Starting Training For Cgc. Who Has Passed? Advice?

[Guest GreytPlains]

I am so proud of my boy. We've been working on a few commands now that he is getting settled in to his new home. I wanted to at least try to teach him sit as I hope to get his CGC. We'll enroll in class in early September and take the test in late October if all goes well.

 

I am very happy to report that he will now sit on command (with the proper food bribe, of course). It is an awkward sit and he can't quite get his back end to touch the floor, but it is a sit and I am so proud of him!

 

What was the hardest part of the CGC test for those of you who have passed or attempted it? Any advice?

 

[Batmom]

We had a hard time with "stay" in the unusual context of the test ("It's not like class! Where are all the other dogs????!") and to a lesser extent with not pulling toward other, new dogs during the test. Joseph failed twice . Then, on a whim I took him to the test when I took Gidget and they both passed with no trouble at all. IMHO a lot depends on the evaluator -- one of ours was odd, and set things up very oddly, to the point I considered making a protest. But the other two tests were ordinary and fair.

 

ETA: Good luck!

Edited July 22, 2012 by Batmom

[FiveRoooooers]

Congratulations! Don't say "If" all goes well ... Believe!

 

One of the components of the test that could be difficult is walking past a toy or treat. That's where you want to focus your eyes straight ahead, don't look at the object on the floor. As with anything, where you look is where you go. When you are focused straight ahead, your dog won't be focused on the thing on the floor that you don't want him focused on. Sheesh, can I use "focus" in a sentence . Good luck! You're going to be a greyt team!

[Houndtime]

I had two greys that trained and passed. I think the hardest is the stay, when you walk away. I had a boy that did not like the part where you have to mingle with another dog. During training he did not do that well.

 

On the day of the test, it was very hot. I think he was exhausted by the time we reached that part of the test and could care less that he had to mingle with big, black Newfoundland Terrier. Good luck and have fun, both you and your dog.

Edited July 23, 2012 by Houndtime

[Guest jbbuzby]

CGC Evaluator here! My male passed his test on the first try before I became an evaluator, but we worked hard for months practicing. I'd say the best thing you can do is practice in all kinds of different places. Make sure your hound knows that "sit" means the same thing a block away from your house as it does in your family room! Practice does make perfect, so just practice is a public setting with a variety of commands while on walks, and you should have no trouble. For my guy with his S.A., the supervised separation was definitely the hardest for us, but we were able to make it through . Good luck!!!!

[Guest greytkidsmom]

Two of my three have passed. Walking past the neutral dog was the most difficult part for us. Tiel doesn't like non-greyhounds. She has gotten better over the years and even became a certified therapy dog. Kebo is quite sensitive. I took him to the test with the attitude that this was practice and if he passed, great but if he didn't pass we would try again later. No pressure on me, no pressure on him. He passed with flying colors and I think it was because I was relaxed and didn't pass any stress on to him. However your dog does, obedience is a really good bonding experience. Enjoy!

[Guest KennelMom]

I have one that's passed (the only one I've had evaluated)...she didn't really have any issues but the one I was most worried about was the "stay."

 

Good luck! Once the baby gets older I definitely want to start getting the rest of our crew CGC'd.

[Guest reneern120]

Banana has passed and is also tdi cert. My only suggestion to add is to tell your tester that you will bring a dog bed or a blanket for your grey to sit/stay and lie/stay on!! It took me three weeks to get nana to sit on cue and there was no way i was going to ask her to park her bottom on a hard floor. I have Lilly in basic obd. class now and I am also having a hard time getting her to sit. Grey just do not like to do it!!

 

Good luck!!

[a_daerr]

Both of mine hate supervised separation. They didn't quite freak out, but the evaluator said they were not happy.