The American Kennel Club introduced its Canine Good Citizen program in 1989 in response to ever-increasing restrictions on where dogs could be taken or kept. The idea behind the program was that if dogs could demonstrate that they were well-mannered in response to everyday situations, then they should be given the distinction of being called good citizens in the same way that people are. To earn their Canine Good Citizen certificate, dogs must pass a series of ten tests to demonstrate manners in various situations. Since 1989, hundreds of thousands of dogs have been certified.

Puppies are great candidates for CGC certificates, as the tests are not physically challenging but involve the kinds of behaviors you would like your pup to demonstrate throughout his life. Young puppies won't have the attention span to complete the entire test, but it is certainly worth working toward in small ways. Then, when your pup is mature enough to be put to the test, he'll be ready.

The ten parts of the Canine Good Citizen Test are:

• Accepting a friendly stranger. This shows that your dog will willingly accept the friendly advances of a stranger.

• Sitting politely for petting. In a controlled sit, your dog should allow a friendly stranger to pet him.

• Appearance and grooming. Your dog needs to be well groomed, and should welcome being gently groomed and examined by a friendly stranger.

• Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead). This shows that you can walk your dog under control without him pulling at or lunging on the leash, and that he is attentive to your presence as his handler.

• Walking through a crowd. Your dog should be able to pass by several strangers without displaying any inappropriate behavior.

• Sit and Down on command and Staying in place. With this test your dog will demonstrate that he understands these basic commands.

• Coming when called (from about ten feet away).

• Reaction to another dog. This shows your dog can behave politely around other dogs as a handler approaches with his dog and engages in casual conversation with you.

• Reaction to distraction. When presented with a couple of common distractions — such as a dropped chair or cane, or a person jogging by — your dog should show interest but not panic or aggression.

• Supervised separation. The objective of this test is to see if your dog can be left on his own with a trusted person. With you out of his sight, your dog should remain calm until your return.

If you intend on making your dog a significant part of your life (especially if you live in an urban or suburban area), then taking advantage of Canine Good Citizen testing is an excellent idea. It's fun to do, and it's valuable to be able to trust your dog and how he interacts with others. Earning a CGC certificate is another way of letting the world know that your dog truly is a well-mannered and adaptable companion.