Canine Good Citizen: How to Train Your Dog to Go Anywhere With You

Marty and Laura dig into what it really means to have a well-behaved dog in public and why good manners don’t happen by magic.

Help your dog become a welcome guest anywhere — from brew pubs to barbecues — with expert guidance on the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, basic obedience fundamentals, service dog distinctions and therapy dog opportunities.

Topics include:

• The core skills every dog should have: loose leash walking, settling, recall and reliable housetraining
• Why consistency, fairness and repetition are the foundation of any training success
• The AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program — what it tests, how to find a trainer and how any dog (purebred or not) can earn the title
• The AKC Farm Dog and Trick Dog titles as fun alternatives
• The legal differences between service dogs, emotional support animals and pets — and why it matters
• How a CGC title can open doors to therapy dog work in libraries, nursing homes and beyond
• Puppy raising programs like Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) and how to get involved