It’s official: Magneto is a good citizen. This New Yorker strolls the streets calmly, unfazed by the sights and sounds of the busy city. Horn honks, sidewalk trash, subway smells, touchy passersby—Magneto takes it all in stride. Magneto is a good dog. And his owner has the papers to prove it.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) officially recognizes dogs that demonstrate good citizenship. The official title for these city-wise pups is Urban Canine Good Citizen. The Urban CGC is one of four titles the AKC gives for doggie citizenship.
Dogs must have a registered AKC number and pass the basic Canine Good Citizen test before being allowed to take the urban version of the exam.
The basic test has been around for about 25 years. More than 700,000 dogs have passed. The urban version requires a bit more self-restraint on the part of the pooch.
AKC officials administer the Urban CGC test in tough city settings. Streets, cars, noises, elevators, outdoor cafes, and other distractions are all part of the real-world exam.
Dogs perform a 10-step test of skills. For example, they must wait patiently for “walk” lights at pedestrian crossings, clamber in and out of cars or taxis, and ignore tempting street food. Two of the most difficult parts of the test involve a dog’s tolerating hugs and strokes from strangers and remaining still while its owner browses in a dog-friendly shop.
Some people think the test of doggie etiquette is barking up the wrong tree. “It’s more that the owners could step up their game,” observed one New Yorker.
Why do owners put their dogs through these urban paces? For one thing, it’s a way to “consider others,” as in Philippians 2:3. But additionally, from a practical point of view, some people believe good dog behavior will pay off. Some homeowners’ insurers have agreed to cover certain breeds with the basic canine good citizen title according to the AKC. Further, some think the Urban CGC title might help get a beloved pet into the best co-ops and condos.
What does the pooch get for its efforts? The AKC awards each dog that successfully passes the citizenship test the suffix “CGC” after its name—that and a doggie treat.
Some canines will do anything to stay out of the doghouse.
My dog, Tori
My family got our dog, Tori, from a breeder. Even before we knew Tori existed, we were allowed to go to the breeder's house, hold newborn puppies (not many breeders let you do that!), and play with the dogs. Soon after Tori was born, we were allowed to go and see her and her siblings. We also got to hold them. And after the dogs at that breeder are done breeding, the breeder gets them spayed or neutered. All of the dogs there are loved and cared for, which is what all breeders should do!
Rebekah S.
I had no idea that it was legal for a breeder to do that to a dog. I'm really shocked and appalled; that's really awful, and makes me sad to think that a dog could spend its entire life in a cage like that. Something should be done about it. I wouldn't want to own a Labrador because they aren't really my choice of a dog; not really my type. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I'm intimidated by large dogs, I love large dogs, and I would love to have one, but Labradors just aren't one I think I'd like to own myself.
Rebekah S.
I agree with you, all dogs should be loved and appreciated. Not viewed as a way to make a profit, or as a thing, but loved and given to homes where they will be loved and cared for.
Gabrielle P
What breeds of dogs are "your type"?
Rebekah S.
I prefer medium size dogs. Something like Shelties, Miniature Aussie Shepherds, or the Alaskan Klee Kai. :-) I like Collies, but even a collie would be a bit tall for me. I might change my mind in the future, but for now, Labradors and larger breeds just aren't my preference. I hope that that makes some sense. :-/
BTW
BTW, I wonder if this is the most comments that have ever been on an article for WorldTeen. :-D
Gabrielle P
Your comment made sense. Thank you for answering my question! :)
The most comments is "A New Hope For Star Wars Fans". It is under Taste Test and has 177 comments and counting. But I believe this article has the second most comments!
Rebekah S.
Oh wow, I don't think I read that article. Or maybe I did, but I don't remember, that tends to happen to me a lot, LOL. But, I'm not surprised that the Star Wars article has so many comments because everyone is so excited for the new movie.
Rebekah S.
I did read and comment on the Star Wars article, I just forgot, like I thought that I did. So your birthday is in December too?
Gabrielle P
Yes, my birthday is this month. Is your birthday this month as well?
Rebekah S.
Yes mine is too. :-)
Gabrielle P
Great! I know a few other people who have birthdays in December. Is yours before or after Christmas?
Gabrielle P
What do you mean by "Miniature Australian Shepherds"? Do you mean that there is a "miniature" breed, like the Small Musterlander opposed to the Large Musterlander? I have never heard of miniature aussies--where did you hear about them?
The Musterlander is another breed of dog, and there is a small and large version.
Gabrielle P
Actually, the breed is called Munsterlander--it's a German breed and is supposed to have something above the u and the a. Sorry that I misspelled the breed!
Gabrielle P
The picture below is of a Large Munsterlander.
http://d21vu35cjx7sd4.cloudfront.net/dims3/MMAH/thumbnail/645x380/qualit...
Gabrielle P
Here is a Large Munsterlander puppy.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b1/9e/f1/b19ef1894e8ed2b23909c...
Rebekah S and Gabrielle P
Yes, I do live in Germany, but we could end up moving back soon, (Or we could still be here for several more years.) To answer your questions I would say a 10 for how much I love animals. Especially dogs and cats. And for your second question I would say probably a 8. Because I'm always willing to help animals that are not being treated properly or taken care of. Even though so many people own cats and dogs, there is still an equal amount of abandoned dogs and cats and other animals that need our help.
I forgot to add that the
I forgot to add that the reason I say and 8 is because some dogs are just really scary to me. My dog, got bit by a dog in the neck because my dog was being to friendly and so that's why some dogs are not on my list of favorites. But that doesn't mean that I couldn't get used to mean dogs, if a dog attacks somebody or another dog, it's probably because they are unaware or they just are on alert. Also, Happy birthday Rebekah S and Gabrielle P. : )
Rebekah S. and Ana H.
My birthday is before Christmas. What about you? Yes, there is a miniature breed of Australian Shepherds. At my 4-H club, I'm almost positive that one girl has a miniature Aussie Shepherd and then another girl has a regular size Aussie Shepherd. Even if her dog isn't a mini, I first heard about them in a dog magazine that I read all the time. Most of my knowledge about dog breeds came from that magazine. I have seen a Munsterlander, I actually had a neighbor that had a small one. Ana H, I understand what you are saying about some dog breeds tend to make you nervous, there are a few that are rather large that I'm not terribly comfortable with at the moment; like the Great Dane, I'm kind of short, so a dog that is like 2x my size makes me pretty nervous. I used to be terrified of dogs in general when I was little, but now, I love them sooooo much, and I'm very certain that working with animals (specifically dogs and horses) is what I want to do. Thank you for all the birthday wishes Ana H. :-)
Gabrielle P
My birthday is before Christmas too, so happy birthday!
My situation is kind of similar. When I was younger, I was also terrified of all dogs. Now, I can't help but love them!
Gabrielle P
At Loving Heart Animal Shelter, there was a Great Pyrenees, Golden retriever mix called Simba--he was H-U-G-E! Even though I didn't get to know him all that well, he was a sweet boy and wasn't even a year old! If he stood on his hind legs, he'd be taller than me or the ladies that work there!
I believe he got adopted. Below is a picture of Simba:
https://drpem3xzef3kf.cloudfront.net/photos/pets/33720323/1/?bust=144685...
Ana H and Gabrielle P
And H- thank you for wishing us a happy birthday! Did your dog get bit by a stray or a dog that you know? If so, has your dog had her rabies vaccination?
Ana H and Gabrielle P-
To be frank, I'm a little bit wary of some dogs. At the no-kill animal shelter that I volunteer at, there is a 1-year-old female German Shepherd mix called June. The shelter received June when she was 4 months. Soon, June got adopted, but was returned. She got adopted a second time, but was returned because she would charge the people's friends--she never nipped or bit.
Now June is at the shelter AGAIN. She is a shy dog, but can be sweet. She's also one of those dogs that you have to be cautious around. Even though the people at the shelter don't think she would bite, she may lash out if forced to do something. I just wish that somebody would care enough to give her a forever home for good! Below is a picture of June when she was 8 months old; her name used to be Abby. If one of you knows a person who would be willing to adopt a shy pup that needs some training, please let me know! I don't think that she will be adopted quickly.
https://drpem3xzef3kf.cloudfront.net/photos/pets/32884712/1/?bust=143834...
About June
Of course, June has grown a lot since that picture! Now, her right ear flops down, and her left ear sticks straight up--it's the cutest thing ever!
Ana H and Gabrielle P
So, I'm not totally comfortable around dogs like June.
Another time at the shelter, there was this pit bull mix called Omer (he's since been adopted and now is called Jango). Anyway, the first time I saw Jango, I wasn't too sure about him. After all, he was a big pit bull mix. But after taking him outside and getting to know him, I discovered that he was a really sweet boy and had so much love to give!
Well, I've at least learned one thing: don't judge a dog by its appearance; first, get to know the dog! Below is a picture of Jango in the shelter's play area.
https://drpem3xzef3kf.cloudfront.net/photos/pets/33588142/1/?bust=144553...
Ana H
Are there any particular breeds that are not on your favorite list?
Ana H
Are there any no-kill animals shelters or humane societies where you live in Germany?
Sorry!
Sorry for all my comments!
Gabrielle P
Even though it's not the greatest photo, I found another picture of Pixie.
https://drpem3xzef3kf.cloudfront.net/photos/pets/33829622/1/?bust=144797...
Citizenship? Seriously?
I don't think it's right to let a dog be a citizen. But that's an opinion coming from a non dog lover
Rebekah F
No, dogs are not citizens. They are our companions. But if a person wants to make their dog a therapy dog, the dog has to pass certain tests.
About the article--would you want your dog eating food on the ground in a city? I mean, all the skills mentioned in the article would be helpful if you had a big dog and planned to take him to the city.
Rebekah F
In fact, the skills mentioned in this article would be useful for any dog to know!
Gabrielle P
What is the name of the magazine about dogs that you read?
Another mistake....
Actually, the pit bull mix was called Omar, not Omer. I am truly sorry for all the mistakes that I've been making!
Rebekah S and Gabrielle P
I don't know if there are any animal shelters or human society's near my town. But in Garmisch, there were lots of animal pounds. It's surprising that I don't know if there are any animal shelters nearby because the Germans love their dogs. Did you know that it is a law to walk your dog every 2-3 hours? The kind of dogs that I don't really favor are little tiny dogs. They're not bad, but if they bark too much, then I don't like them. Gabrielle P, do you not like all labradors? Because our dog is a British breed of Labradors. Then there is the American breed. The British breed tends to be stockier and smaller. And the American breed is the taller and bigger breed.
Ana H
Why is there a law that says that you have to walk your dog every 2-3 hours? That means that you can't be gone for long periods of times or take long trips without stopping.
I usually walk my dog in the morning and will sometimes give her another walk in the afternoon, depending on the day. Sometimes, I'll take her to our backyard and throw her ball or Frisbee to get some of her energy out.
Rebekah S.
Thank you, and Happy Birthday to you too. I love Simba's face, he looks like a sweetie. June is soooo cute too, I love her. It is sad though that it seems like no one wants her because of her nervous behavior. :-( I would take her, even if it required a lot of work to get her to feel more comfortable and not to rush at people. If I haven't mentioned it before (I probably did), I want a lot of dogs, so I would probably take any dog in a heartbeat. I am thinking now that I might get some of my dogs from a breeder though, but I'm not positive about it yet. The name of the magazine I have is Dogs USA. The issue that I have is from 2004 (which is the year that I got my first dog), but there are some helpful tips for working with a puppy, and articles with nutrition tips too. There is probably an updated version, but I've been reading through this magazine since I first got my Jack Russell Terrier 11 years ago. I wasn't sure what breed she was exactly, so I looked in the magazine and my sister and I determined that she was a Jack Russell. My Jackie is almost 14 years old now. :-)
Ana H.
It's not that I don't like Labradors, it's just that, unless I grow a bit taller, I don't think that I would feel comfortable owning a dog that is taller than I am. It's probably the American breed of Labradors that is bigger than I am. :-D Hmm, I didn't know there was a British breed and an American breed. Do you know about how tall the British breed is? I understand what you're saying about the little dogs that bark too much. I have a neighbor that has 3 chihuahuas, and they do bark a lot, all day long. My Chihuahua mix, doesn't bark that much. She and my other dog typically bark when the doorbell rings, or when someone turns the key in the lock, and sometimes when she's playing with my other dog. If she's outside, she doesn't bark at the neighbor dogs. It's a pretty rare occasion that she barks while she's outside.
Gabrielle P
Why would you want to purchase a dog from a breeder when over 9,000 homeless dogs and cats and dying every day in kill shelters across the nation? If you're looking for a purebred dog, be sure to check out local breed rescues before going to the dog breeder!
Or if it's a puppy you're looking for, many shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries (including Best Friends), have many super cute and cuddly puppies available for adoption!
Gabrielle P.
Yes, Simba was pretty cute. :)
June is a sweetie, but doesn't really bark and has this sad "look" in her eyes. She is currently around other dogs at the shelter (including Pixie) and doesn't seem to mind them. There are also a few cats at Loving Heart, but they aren't really near the dogs.
When I go to volunteer this week, I can give you and update of how June--or any dog or cat for that matter--is doing if you'd like.
Gabrielle P
When I was volunteering at the shelter last week, a father and his daughter came to the shelter to see a dog that they were interested in adopting. The dog that they wanted to adopt was in the same room as June.
When the father and daughter entered the room, June started barking and kind of "charged" them through the cage. When the people left, June stopped.
The lady at the shelter said that June has never done that before. I think that a man did something to June when she was a puppy, and now she thinks that men are the enemies and she must charge them.
So to speak, June will probably need a one-woman home.
Rebekah S.
I have nothing against getting rescue dogs for myself, that is my plan, but one of the things I'm planning on studying is how to become a certified service dog trainer. So I would probably get dogs from a breeder so I could train them as service dogs. For myself, rescue dogs are what I would like to get. Sorry, I guess I didn't explain that part very well. Thank you, I would love to get updates on June, especially if she finds that forever, loving home. :-) That's sad that someone would do that to her as a puppy. That almost sounds like my Jack Russell. She is really afraid of plastic bags, we think that the home we got her from, the little boy might have put her in a plastic bag when she was still pretty small. It makes me really angry that anyone would ever hurt or abuse an animal. God gave us these wonderful creatures so that we could enjoy them, and take care of them, so to see or hear about animal abuse just really makes me mad.
Gabreille P.-My dog, Nala, is
Gabreille P.-My dog, Nala, is the British breed and she is about 20 inches tall. And right now I had to stop in the middle of writing because her eye was bleeding. Anyway, she is pretty small but really cute.
Rebekah S.-We don't know the dog that bit Nala, it was a german breed of dog with a German master.
Rebekah S.-My birthday is at the end of May, May 28.
Wait, to clear it up, Nala is
Wait, to clear it up, Nala is not very small, but she's not too small.
Oh yes, and Rebekah S. -The
Oh yes, and Rebekah S. -The reason the German law says to walk your dog every 2-3 hours is because the Germans think that if you are going to own a pet, then you should take care of it. They are really particular about letting people buy pet. Like for instance, we tried to buy a cat from a local shelter in Garmisch, but they wouldn't let us because- "we have a dog and cats and dogs show their emotions in very different ways" And they didn't understand that we have owned a cat before and Nala loves cats!
Gabrielle P
Okay, I kind of understand. Maybe you could find a purebred puppy at a breed rescue and train it as a service dog. That way, you would be saving a life AND helping people out!
I plan to volunteer at Loving Heart in a couple of days. The shelter also has a Facebook page where they post some updates. (No, I do not have a Facebook account, nor do I wish to have one.) Just type in Loving Heart Animal Shelter in the search box.
Ana H
Your dog was bleeding? Why?
Ana H
Was the dog that bit your dog large or small? If it was large, then it could have been a Doberman Pinscher, a German Shepherd, a German Pointer, a Hovawart, Giant Schnauzer, etc. Below is a picture of a black and tan Hovawart, and then a golden Hovawart.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Helos_11.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/0b/54/f9/0b54f9ba439587e57e1e8...
Ana H.
Okay, so I think I would feel a little more comfortable with a British Labrador. That's great that Germany believes that if you own a pet you should take good care of it, I wish everyone had the same frame of mind.
Rebekah S.
That might be a good idea. My only worry would be what kind of reactions or certain behaviors the puppy might show to people, depending on what kind of situation the puppy came from. But I will look into it, and do more research.
Gabrielle P
I don't know if this is possible, but it may work out. If a breed rescue near you just received a purebred, pregnant female dog or a purebred female dog that has very young puppies, you could ask the breed rescue to "hold" a certain puppy for you until the puppy is ready to go to a forever home. Maybe, as the puppy is growing up, you could pay for all the puppy's medical care. You could also pay a daily or weekly holding fee. That way, you are paying for all of the puppy's medical care and giving the rescue additional money to hold the puppy you are interested in.
I have never heard of this sort of thing happening and I don't know if it would work out. But, it's worth the try!
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