How many Rottie Canine Good Citizens do we have?

[moondog]

I'm curious as to how many of you have been tested for and received the Canine Good Citizen Certificate...

• How old was your dog when you did it?
• How long did you need to train for it?
• What skills did you have difficulty with and how did you correct them?
• Last, but not least, why did you do it and how has it enriched the lives of your Rottie, you, and the people and dogs you meet?

I know this is a mouthful but there are so many comments regarding negative attention that Rottweiler's receive (whether perceived or in fact) that we really should be putting our money where our mouth is by making sure we're doing the right thing with our dogs! Do you agree?

For those of you who aren't familiar with the CGC, here's a little info:

This is a really beneficial program sponsored by the American Kennel Club called the Canine Good Citizen Program. It's purpose is to recognize those dogs (purebreds or mixed) whose manners and behavior are worthy of a place in our homes and in the community. Our beloved Rottweiler's could use a lot of this recognition. It happens one Rottie at a time. That's YOUR Rottie. If you think your sweet as pie Rottie would never do any harm, make sure you're right! Get the training, take the test, and have fun taking your dog EVERYWHERE! Can your dog do these things?

• Accept a Friendly Stranger
• Sit Politely for Petting
• Has Good Appearance and Grooming
• Walk on a Loose Lead
• Walk Politely Through a Crowd
• Sit and Down Command - Stay in Place
• Come When Called
• Accept a Friendly Dog
• Accept Distractions
• Supervised Separation - Maintain Manners

Yes? GREAT!!!!! GO GET TESTED! No? Spend a little more "quality time" with that sweet goof of yours and you'll be proud to take him/her out in public!

To read more detailed info on the skills, and to get materials to help you, go to the following link:
http://www.akc.org/love/cgc/index.cfm

These are the best darn dogs on the planet!! Let's give them their due and show the world why! :D

By the way, I have no association with AKC, I just think this is a really good way to thoroughly enjoy our dogs AND to keep them on the right side of the law! ;)

[RottiMomCT]

My NERR boy Ben rec'd his CGC on April 28th at the NERR Spring Stroll. He is (and I'm not just saying this because I'm his Mom!) a great ambassador for the breed.

Ben is almost 3 yrs old, and we didn't specifically 'train' for the CGC test as it is mostly basic situations you'd find yourself in with a well trained, well behaved, well adjusted dog.

Ben had a little bit of an issue with the supervised separation (or maybe I did...!!??) but he didn't whine or freak out, just watched where I had gone until another dog caught his eye, then he just laid down and watched the dog.

Ben is not only a great dog, but he's a rescue that got his TT and CGC certificates. THAT in itself says alot for the breed, and what alotof positive training and pure love can do for a dog (I'll admit it, he's spoiled rotten!!).

People will always ask me about his past when I tell them he's arescue and I tell them I don't concern myself with that, it's his future that I care about! I take Ben with me whenever possible so I can educate people about the breed whenever I get a chance...he's great with kids, older people, he just wants to be petted (like he doesn't get that at home - geesh!!) by everyone he meets and that gives me a great opportunity to talk Rotties!

:D

[RottiMomCT]

One more thing I forgot to add - I believe 12 Rotties got the CGC's at the NERR Spring Stroll!! Yippee for their 'parents' AND the great dogs!! :D :D

[Carol Burke]

All of my dogs have their CGC. The latest is Moe, got his at 19 months. I don't train specifically for CGC, but begin training for CD at a young age and if there is a CGC test available take them to it.

I like the fact that now you send your results in to AKC and get a certificate from AKC rather then a handwritten one from the person giving the test.

[poohbearsmom]

Poohbear was almost 2 when she was tested, (wasn't too confident about the out of sight stay - but she didn't mind when I disappeared, much to my surprise) The trainer utilized the test requirements as a guideline for her obedience training, which made it nice.
I will probably wait until Deiter is about 2 as well.
I too think this is important, as it shows the public that we DO care that we have well behaved, trainable animals in our trust.
Elisabeth

[Carina43]

Well...I'm taking Cooper to a fun match on July 22, where they'll be doing CGC testing. The trainers at our school think he'll be ready, but he won't quite be 7 months old. Does that seem young? Most of the CGC criteria are covered either directly or peripherally in class, & he's doing very well.

He comes to work with me a lot & is very calm and eager to please, as long as I make it clear what's expected and keep it very positive.

So, I hope to be able to say he has his CGC in a few weeks! :)

[CarolineS]

Maggie was 5 years old when she got her CGC. It just wasn't anything I'd considered doing before, which is why she was older when she got it. When I decided I wanted to do therapy work with her, I needed to get an idea first of how she would react in a situation with lots of other distractions, dogs, and people (we live in the country and it's pretty quiet). I registered her in a CGC course at PetsMart just for the exposure. She already had good basic obedience skills and socialization, so we didn't learn anything new, but the experience was good for her. She passed her CGC with no problems.

Once she passed that, I felt confident enough to go on to testing her to work as a therapy dog with St. John's Ambulance (an organization that oversees therapy dogs in Ontario). She passed a very difficult therapy test with no problems and we have been volunteering ever since.

Maggie brings comfort and joy to people every single week. She has enriched many lives with her visits and most don't even care what kind of dog she is. To those that realize she's a Rott (usually the staff members in the facilities), she's proven to them that Rottweilers are not all the stereotypical "slavering beasts" the press makes them out to be. It's great to hear people say, "Here comes Maggie!" instead of "Watch out, here come a Rottweiler!!".

[Cassie's Mom]

Cassie was 5 days short of her first birthday when she got her CGC. She wears a little CGC tag on her collar. We had been through several obedience courses before taking the test and a CGC work shop. The only part of the test I was worried about was greeting a stranger with another dog but we worked on that diligently and she passes with flying colors. Cassie is my companion dog. Although we practice obedience and different things on a daily basis, I knew that I wanted a well behaved dog. The CGC was my goal with her from the beginning. I get many compliments from both friends and strangers on what a good dog I have!

[Jag's Mom]

Jagger got his CGC when he was 4 years old. We did it at the MSPCA in Boston. He passed everything with flying colors. The only thing I was worried about was the part when they "examine" him like he's at the vet. Jag loves the vet until he gets poked. :D
He had been through 2 levels of obedience when he was a pup, so we just practiced for a few weeks before the test. I am also proud to say that at the NERR Spring Stroll this year he passed the TT. :D :D
He is a great example of a well trained and socialized dog.

[JoJo]

I'm hoping I can get Reba's at our Rott Stock this August. We shall see!! Just going to have to make sure there are no children around otherwise she will just start crying and wiggling that butt of hers just so they come up and pet her!! Oh brother, I guess I do have my hands full. She's a good girl so I hope she makes me proud.

JoJo

[trotrott]

My little girl just got her CGC June 30 2001.. She is 6 months old..

Breezy Schwaiger Happen D.T :D

Watch for her... Her first show is Aug.4 in Vista Ca :p

[trotrott]

Sorry miss spelled her name
Breezy Schwaiger Wappen D.T

[LotARotts]

My Rottweiler Mason Recieved his CGC at 8 Months old, we trained for the CGC for 3 months, he did outstanding the only thing we had to work really hard for was the grooming part he doesn't really enjoy being brushed by strangers but we did it the first time around and it is framed and hanging on the wall.. We did the CGC because both Mason and I enjoy working together in obedience and it was our way to let people know that Rottweilers are not bad dogs as in our area the are seen as bad dogs... We are now working on his CD title wish us luck...

LotARotts

[RSQRottweiler]

My older rescue girl, Gretchen, got hers last year:

*not sure how old she is, exactly. Guesstimating around 6 years, so she would've been 4-5 years when she got it.

*Gretchen had been with us a little more than a year when she passed the CGC. . .so I guess it took a year of work. :)

*I was mostly concerned about meeting another dog, because we'd had leash aggression issues. Did a lot of work in obedience classes and going out to parks, pet supply stores, etc. . .didn't have a problem after that.

*Why we did it? Gretchen was my family's first Rottie, and was also the first one in my neighborhood. There were a few raised eyebrows when we first brought her home. . .now there is no doubt among neighbors that she is a "good citizen." I also did it for Gretchen. . .she really was a mess when we got her. I wanted to work for something I knew she could achieve, that would make her more comfortable in various situations so that she understood what was expected of her.

I agree. . .public opinion of the Rottweiler played a part in my reasoning for testing Gretchen for the CGC. :)

Audrey

[AdeL1610]

Rachel got her CGC at 7 months. She did great, am SO proud of her. We didn't have to do very intensive training, she used to strain on the leash when meeting someone else, but after we worked on heel and "halt", she sits calmly regardless of situation.