The entire team at Sykesville Vet Clinic would like to congratulate Dempsey and Georgeann for earning the Canine Good Citizenship Award! We are very proud of you both!

Established in 1989 by the American Kennel Club, the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program promotes the rewarding of well-mannered dog behaviour in both the home and community. Since it was first created, the CGC program has become a model for similar programs around the world, is the backbone for exams such as for therapy pets and is a good start for dog training.

To receive the CGC award, a dog and a handler team must undergo a short behavioral evaluation. If all objectives are met, the owner can apply for a certificate and special dog tag from the AKC stating their dog has been awarded the CGC.

There is no age limit for dogs to be entered (though puppies will have to have received proper vaccinations and be re-tested as adults, since their temperament changes over time), nor do they have to be registered with the AKC to receive the award. It matters not if the dog is a purebred or mixed breed either; the goal of the program is to promote excellent behaviour for all dogs.