Community Canine Title

A last month Riley, Grace and I were practicing for the ACGC aka. the AKC Community Canine test. It is the next title you can earn after the CGC. It required a bit more real-life situations from the dogs and I think Riley and Grace did a decent job. I mean, they passed, but for whatever reason, I felt like both of them were a bit off/ unfocused. But, I guess everyone has their off days, either way I am still very proud of them!

I ended up practicing and taking the test with both of them at the same time. It was a bit a juggle, but it worked out pretty well in the end. Just had to remind the evaluator a couple times I needed to go twice for everything. I had a soft kennel off to the side and after I completed one test item with one dog, I would switch and go again.

I actually didn't practice with Grace much, since I basically knew she would pass from the get go. She ends up doing most of what the test requires on a weekly basis, between obedience class and coming to places with me.

Riley, was the one I spent the most time practicing with. As you all know he has the social personality and one of the hardest parts for him is being greeted by a stranger. He doesn't jump of anything, just gets super wiggly and licks. The other hard part for him is to not greet other dogs, but I think he did very well considering.

I am so proud of Riley and Grace! Now we got to get our butts back in the Agility and Rally rings!

Here is the video if anyone wants to see. It is long since I did two dogs, but you can skip forward if you so desire, especially in the beginning, during the "waiting politely" test item.

CGCA

We have been in a lull lately, not really doing much besides our usual everyday stuff. Work seems to be consuming all my time and I hate it. Not to mention, today is the second time in 2 weeks I have some kind of stomach bug. So I took off work but all I get to do is sit here and recover.

Luckily, for me, for the next couple weeks I get to do something with the pups. Our training facility is offering the AKC Community Canine test and since Riley and Grace both have their CGC, I would like to do this with them. The only catch is, it is a long while in between classes/test, so I am attempting to practice in class and take the test with both dogs together.

This past Saturday was our first practice class. It was a bit of a juggle at first, figuring out how I was going to practice with both. First, I tried switching them back and forth, one in the kennel, then switch. But that was too much of a hassle. Second, I had my friend, who works there, who was watching the class, hold one dog while I worked, and she could practice with the one she had. But she eventually had to go answer the phone.

What ended up working the best, was me working both Riley and Grace at the same time. I do it at home all the time. I guess I thought class would be different, I don't know. Grace knows the drill, we practice most of what the test requires weekly, in and out of class, and she tends to be more of a quite personality (most the time haha). Riley, is the more of the squirmy, social butterfly type, so it take a bit more work with him. He can do it all, it just take a bit more reminding.

I think our first class went really well and I look forward to the others!

We have two more practice classes then the test. I have no doubt Grace will pass and Riley I have high hopes for, with practice.