Ryuk and I did a mock run through with a "real" evaluator when he was younger. At the time he was to young to actually take the test but the evaluator was kind enough to let us practice....this evaluator failed most of the dogs that took the test that day.

He told me that we would have failed at a few parts. 1) Ryuk did not formally heal, he was sniffing around (not pulling) but not paying 100% attention with eye contact and 2) my walking away and leaving him for 3 minutes he barked 2 times as I walked away

Recently I've been watching both passing and failing tests on youtube and we have a chance to take the test officially coming up. I noticed a few things...

With the exception of the SitMeansSit trainer videos and a few select people (they look like the schutzhund types) not many of the passing dogs are heeling. Some are even tripping up their owners. So does this really matter that much? I'm pretty confident that Ryuk will heel nicely with me at this point but I'm curious....

The separation exercise. Ryuk can be tethered to a pole and left alone no problem, with a person he's a brat. Am I allowed to give him the "tether" command in hopes he'll treat the person like a pole? He was fine during the mock test until he was petted....which was when he freaked out. In the youtube videos I've seen some dogs getting pet, some not....which is correct? Can I request he not be touched?

What are the restrictions on commands used? Is it like an OB trial where you can only give the command once (or in direction changes?). A lot of the passing videos have people slapping their leg, doing a lot of encouragement, lots of talking, reward petting, etc. However some of them are very OB like, ignore the dog unless a giving the single command. Which is correct?

There's a part where the evaluator grooms the dog and picks up the paws, looks in the ears, and checks the teeth (though the teeth thing doesn't seem as standard). Ryuk has commands for each of these, am I allowed to ask the evaluator to use them?

The last thing is the collar.....I've seen the CGC test taken in a choke chain, yet it specifies no training collars? What is this about? However Ryuk will most likely take it in his flat buckle collar I'm curious.....

When I took the test with my dog the dog the dog just had to walk on a loose leash so no pulling or a formal heel. I do not believe you can request he not be touched (I beleive this is actually a requirment "sit politly for petting" You can use what ever and how many commands you want (including those people that say stay, stay, stay, stay, over and over again) Yes a dog can have a choke chain on for this test, they call it a slip collar in there description on the akc/cgc website.

I'm interesting the knowing the answers to some of your questions as Sasha and I are going to attempt the Canadian version CGN in a few weeks.

 Quote: Debbie Martin

I'm interesting the knowing the answers to some of your questions as Sasha and I are going to attempt the Canadian version CGN in a few weeks.

Me too

Found this video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJnEIVwJmHE

Makes me wonder if this is either an overly lax example or fairly standard. If it's the latter I'm wondering why I've been putting it off so long, lol.

How easy or hard the CGC test is subject to the evaluator. Some are way to easy and some are way to hard.
To "fail most of the dogs that took the test that day" is about as harsh as one can get. It isn't a competition and it should only be looking for simple manners and being reasonably social.
IMO any dog that is of sound temperament, reasonably well mannered, and responds to it's owner will pass it.

Here are the AKC requirements.
http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/training_testing.cfm

I think it can be evaluator judgment vs pass/fail, some are easier than others. At least that is my experience, as many times as we've done it and the occasional repeat, the evaluators have always been fair. Not looking for absolute perfection but a well rounded dog around people/pets and one that is obedient.

Fairly formal heel, head up but not nec dead lock eye contact, attentive to you and ready to change directions.

Separation is with an unknown person, but they should not be interacting with the dog...only holding the leash and observing. I never gave a command, just acted like it was no big deal and handed leash over. I suppose there may be a person or two that gave a secret body command of 'teether' that an evaluator didn't pick up on. The dog is allowed to show a little concern of where you went, meaning not required that he just sit or lay in perfect contentness.

The touch is a separate exercise from separation and it must be done but with you present and you can give a touch command.

You can give command for ear, paw, groom 'exam' evaluation.

Commands generally accepted twice maybe a 3rd, but if you're repeating, repeating and dog not responding...evaluator judgment enters in.

Collars can't be e, or pinch and no food. I think what I've found are sometimes the facilities have thier own rules and when the evaluator comes in all follow suit. We took an OB class and only flats are allowed, no pinch, choke, martingales, etc. so that was a 'rule' of the facility.

Maybe this site will help break it down for you. I thought there were some on the board that were evaluators for the CGC, hopefully they can clarify/correct the exact rules, as it is somewhat subjective.

http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cgc.html

Wow... that test was...special... lol.

For Koenig's CGC it was sponsored by my club, and the tester is very very familiar with Schutzhund dogs, so they were not petted during the separation, unless the dog solicited a pet. (Koenig got to cuddle with a kid he knows, which is honestly the only reason he passed....lol. Stupid separation anxiety!)

Our 'exam' consisted of a light brushing with a rubber curry, (she really just petted him with it) and she touched his ears, and ran a hand down his leg. Didn't pick up his foot, didn't look in his mouth. Jaime, I think you should be able to ask/tell the evaluator that you have commands for feet/teeth etc, and they should be respectful of that.

I didn't get a video... that would have been a good idea. Oh well. BH will be on video. That's way cooler then the CGC anyhow.
Good luck!

I would disagree with the "no petting Schutzhund dogs".
The test is all about being a Canine Good Citizen. A dog that can't be petted, right or wrong for whatever reason, doesn't belong in a CGC test. the dog may not like it but he damn well better do it if it expects to pass.
My Schutzhund III passed with flying colors, as I expected him to.

No, it wasn't about not petting SchH dogs as a rule.... she just does not make a big deal about fawning over the dog during the supervised separation. Hold the leash, be calm.

I totally agree- if a dog can't be petted, it shouldn't pass. However, I think for some dogs (mine included) being petted by a stranger while I was walking away could make his nerves worse. I think it's a slightly silly thing, too. I can't think of a single real life situation where I would hand my leash to a stranger, and ask them to watch my dog. I digress, though.


Jaime, do you know the tester/facility? Can you talk to the facility about the tester, and specifics of the way she/he runs the test before the actual event, just do you're aware of the details? (Since there is such a huge variation)

I still think that your version is funny.

The English version has a greater emphasis on training as well as temperment. It's done on 3 levels, on 3 seperate occasions - you can take just the first etc. as they are seperate titles.

The bronze involves no touching by an unknown person, the handler has to prove that they can touch / examine their own dog. Silver and gold do involve a stranger touching them in a simulated vet check. The tester I use is a show judge and ringcraft trainer - she is very good about approaching dogs in the correct way, even the gobby dogs tend to relax and allow her to look them over.

The top level (in case you are interested) involves an out of sight stay, return to heel, off-leash heeling, sendaway, stop on recall and some other stuff.