The DogSmith of Palm Beach County has been awarded “Canine Good Citizen (CGC)” Evaluator status by the American Kennel Club (AKC).  Open to all dogs, whether AKC registered or not, the CGC program was established to promote responsible dog ownership and to encourage the training of well-mannered dogs.

Florida January 21, 2010 -  The DogSmith Training Center is pleased to announce the certification of another DogSmith professional dog training and pet care specialist as an AKC “Canine Good Citizen” Evaluator. Rachel Williams, the DogSmith of Palm Beach County, is now a proud AKC “CGC” Evaluator qualified and authorized by the AKC to assess the manners and behavior of dogs wishing to become “Canine Good Citizens.” Since its inception, the CGC program has become the model for similar programs around the world and serves as the framework for other exams, such as therapy dog programs, and is a good starting point for more advanced dog training.

The American Kennel Club says “The Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program has become recognized as the standard of behavior for dogs in our communities. Canine Good Citizen® resolutions have been passed by 18 state legislatures and the United States Senate since the program was established in 1989.  In addition, insurance companies are starting to use the CGC® certification to insure breeds they would not otherwise insure and some condominium associations around the country now require that all dogs in the community attain the Canine Good Citizen® certification.”

Dogs do not have to be registered with the AKC, or any other organization, to earn a CGC, nor do they have to be purebred. The goal is to promote good citizenship for all dogs.

As an essential part of the DogSmith’s commitment to being the most progressive Dog Training and Pet Care Company in North America, DogSmith Franchise Owners must achieve increasing levels of continuing education and development in their profession. Becoming an AKC “CGC” Evaluator is a key component to that development and commitment.

The DogSmith recognizes the importance of supporting pet dog owners and helping them achieve a high level of training with their dogs.  As part of the DogSmith’s core curriculum, several of their private dog training packages and group dog training courses include the 10 essential behaviors required for a dog to be certified as a “Canine Good Citizen”. Each DogSmith is expert at applying positive based training methods to ensure that the training is fun and effective for both owner and dog. DogSmiths are professional Dog Trainers and Behavior Analysts and use the most effective and non-intrusive training methods available.  To learn more about AKC’s CGC program visit: www.akc.org.

About The DogSmith

The DogSmith Franchise Services Inc. is a Florida based company whose mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their owners by improving their relationship, and the quality of the life they share, through providing professional support and training to pet dog owners, supporting and assisting animal shelters and rescue organizations to minimize the number of unwanted animals and offering affordable and professional care to family pets so that pet ownership is never a burden. To learn more about, or to become a DogSmith Dog Trainer, visit www.DogSmith.com or call 1-888-364-7648