AKC Evaluations | Telluride K9 Pack

A young woman walks towards the camera in a park with a brown and black dog walking in a heel by her side with a loose leash

AKC CGC CLASSES & EVALUATIONS

Could your dog be an AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy or Canine Good Citizen®?

As a certified evaluator for the American Kennel Club, I offer certification tests for you and your dog to earn a title in any of the following:

-S.T.A.R. Puppy Program

-Canine Good Citizen (CGC)

-Community Canine (CGCA) - more advanced

-Urban Canine Good Citizen (GCGU) - most advanced

-AKC Trick Dog - all levels

-AKC Fit Dog classes & titles- all levels (1-3)

Any dog, of any breed(s), is welcome to test to earn any of these titles or take a class to work towards their certification in these titles. Click here for more information about earning your AKC CGC.

STAR Puppy Program 6 week course may be offered throughout the year, and based off interested, I will teach a course on any other certification ending in the test for you and your dog to take together. Send me a message to book your evaluation or get on the schedule for upcoming classes.

Some evaluations are allowed to be done virtually via video from anywhere in the world.

AKC Canine Good Citizen CGC Evaluator badge showing a dog shaking paws with a person

AKC Trick Dog Evaluator badge showing a dog jumping through a hoop

AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen CGC Public Access Test Evaluator badge showing a dog sitting next to a handler with a city background

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program

Organized training classes provide an opportunity for your dog to socialize with other dogs, as well as for you to learn the best way to communicate with your puppy. In classes aimed at earning the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy distinction, you’ll be able to get information on all of your puppy-raising questions including house-training, chewing, and the most effective way to teach practical skills such as coming when called.

How to earn the title? You and your pup (up to 1 yr old) will take my 6 week puppy class together, and I will administer the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy test at the end of the course. Upon passing the test, you’ll get an application to send to AKC for enrollment in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program. *All dogs are welcome to participate in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Program including purebreds and mixed breeds.*

Your puppy will receive:

-The AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Medal!

-You and your puppy will be listed in the AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy records.

-A beautiful, frameable certificate

-New Puppy Guide – Digital Edition: AKC’s comprehensive resource about caring for your puppy

-Ongoing Monthly Email Newsletter: Your AKC. This includes training tips and up-to-date information every dog owner needs to know.

AKC Canine Good Citizen

The AKC’s Canine Good Citizen program is the gold standard of behavior for dogs in our communities. As you work with your dog to teach the CGC skills, you’ll enhance your bond with your dog, and dogs with basic obedience training are a joy to live with—interacting well with other people and dogs and responding well to household routines. The CGC program offers many practical advantages too. Some homeowner’s insurance companies encourage CGC testing, and an increasing number of apartments and condos require that resident dogs pass the CGC test. The tagline of the program is, “Responsible Owners, Well-Mannered Dogs,” and that is what CGC is all about.

How to earn the title? Both purebred and mixed breed dogs are welcome, and there is no age limit. AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program is the next logical step after S.T.A.R. Puppy, but S.T.A.R. Puppy is not required prerequisite for CGC. You can take my course which ends in the test, or you can simply take the test with me (an approved evaluator) if you and your dog are ready.

AKC Community Canine

This is the advanced level of AKC’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. As with CGC, AKC Community Canine (CGCA) has a 10-step test of skills that dogs must pass to earn the official AKC Community Canine title. This is a title that appears on the dog’s title record at AKC.

All skills on the test are tested on leash. The test may be done in a class or out in the community. While Canine Good Citizen tests are simulations of real world skills, (e.g., dog/handler walks through a “crowd” of evaluators in a ring), the goal of AKC Community Canine is to test the dog’s skills in a natural setting. For example, rather than the dog being tested in a ring, in AKC Community Canine, the “walks through a crowd” test item will involve the dog walking through a real crowd at a busy sidewalk or park.

To earn the AKC Community Canine title, dogs must meet the following two requirements:

The CGC test and the AKC Community Canine test may be taken on the same day. However, when taken on the same day, both forms should be sent to AKC in one envelope so the CGC can be entered first.
Must have an AKC number of one of 3 types (AKC registration number, PAL number, or AKC Canine Partners number). All dogs, including mixed breeds, can get an AKC number.

AKC Trick Dog

Do you and your dog love to be the life of the party by showing off an arsenal of tricks? Then they might be perfectly primed to earn AKC Trick Dog titles!

There are five AKC Trick Titles you and your dog can earn:

AKC Novice Trick Dog (TKN)- Your dog performs 10 skills from the Novice list. If a dog has a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate or title on record at AKC, they can do 5 Novice tricks (CGC + 5) to earn the Novice title.
AKC Intermediate Trick Dog (TKI) – Your dog must have the Novice title, plus perform 10 Intermediate tricks.
AKC Advanced Trick Dog (TKA) – Your dog must have the Intermediate title, plus perform 10 tricks from the Advanced list
AKC Trick Dog Performer (TKP) – In this title, handlers perform a short routine with at least 10 tricks with at least 3 tricks using props.
AKC Trick Dog Elite Performer (TKE) – In the highest level of Trick Dog, the Elite Performers perform a routine that has a story/script. At least 5 props are used.

I offer private training sessions towards these titles, or you and your dog can simply take the evaluation with me if you are ready.

AKC Urban CGC

AKC Urban CGC is a public access test that demonstrates dogs are well-behaved and well-trained when in public settings. The Urban CGC test can be used by dog- friendly business (e.g., lodging, retail, transportation, public facilities) to recognize and accept dogs with good manners.

All skills are tested on leash. AKC CGCU will be administered in a place where there are cars, streets to be crossed, noises, and distractions in the real world.

To earn the AKC Urban CGC (CGCU) title, dogs must meet the following two requirements:

Must already have a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate or title on record at AKC. If the CGC and CGCU are tested on the same day, both forms should be sent in the same envelope to AKC so that the CGC can be applied to the dog’s record first.
Must have an AKC number of one of 3 types (AKC registration number, Purebred Alternative Listing (PAL) number, or AKC Canine Partners number). All dogs, including mixed breeds, can get an AKC number.

*Passing the Urban CGC test does not make a dog a service dog or emotional support dog. A key distinction of service dogs is that the owner/handler has a disability. It is unethical to misrepresent a pet dog as a service or emotional support animal.*

AKC Fit Dog class

AKC FIT DOG is a fun class taught virtually or in person, where handlers learn the correct way to safely build muscle, balance, proprioception & fitness in any age and level of dog. I am a certified level 1-3 instructor and can certify your dog for the brand new (2023) FIT Dog titles.

All skills are learned step by step, at the dog's own pace, in a fun and supportive environment.

Here are examples of exercises in the level 1 course you'll be taught with correct form: