CGC Class

I don't think she's too young.  Coke was 17 months when he took the class and there was a 10 month old GSD in the class.  If she doesn't pass....don't sweat it.  The class itself is a good atmosphere for proofing and finding out what needs work.

My one piece of advice is be open about it.  Both of my dogs did really well in areas I expected them to fail, and needed the most work in areas I thought we'd already conquered.  Coke did not pass the first time, he just passed last month (took his original class and test in Nov. 2007).  Kenya has passed the test multiple times, but each time we take it there are little goofs on different exercises.  For example, the first time we took it, during the "greet the neutral dog", she stood out of her sit and *almost* stepped towards the other dog, but the last time she took it, she did this test so well that the instructor asked for me to use HER as the neutral dog on the next dog.  Sometimes her heeling is way better than it needs to be, other times she's *almost* straining on the lead.  It just depends on the dog's mood that day, and the environment.  So just be really open about it, whatever happens happens.  You can always take it again.  And, it's good to take it once a year or once every few years as an indicator of how the dog is progressing or whether she still needs work in new environments.

For the test itself, relax and picture it perfectly in your mind. As a gymnast, we did a lot of mental pictures, going through our routines in our mind (and studies show this actually fires neurons and "works" muscles as if you ARE doing the routine).  So before I do any test, or a rally course, etc, I stop and visualize how the two of us would look if we did it perfectly.  Not any dog, but US, what hand signals I use when, how I hold my body, how I expect my dog to react, etc.

You can do the CGC any time after age 1 -- AND if she flunks she can re-take it.  Sometimes that IS the charm, especially if we owners are at all nervous.

Foxy failed his the first time (that 20' where you have to walk away and they're supposed to 'stay' until you turn around and walk back to them and poor Fox was SO tickled I was coming back to him that he broke and came towards me!!  "MOM aren't you as glad to see me as I am you???? wassup? I KNEW you'd want me with ya!"

 I know *I* was nervous the first time -- the boy was 17 1/2 when he took his CGC and I'm thinking how hard a 'sit' is on the old joints anyway!  WE went to Wal-mart to practice YES WE DID. 

Mine can get SOOOO thrilled at the whole "OH OH OH CLASSSSSS we're DOIN sumthin!!!" thing that it bears impressing on them "yep, but just dial it back ok?  You're FINE"

CGC classes are good because it gets it into the realm of 'no big deal'. 

Just watch your eyes (Your *own* eyes) -- the point of a CGC is that in general day to day stuff, they are relaxed enough to be good citizens.  If I put them in a stay, walk over to a table to get something and walk back I'm likely gonna be far more relaxed and matter of fact than in a test.  I can't help it - I'm HUMAN (phew, we've established that!) 

So often a "class" will actually get a more normal behavior out of the dog because you can move beyond the 'WOW THIS IS SUMTHIN BIG' to "just do what I say, ok?"

I really DID practice with him at Wal-Mart.  They often go with me in public and KNOW beyond a shadow of doubt the standards of behavior are VERY high.  so it put "party manners" on display and yet didn't wig them out. (oh yeah, Wal-mart parking lot -- no biggie!!  either the car gets filled up with bags or something, but she sure AIN'T gonna leave me here!!!  and peepuls will tell her how awesome I look if I prance and do GOOD!!)

Actually, you can take the CGC at any time, though they do recommend retesting dogs that take it at under a year because behavior can change.

I'm currently teaching a CGC class and the dogs are 3 yrs, 1 year, 7 months, and 18 months.

Thanks for the advice guys...I'll take it.  I had no idea a puppy as young as 7 months could get the title. 

The trainer called yesterday afternoon to say the class is postponed for 2 weeks.  She still doesn't have power (post-Ike) and the other folks still have Ike issues.  I'm looking forward to the class though...it will be good for her and me.