Petmanacs.com
Pets Articles Complete List of Pet Articles @ PetManiacs.com | Home

SHOP for PET SUPPLIES
Birds Cats Dogs
Fish & Aquatic Pets Reptiles & Amphibians Small Animals

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 hascompleted his vaccinations can be tested, andthere 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 humansin urban America.

The tests are done at dog shows, communitycolleges and private training facilities. TheAKC charges $5 for the certificate (if you pass) and some organizations charge a nominalamount for the test ($10).

To find a location, go the AKC website at

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

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

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

The AKC raises more than $50M a year fromregistration fees and does a lot of greatwork for purebreds.

The Canine Good Citizen is a way for themto help all dogs and dog owners no matterwhat they're background - something not allAKC members support.

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

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

With the increase in "dangerous breed" lawsand rising homeowners insurance rateswhen 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 personand creator of http://www.ToyBreeds.com


MORE RESOURCES:
familypets - Google News
The tale of a post-Katrina pet rescuer - KATU

KATU

The tale of a post-Katrina pet rescuer
KATU
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands of family pets were left to behind in the ruins of New Orleans. No one was coming back for ...

and more »
If a hurricane watch is called - UPI.com

CBC.ca

If a hurricane watch is called
UPI.com
Put livestock and family pets in a safe area. Many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. -- Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the ...
NY hurricane expert: Still cause for cautionLong Island Business News (blog)
Earl expected to soak MetroTimes and Transcript
Hurricane Earl: East Coast residents should have an evacuation planChristian Science Monitor
Fall River Herald News
all 12,298 news articles »
Police warn residents: Roaming pit bulls are attacking family pets - Ct Post

Police warn residents: Roaming pit bulls are attacking family pets
Ct Post
ANSONIA -- The Police Department has set up traps to capture three roaming pit bulls believed to be involved in attacks on domestic animals, according to ...

and more »
Family pets perish in morning fire - WISH

Fox 59

Family pets perish in morning fire
WISH
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A family of three escaped their burning home on Indianapolis' east side Friday morning. Firefighters are crediting an Indianapolis ...
13 WTHRFamily loses several pets in house fireWTHR

all 6 news articles »
Benefit for Justin Arlt and Allison Breuss - Quad-Cities Online

Quad-Cities Online

Benefit for Justin Arlt and Allison Breuss
Quad-Cities Online
Their three family pets were hospitalized, suffering greatly from smoke inhalation, eye abrasions and pneumonia. We are reaching out to the community to ...

OTC meds pose great danger to family pets - Jackson Clarion Ledger

OTC meds pose great danger to family pets
Jackson Clarion Ledger
Having a pet sure can change a person's life. Let me rephrase that. Having an energetic, frisky puppy is a test of wills, commitment and finances. ...

and more »
Couple takes in abandoned cats, hopes to find them homes - Middletown Journal

Couple takes in abandoned cats, hopes to find them homes
Middletown Journal
Some were feral, but the overwhelming majority once were family pets ? friendly but malnourished, hurt or diseased. The lucky ones ended up on the doorstep ...

and more »
Our thoughts: Keep family, pets safe from urban wildlife - The Coloradoan

Our thoughts: Keep family, pets safe from urban wildlife
The Coloradoan
Coyotes, to many people living along Colorado's Front Range, are wonderful to watch as they make their way across the landscape. To others, they are pests, ...

and more »
Three-alarm fire destroys several townhouses and kills family pets in ... - ABC2 News

ABC2 News

Three-alarm fire destroys several townhouses and kills family pets in ...
ABC2 News
URBANA, Md. - The Frederick County Fire Marshal's office is investigating a three-alarm fire that happened Sunday night destroying three townhomes and ...

and more »
Family pets perish in Heidelberg unit fire - Heildelberg Leader

Family pets perish in Heidelberg unit fire
Heildelberg Leader
Two people escaped the fire in the Hodgson St unit, but the family pets remained inside while emergency services fought the fire, which started about 10pm. ...

and more »
RSS integration by RSSinclude


PetManiacs.com's Free! Pet Classified Ads
Click here to Post your ads | View by Location | View by Subject
Click here to Post your ads | View by Location | View by Subject


Pet Website Owners Wanted



SHOP for PET SUPPLIES
Birds Cats Dogs
Fish & Aquatic Pets Reptiles & Amphibians Small Animals


Pet Maniacs home | site map | Pet Article List
© 2006