Canine Good Citizen testing?

Question

Kiley and i are just about done with advanced classes, which are getting us ready for the canine good citizen test. Where exactly can i find a "tester" or where do i go to find out about when the testing is done and where i can go for it?

She won't be ready for a while yet - while obedient, she still gets rather excited in new places and around people/other dogs when she first sees them. I need to work on that for a while. I'm just curious about the test itself:

Like what it's for (therapy dog right?) Where you take it, how to tell if a place giving it is "legit", and how many times your dog can take it, and stuff like that.

It's my goal for her to be able to visit hospitals and nursing homes and stuff like that. She has a wonderful personality - very friendly, loves people. enthusiastic about everything. My other dog was too unsure about people and too nippy so we never got to do it with her.

Answer 1

It's actually not a therapy dog certification, though some therapy programs do require you to have your CGC certificate prior to testing to be a therapy dog.  http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cf... You would need to cotnact the group you intend to be affiliated with to find out whether you need your CGC certification or not.  This link will tell you what the program is and why it's there: http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/program.cf... The link here:

http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_t... will tell you how to find an evaluator.  The purpose of the test is basically to prove that your dog is well-behaved and has good manners at home and in public.  

Check with the following groups to find out about therapy dog certifications:

http://www.tdi-dog.org/

http://www.deltasociety.org/  

http://www.therapyanimals.org/ita/

There may also be locally organized groups in your area.  Good luck!

Answer 2

visit http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm for more information on the testing and requirements.  

Answer 3

You can find a CGC test/class near you through the AKC's evaluator database at:  http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/cgc_bystat...

Note that a CGC test alone doesn't qualify a dog as a therapy dog in most cases and taking a CGC probably isn't necessary in most cases.  I know that Delta and TDInt'l don't require a CGC as a prerequisite for taking their tests.  I haven't certified with TDInc, so I can't speak for them.  It's certainly good practice for a therapy dog test, because there are certain similarities, but you might choose to save some time and skip that part since it isn't necessary.

Contact the facilities you would like to visit and see what their requirements are.  Some only accept teams from certain associations, so you might as well start out for the certification that will get you in the places you want to visit.

I think someone else already mentioned

the Delta Society (http://www.deltasociety.org)

Therapy Dogs International (http://www.tdi-dog.org)

Therapy Dogs Incorporated (http://www.therapydogs.org)

It is especially important, whether one of these organizations' certification is required your facility or not, to get certified by one of them because the approximately $25 annual fee includes liability insurance which protects you and your dog against false accusations and simple accidents.

Answer 4

I don't know where you are located, but our hospital offers CGC testing about once every two months.  

Your best bet is to call local training facilities and inquire about the testing.  Are you sure your obedience instructor does not test?

In order for you to get a therapy license for your dog one of the requirements is they need to pass their CGC.  There are then other steps you need to take in order for your dog to earn her therapy title.

ADD: Well, you are more then welcome to come to CT :)