
Citizen Canine: Ten Essential Skills Every Well-Mannered Dog Should Knowr
By Mary R. Burch, PhDr
For the American Kennel Club 2010

I purchased Citizen Canine because I am planning to take my one year old dog, Morgan, through the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. I hope to continue Morgan’s training so she can be certified as a Therapy dog also. Although I have completed the CGC program with some of my other dogs, I thought an insider’s viewpoint would be helpful. It was well-recommended on the online store I purchased it from, and it definitely exceeded my expectations!

The CGC program was started by the AKC in 1989 to promote responsible dog ownership and recognize dogs with good behavior, especially out in the community. It is open to all dogs, not just purebreds. The AKC saw a need to help dog owners protect their rights after numerous states and municipalities passed laws banning certain breeds and limiting the number of dogs allowed per household. Rather than targeting a specific breed, the AKC feels responsible owners with well-mannered dogs are the key to retaining a good relationship with the community. Well-mannered dogs are a pleasure to meet, and have proven themselves to be welcome visitors at hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and developmental disabilities programs.

This book is a how-to guide for teaching the ten skills necessary for dogs to pass the CGC test. The author is the Director of the CGC and S.T.A.R. Puppy Programs for the AKC and therefore has a wealth of knowledge to share with dog owners who are interested in having a well-behaved pet.
I found this to be an easy-to-read, very informative book for dog owners. It not only explains what the skills are, but WHY they are important, and step-by-step instructions on how to achieve them using positive reinforcement techniques. It also includes color-coded inserts with special tips. Although the book emphasizes the skills, it also provides additional information about preparation, next steps, different canine personalities, and even basics for first-time dog owners such as grooming and bathing. The book is well-organized with separate chapters for each of the ten skills. I particularly liked the chapter on Supervised Separation, as that can be a tough challenge for some dogs.

There are additional chapters on being a responsible dog owner, locating a training facility and special applications of the CGC (such as Boy Scouts badges, 4-H Clubs, and as a component of Therapy Dog screening). Did you know there are many fun activities sponsored by the AKC where you can show off your dog’s skills? These include Conformation, Agility, Rally, Obedience, Tracking, and Performance Events like Herding, Earthdog for terriers and Field Trials for the sporting dogs. The book includes an explanation of each of these events.

Citizen Canine goes above and beyond the author’s goal of teaching dog owners how to have a well-mannered dog. As a dog breeder and trainer, and pet parent to 6 dogs, I recommend Citizen Canine for all dog owners, from first-time owners to advanced.
-Janet Makarick-Roberts