Pets Information
 
Web World-SuperSite

Help Your Dog Become a Good Canine Citizen


Is your dog a gentleman or lady? If so, you may be able to get an award to prove it from the American Kennel Club (AKC) through its Canine Good Citizen Program.

This certification program is for all dogs, whether purebred or mutt. Any dog who has completed his vaccinations can be tested, and there is no upper age limit.

Ten behaviors are tested:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger

2. Sitting politely for petting

3. Letting someone brush and groom him

4. Walking on a loose leash

5. Walking through a crowd

6. Staying in place (sit and down)

7. Coming when called

8. Reacting to another dog

9. Reacting to distractions

10.Being separated from owner for 3-minutes.

If your dog can't pass these, you need to initiate a training program. These are the social skills required for living with humans in urban America.

The tests are done at dog shows, community colleges and private training facilities. The AKC charges $5 for the certificate (if you pass) and some organizations charge a nominal amount for the test ($10).

To find a location, go the AKC website at

I'm really, really encouraging you to take advantage of this program.

You owe it to your dog to assure that he can survive in an urban setting and that he remains adoptable by someone else if something happen to you. Not everyone would put up with a nippy, barking, high-strung dog who thinks he's the king of household.

Your participation also encourages the AKC to continue this program. It's been around since 1989 but hasn't been publicized the way it should.

The AKC raises more than $50M a year from registration fees and does a lot of great work for purebreds.

The Canine Good Citizen is a way for them to help all dogs and dog owners no matter what they're background - something not all AKC members support.

More participation will ensure funding continues and the AKC expands the program.

We're also hopeful that insurance companies and landlords will start accepting the certificates and giving homeowners or renters a break on insurance rates or damage deposits.

With the increase in "dangerous breed" laws and rising homeowners insurance rates when you have a dog, it's important for all our dogs to be good citizens and respected members of the community.

Louise Louis is a long-time dog person and creator of http://www.ToyBreeds.com


MORE RESOURCES:

CharlotteObserver.com

Ex-NFL player Vick allowed dogs to savage family pets: report
AFP - 42 minutes ago
RICHMOND, Virginia (AFP) — Jailed ex-National Football League star Michael Vick allowed his fighting dogs to savage family pets, a federal government agency ...
More details of Michael Vick's abuse of dogs revealed as he faces ... ESPN
USDA report details more involvement for Vick cbs4qc.com
USDA Report Reveals Michael Vick Put 'Family Dogs' Into Pit Bull Rings FanHouse
The Associated Press
all 217 news articles


Mortgage meltdown results in pets going to pound
CNN - 14 hours ago
With foreclosures disrupting life, from the family house down to the dog house, and as Americans toil through a tough economic landscape, some of their pets ...
Pet of the Week: Calie Tampa Bay's 10
Humane Society of St Lucie County established fund to save special ... Fort Pierce Tribune
all 4 news articles


Homeless Pets Finding Families at Petland Stores Nationwide
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Nov 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The results of Petland's Adopt-A-PetSM survey mean good news for homeless pets at Petland stores ...


San Francisco Chronicle

Would you choose your pet over your partner?
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 12 hours ago
In a study of 900 pet parents by BizRate Research, women said they had a deeper emotional connection with their pets than men did. ...


Ask Vet: Holidays can be stressful for pets
Knoxville News Sentinel, TN - 3 hours ago
However, our time of celebration can sometimes be stressful for our pets. Thanksgiving is the holiday with the highest travel rate; the highways and airways ...
A Recommended Sales and Use Tax Proposed by Governor ... MarketWatch
all 6 news articles


Soldier's home burns; pets saved (8:28 am)
Las Cruces Sun-News, NM - 5 hours ago
Collazo said his son was at school when the fire broke out, and the family's 20 pets -- including two ferrets, two dogs and several turtles, mice and fish ...


More Choosing Cremation for Pets
Hartford Courant, United States - 4 hours ago
A clipping of the pet's hair is optional. "If you lost a special member of your family, you would want a special fond farewell to them," says LeBoyer. ...


'First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Pets' Opens at the Newseum
MarketWatch - 17 hours ago
"First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Pets" features photographs and anecdotes about more than two dozen dogs and their owners, from George Washington ...
Newseum to Host Inaugural Special Opening MarketWatch
all 14 news articles


ABC News

Store Accused Of Selling 'Puppy Mill' Pets
WYFF, SC - Nov 20, 2008
GREENVILLE, SC -- A national pet store chain is under fire tonight accused of selling puppies that come from "puppy mills." The Humane Society of the United ...
Video: AP Top Stories AssociatedPress
Investigation reveals Petland Inc. is biggest retailer of puppy ... Examiner.com
Petland Pet Stores Linked to Inhumane Puppy Mills Associated Content
Consumer Affairs - Los Angeles Times
all 247 news articles


Straits Times

Presidential Pets
The Santa Barbara Independent, CA - 17 hours ago
Of those pets, 3 million-4 million are euthanized. If the Obamas decide to choose a shelter dog, it will send the right message to the country. ...
Video: Raw Video: Obama Girls in Washington AssociatedPress
The FABULOUS First PETS! Deccan Herald
Presidential Pooch Pick Offers Peek Into Policy Bloomberg
Tampa Bay Newspapers - Norwich Bulletin
all 325 news articles

Pets - Google News

home | site map
© 2006