FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: August 14, 2019
THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB CELEBRATES 1 MILLION DOGS PASSING AKC’S CANINE GOOD CITIZEN® TEST
New York, NY —The American Ken- nel Club (AKC®), the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading ad- vocate for dogs, is celebrating one mil- lion dogs passing their AKC Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Test. The mil- lionth dog to pass the test was a Ber- neseMountain Dog named Fiona who is owned by Nora Pavone from Brook- lyn, NY. Fiona attended instructor Kate Naito’s CGC classes at Brook- lyn’s Doggie Academy as the initial step toward her future role as a grief therapy dog in nursing homes. “We are very proud of Fiona and the other hundreds of thousands of dogs that have passed the CGC test,” said Mary Burch, PhD, Director of the Ca- nine Good Citizen Program. “Many of these dogs go on for additional training to make a difference in the lives of others.” Started in 1989, AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part pro- gram that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and good man- ners for dogs. The 10-step test consists of basic commands and actions like accepting a friendly stranger, sitting, staying, coming when called, walking through a crowd, and behaving politely around other dogs, among others. All dogs who pass the test may receive a certificate from the AKC. “A million CGC dogs is an amazing milestone. The program has done so much good, from helping dog owners teach their pet good manners to reha- bilitating dogs that have had behav- ioral issues,” said Doug Ljungren, Ex- ecutive Vice President of AKC Sports & Events. “CGC instructors can be
justifiably proud of the great work they have done for dogs and their owners.” The Canine Good Citizen Program has been adopted and utilized for many activities that require basic good citizen behavior. CGC training and ti- tles are used as a prerequisite by ther- apy dog groups. Many service dog or- ganizations start their dogs with CGC training, and shelter organizations are utilizing the “CGC Ready” program to demonstrate that their rescue dogs are good citizens. Several dog daycare facilities train dogs for the test and 4-H clubs around the country have been using CGC as a beginning dog training program. Other countries (including Korea, India, England, Australia, Japan, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, Canada, and Finland) have developed CGC programs based on the AKC’s Program. Legislative Resolutions endorsing the CGC program as a way of teaching re- sponsible dog ownership and canine good manners have been passed in 48 states, and police and animal control agencies use the CGC program for dealing with dog problems in commu- nities. In addition, some homeowner’s insurance companies encourage CGC testing, and an increasing number of apartments, condos and businesses require that resident dogs pass the CGC test. More information about the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program can be found at: https://www.akc.org/ products-services/training-programs/ canine-good-citizen/
ABOUT THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB Founded in 1884, the American Ken- nel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and over- sees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated or- ganizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competi- tions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regula- tions each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herd- ing, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKCMuseum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org. AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc. Become a fan of the American Ken- nel Club on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @AKCDogLovers.
MEDIA CONTACT: JESSICA D’AMATO American Kennel Club Phone: 212-696-8346 | Email: Jessica.damato@akc.org
T op N otch T oys , S eptember 2019 • 67
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