Making Man's Best Friend a Canine Good Citizen

Dobson, NC – May 10, 2012. Surry Community College will offer the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program beginning Monday, May 21, and ending Monday, July 30. The class will meet on Monday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the main campus in Dobson. Pre-registration is required by contacting Corporate and Continuing Education at (336) 386-3229. Tuition for one handler (student/owner) and one dog is $40. The handler must be the same registered student each week.

Started in 1989, the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen® program rewards dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The two-part program stresses responsible pet ownership and basic good manners for dogs. According to the AKC website, “the AKC's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program is rapidly becoming recognized as the standard of behavior for dogs in our communities. Canine Good Citizen® resolutions have been passed by 18 state legislatures and the United States Senate, insurance companies are starting to use CGC® to insure breeds they would not otherwise insure, and some condominium associations around the country now require that all dogs in the complex have earned the Canine Good Citizen® award”.

Class size is limited to 10 students, one dog per student. Students must be age 16 or older. The dog’s age must be between six months old and eight years old. Students must provide a current copy of the dog’s vaccination record at registration.

Following the class, CGC testing information will be given to those students interested in pursuing CGC certification. Following the class, Lindsey Lloyd, class instructor and certified CGC evaluator, will be available to test pets for an additional fee. For more information on AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program, go to www.akc.org.