[amstafflady]

Our family has been a part of the Seeing Eye Puppy Raiser program for years. We decided after our last puppy left us we would adopt a dog (or two) for our family. We now have Yoda (boston terrier) and Cerena (pit)

Yoda was terribly abused. He has been with us 2 1/2 years. He will only interact with humans on his terms. I'm fine with that, I know he has a good home and if it takes forever to get him out of his shell I'm fine with that.

Cerena is our pit girl. She has proven to be a big ol sweetheart with every human she meets. I would love to take her to a nursing home on a regular basis after she is trained and doing well on all commands. I know this could take a long time. How does one find out where to go to learn the basics needed for the CGC?

If she is dog aggressive does that totally disqualify her? What if she is DA but able to control herself?

Any tips one can give me as I am training her?

 

[apbtmom76]

ok I have been thru the CGC test 3 different times now, it is not really that hard, hardest part for two of my three was the 3 minute seperation, lol. If you go to American Kennel Club - akc.org you can find all the info on the CGC , all the steps and everything, and we only did a 6 week training course and then took the CGC, it may take longer for some dogs, but you can do it, once she has that, check out Forms | Therapy Dog Inc | Animals Care at Therapydogsinc.com They are who my girl PEnny (RIP) was certified as a therapy dog thru Good luck ((hugs))

Also the DA as long as it can be contained, cause they do have to pass by other dogs and meet a stranger with a dog during the test, if you can control her DA then yes she will be fine, just always be on your toes when at a therapy place, especially a nursing home you won't always be the only one there

 

[k8nkane]

Here is a link about the CGC, including the testing items and what can disqualify you: AKC's Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program

At the bottom, it says Any dog that growls, snaps, bites, attacks, or attempts to attack a person or another dog is not a good citizen and must be dismissed from the test. So you're going to want to train her to focus on YOU and ignore any dogs around her if she is dog aggressive. There are many members here who have DA dogs but can go out (and even compete) with them because their dogs are trained to ignore any other dogs.

Many classes offer training for the different testing items of the CGC and then do the CGC test at the end of the class term. Just google for your area.

 

[k8nkane]

Agh. I was beat to it by Tye. LOL.

 

[apbtmom76]

lol Kate, no worries, thanks for helping

 

[MY MIKADO]

I have done the cgc with two pit bulls. My first time was with Mikado I had no idea what I was doing and neither did he we did really well the best in the class and I had never doen any training with him. Lucky I know.
No a dog being DA doesn't rule them out at all it makes it harder to go as a group but I always went when I had time. I would call the nursing hme and see if they would let me come in andthey always said yes.

Good luck and welcome!!!

 

[amstafflady]

Y'all are giving me hope that I can do this. I know how to do basic commands and Cerena is doing great with the basics.
How should I go about training her to focus on me and not other dogs? This is training I haven't done before? Raising a dog from a puppy is a easier than training a dog that already has weird/bad habits.

Would you recommend the book that the AKC recommends as an important read?

I'm excited!

 

[apbtmom76]

I haven't read the book from the AKC. And my dogs all have great OB but it never hurts to freshen up ya skills, ok so this is what I do for the watch command. "leave it" also works really well.

But I have treat in hand and tell the dogs "Look at me" some ppl say "focus", find a word that works fo ryou that will make them look at you, klissy noises at first and as soon as she loks at you reward her. The more you say it the more she'll do it. I always say "eave it" and then "look at me" it works wonders, hope this helps and you will do great

 

[k8nkane]

I don't see the need to buy the AKC's book. They're just recommending it to get more money, IMO. If your girl is good at the basics, there should be no problem with her getting her CGC.

Here's a good video that Lisa posted for me in another thread, it teaches the "Watch Me" command (or the Focus or the Watch, whatever, lol).

 

[apbtmom76]

hahah was gonna say, there has to be a video, thank you Kate awesomeness