Flunking Out Of The Canine Good Citizen Program

The Canine Good Citizen test by the AKC is open to all dogs, purebred or not, and is often a prequisite to a position as a therapy dog. In order to become certified as a Canine Good Citizen, you must meet ten different requirements. I've failed miserably on pretty much every step, and have given up on being a good citizen.

First of all, the rule "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" is a little strict, and I think they should waive this rule for all Pomeranians. If you would like to give it a try, here are the requirements:

1. Accepting a Friendly Stranger: You're out for a walk, and a stranger approaches speaking and shaking hands with your owner. What they are looking for here, is for dogs that do not break position or try to go to the evaluator. If you do, you fail!

2. Sitting Politely For Petting: You're out for a walk, and a stranger approaches and starts petting you - you are not allowed to show any signs of shyness or resentment to pass this step.

3. Appearance and Grooming: A groomer, veterinarian, friend, or any stranger should be able to groom and exam you - not only should you show no misgivings, you should actually welcome it!

4. Walking On a Loose Leash: In this step, you must show that you are not taking your pawrent for a walk, but they are taking you for a walk. You must be attentive to changes in direction and follow them with each turn, with no tugging at the leash.

5. Walking Through a Crowd: You must not express any overexuberance, shyness or resentment while walking through a crowd of people.

6. Sitting and Lying Down On Command and Staying in Place: With this step a dog is expected to stay in one spot, while his pawrent walks 20 feet away. To pass you must exhibit your ability to sit, lay down, and stay upon command.

7. Coming When Called: Self explanatory - I'm good at this, except for the times when I'm not.

8. Reaction To Another Dog: You're out for a walk with your pawrent, and a stranger approaches with another dog. The AKC expects you to show only casual interest and not make any moves towards the other dog.

9. Reaction To Distractions: They expect to be able to drop a frying pan within 5 feet from a dog, and the dog is allowed only to be slightly startled but not panic, run away, show aggressiveness, or bark.

10. Calmly Enduring Supervised Separation From The Owner: You're out for a walk and a stranger comes up and says, "Would you like me to watch your dog?" Your pawrent hands the leash over to a stranger and disappears - You cannot continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness.

No thanks to all that rubbish, I would rather be a bad citizen...