Category: Don’t Complain, Train

  • Community Canines

    The ultimate test of a good citizen is a dog who can behave with confidence and good manners in public. As a way to recognize those exceptional canines the American Kennel Club has added two advanced levels to its Canine Good Citizen program…the Community Canine (CGCA) and the Urban Canine (CGCU). Just as in the…

  • Punishment and Aggression

    “Violence begets violence” can be traced all the way to the New Testament and often repeated in speeches by world leaders. It finds its way down to the effect of television and video games. But what does this have to do with dog training? A lot. Below is an excerpt from Stanley Coren’s column in Psychology…

  • Just Say Yes

    I was talking to a friend today. She was frustrated because she had agreed to do something that she really doesn’t want to do. So I gave her the “just say No” pep talk. Say No to drugs, say No to the second dessert, say No to the favor you really don’t want to do.…

  • Good Dogs, Good Canine Citizens

    Since 1989 the American Kennel Club has been awarding the Canine Good Citizen designation to dogs that successfully pass a 10-step test. The program is open to all dogs including All-Americans (mixed breed dogs). Later AKC added a puppy version called the STAR Puppy test. While the AKC considers the 10 test requirements as foundation…