Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog International Testing
Did you know that your dog can be certified as a good citizen? The American Kennel Club offers a program – the Canine Good Citizen Program – to certify dogs that have good manners at home and in the community.
The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test is often paired with the Therapy Dog International (TDI) test. TDI is a group of volunteers and their dogs who make therapy visits. The TDI test includes the ten categories in the CGC test, plus four additional categories. Dogs that pass the TDI test become certified Therapy Dogs.
You and your dog will have the opportunity to take the CGC and TDI tests at PawsAbilities on March 10 and 11. Dogs of any age can take the CGC test. However, your dog must be at least one year old to take the TDI test.
CGC Test Categories
- Accepting a Friendly Stranger
- Sitting Politely for Petting
- Appearance and Grooming
- Out for a Walk (includes right and left turns)
- Walking Through a Crowd
- Sit and Down on Command/Staying in Place
- Coming When Called
- Reaction to Another Dog
- Reactions to Distractions
- Supervised Separation
TDI Test Categories
TDI includes all ten of the CGC categories, plus:
- Reactions to medical equipment (such as a wheelchair, crutches, cane, etc.)
- Leave It
- Acclimation to Infirmities (such as an uneven gait, breathing heavily, coughing, etc.)
- Say Hello (dog must be able to work well around all people, especially children)
Registration
You must pre-register in order to take the tests. It costs $15 for CGC testing and $15 for TDI testing. To take both tests, it costs $25.
To pre-register, please include:
- A check made out to PawsAbilities
- Your name, address, phone number and email address
- Dog's name, age and breed
- A copy of your dog's rabies vaccination
- A copy of your dog's license
- Name of your home owner's insurance provider and policy number (for TDI only)
- A copy of your CGC test form if you're only taking the TDI test
Mail your registration to:
Martha Knox
739 Sherwood Drive
Carlisle, PA 17013
Once we receive your registration, we will send you the day and time of your test, as well as a TDI Evaluation Liability agreement. You must bring this agreement with you to the testing. No treats are allowed in the testing room for either test.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to complete the registration process. TDI testing may be done in groups of four.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I know if my dog is ready for testing?
- Dogs do better if they have had some prior obedience training. Specific information can be found on the CGC and TDI websites.
- How should I prepare for the test?
- It is helpful to practice some of the skills ahead of time so both you and your dog are comfortable with the requirements. Set yourselves up for success!
- Why do I need homeowner's/renter's insurance for TDI testing?
- TDI liability insurance does not cover your dog while it is doing therapy visits.
If you have any questions, please email Martha Knox at gmamartha@yahoo.com.
If you would like more information about CGC or the American Kennel Club, visit www.akc.org.
For more information about Therapy Dog International, visit www.tdi-dog.org.
Don't forget to purchase your PawsAbilities ticket! Tickets go on sale in January 2012.
