Canine Good Citizen
Classes & Testing

PumpkinPups is offering this advanced manners course for people interested in earning the CGC title. This class is for students who are interested in investigating whether their dog might earn this title. Testing is available at the end of the course as a separate event and fee, if you and your trainer feel you are ready. You are also welcome to take this course more than once to work on these skills. The Canine Good Citizen title is used by some housing associations for vetting applicants with dogs. It is also a good beginning indication of whether a dog can be certified as a therapy animal to visit children, the elderly or any group that might benefit from their calm presence.

Skills covered in the course:

- Polite greetings / no jumping
- Calm behavior when greeting another dog
- Loose leash walking skills
- Down
- Sit
- Stay
- Recall
- Supervised separation from their guardian
- Reactions to environmental distractions

Dogs who need to work on any of the above are allowed to take the course, that’s what a class is for! Your dog is also welcome to take it if you feel they can do this now, as a pre-test practice class. Dogs who sign up must be comfortable around known and unfamiliar people, comfortable around other dogs, and not shy or defensive about being touched. If you have questions about whether your dog is appropriate for this class please reach out to us. Our trainers offer private sessions for dogs who need to work on fear or anxiety issues.

As with all of PumpkinPups classes, and in accordance with test requirements, equipment allowed for this class includes any type of body harness, flat collars or martingale style collars. Head halters are also acceptable if your dog is comfortable wearing one. You will also need a 6 foot lead, and a long line (minimum 15 - 20 feet) for distance work. The course will follow the ten scenarios that comprise the test.

For this class, your dog should be on a harness and 6 foot lead with a flat tag collar.

This course will be offered over 6 weeks as a hybrid course. Only in the event of rain or inclement weather will the class be switched to virtual. Classes will meet at the Butterfly Gardens in Park Slope at the corner of 7th Ave and 18th St. There are no make-ups offered for this class.

UPCOMING: SPRING 2024 - SOLD OUT!

Sundays at 3:30pm: 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12 (5/19 being held as a rain date!)

Space is limited to 5 pups per class!

If you are interested in the class and want to be informed about when the next upcoming CGC class registration opens, please sign up for our waiting list.

The Canine Good Citizen title is used by some housing associations for vetting applicants with dogs. It is also a good beginning indication of whether a dog can be certified as a therapy animal to visit children, the elderly or any group that might benefit from their calm presence.

Skills your dog needs to demonstrate to pass the test:

- Polite greetings / no jumping
- Calm behavior when greeting another dog
- Loose leash walking skills
- Down
- Sit
- Stay
- Recall
- Supervised separation from their guardian
- Reactions to environmental distractions

For this test, your dog is permitted to wear any type of body harness, flat collars or martingale style collars. Head halters are also acceptable if your dog is comfortable wearing one. You will also need a 6 foot lead, and a long line (minimum 15 - 20 feet) for distance work.

CGC Testing: 1st Saturday of Each month* (scheduled on demand - join the waitlist)

Cost: $150**

Registering your CGC Title when you pass: $25 (To be paid to the AKC when you send in your application forms after passing the test with an evaluator.)

If you are interested in taking the CGC Test and want to be informed about when registration opens, please sign up for our waiting list.

See Below for addition information.