The Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test, offered by the American Kennel Club to all dogs, purebred or not, isn't really a competition. It's just a way to tell the world that your poodle possesses the skills that all good dogs should have. Each dog taking the CGC is asked to perform ten simple tests to prove that he's a good citizen. Those tests are the following:

• Accepting a Friendly Stranger

• Sitting Politely for Petting

• Appearance and Grooming

• Walking on a Loose Lead

• Walking Through a Crowd

• Sit and Down on Command — Staying in Place

• Coming When Called

• Reaction to Another Dog

• Reaction to Distraction

• Supervised Separation

Official CGC tests can be conducted only by evaluators who have been approved and registered by the AKC, and they are often offered by training clubs or at dog-related events. Treats are not allowed during the test itself (though you can certainly use them when training for it!).

If your dog passes the CGC test, the AKC gives you a nice certificate you can display in your home. Your dog's name is also recorded in the AKC Canine Good Citizen Archive. A CGC award can come in handy if you're looking for rental housing. Some therapy groups even make it a prerequisite.

If you're concerned that your dog might not be able to pass all ten of the exercises — if she fails even one, she doesn't get the CGC award — you can take a preparatory class. These classes can be fun, teach your dog some basic skills (or remind her about skills she's already learned), and give you the chance to interact with other dogs and owners.