ABOUT THE TRI-COUNTY OBEDIENCE CLUB
PROMOTING FUN WITH YOUR DOG!
We follow the:
American kennel Club (AKC)
standards for club
membership.
(http://www.akc.org)
The TCOC has members who are certified AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) evaluators.
Started in 1989, CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.
Items on the Canine Good Citizen Test include:
Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
Test 3: Appearance and grooming
Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
Test 5: Walking through a crowd
Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place
Test 7: Coming when called
Test 8: Reaction to another dog
Test 9: Reaction to distraction
Test 10: Supervised separation
Equipment:
All tests must be performed on leash. Dogs should wear well-fitting buckle or slip collars made of leather, fabric, or chain. Special training collars such as pinch collars, head halters, etc. are not permitted in the CGC test. We recognize that special training collars may be very useful tools for beginning dog trainers, however, we feel that dogs are ready to take the CGC test at the point at which they are transitioned to regular collars.
The evaluator supplies a 20-foot lead for the test. The owner/handler should bring the dog's brush or comb to the test.
Any dog that growls, snaps, bites, attacks, or attempts to attack a person or another dog is not a good citizen and must be dismissed from the test.
All dogs, including both purebred and mixed breed dogs are welcome to participate in the CGC program. Dogs must be old enough to have received necessary immunizations such as rabies vaccines. Owners will sign the Responsible Dog Owners Pledge attesting to having the dog under the routine care of a veterinarian who will work with the owner to determine an appropriate plan and schedule for vaccines and other health care procedures.
In some regions, Nationwide Insurance is issuing homeowners insurance to owners of breeds previously prohibited by the company, providing the dog passes the AKC Canine Good Citizen test.
Nationwide has stated: "Nationwide has begun to allow the owners of certain prohibited dog breeds to attain homeowners insurance if they provide an original copy of a certificate demonstrating successful completion of the AKC Canine Good Citizen program.This provision is currently available in limited areas and provided the applicant meets traditional underwriting requirements.
In a little over one decade, the Canine Good Citizen Program has begun to have an extremely positive impact in many of our communities. This is a program that can help us assure that the dogs we love will always be welcomed and well-respected members of our communities.
For more information about AKC Canine Good Citizen Testing go to: www.akc.org.
TCOC puts on CGC testing at our many fundraising events. For more information on when a CGC testing is coming, E-mail us at: WHIDOBRU@USADATANET.NET
Dale, a club member and an AKC CGC evaluator, uses her dog, Hailey on Test #8 Reaction to another Dog.
Tri-County Obedience Club has offered Therapy Dogs International, Inc. Testing in past events!
Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI) is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registration of therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers for the purpose of visiting nursing homes, hospitals, other institutions and wherever else therapy dogs are needed.
TDI was founded in 1976 in New Jersey (Founder, Elaine Smith).
TDI registers all breeds of dogs. Some dogs have pedigrees, while others have been adopted from local shelters or are rescue dogs.
Year 2005, over 14,000 dogs and approximately 12,200 handlers are registered with TDI.
We have volunteer dogs and their handlers in all 50 states as well as some in Canada.
To belong to Therapy Dogs International, Inc., all dogs must be tested and evaluated by a Certified TDI Evaluator. A dog must be a minimum of one (1) year of age and have a sound temperment. Each dog must pass the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC), and a temperment evaluation for suitability to become a Therapy Dog. The test will also demonstrate the evaluation of the dog’s behavior around people with the use of some type of service equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, etc.).
We require our Health Record Form to be completed and signed by a Licensed Veterinarian.
TDI is a non-profit organization supported through annual membership dues.
Ursula A. Kempe, a full time volunteer President/CEO is directing the affairs and business office of the organization. A volunteer Board of Directors governs the organization.
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