Mannerly Mutt's Canine Good Citizens, Our Own Dobermans Boris and Leon

Canine Good Citizens as of 11/15/11
DRU's Boris and Leon (from Pamelot)
Both Dogs Owned by Mannerly Mutts
Leon is actually on the left, and Boris is on the right.

Mannerly Mutts' own two pumpkins managed to take and pass the Canine Good Citizen test last night at It's A Dog's World in York Maine.   For Leon this was an easy test to pass.  While I do AKC (Amercian Kennel Club) obedience, I had never taken the CGC before.   I actually had my husband, Robert, handle Leon for the test to make it more difficult for him.  It also improved Robert's skills in handling and giving him commands rather than just "expecting".   It is too easy to take Leon for granted that way.  Leon has not competed in AKC obedience trial competitions due to his knees, so it was nice to get him some recognition for the totally awesome dog he is.  Yeah team Leon and Robert!

Boris (rescued by Doberman Rescue Unlimited in Sandown NH) had a bit more work to do, being two years old, and I have been tinkering with a different method with him.   This has made my work with him go a bit slower as I figure some things out, but we are in no special rush.   Potentially the first available trial to us (since it needs to be through the UKC-United Kennel Club) won't be until October 2012.  Mainly, I wanted Boris to accept a physical exam without barking, but he managed to pass the test.   Course Boris's is just starting his career at being in public, showing, and acquiring titles.   A small step but a valuable step in getting him ready to do this on a more constant basis with advanced skills.  Yeah for Boris trusting me to handle him through the physical exam!  In the actual obedience trials, believe it or not, the examination portion is much easier for the dog (it's done during a stand and the judge only touches their head, mid back, and butt).   A Canine Good Citizen exam the judge squats to eye level (also a problem for Boris) checks the teeth, ears, feet, and does a grooming brush thing.   Boris managed to pull this off.   He was a little nervous, but he gets much better each time.   I was not expecting Boris to pass the exam.   I was very pleased with his performance no matter which way it went.    I think part of the joy of competing your dog, besides winning a title or ribbon, is the ability to enjoy what you have done with the dog in ways of improvement.

All six dogs in our class managed to pass the exam.   So it is not an exam where an enormous amount of obedience skill is required, but a good exam of the dogs social skills not in the raw (meaning there are commands they must understand, but not at the performance required for obedience trials).  Everyone had improved and done much better for the exam.   Nervous is a good motivator LOL.  Hatti and Rocky did especially well.  They are both very friendly dogs that sometimes have a hard time containing their exuberance, but at the exam both were calmer than I had ever seen them.  Great team work for those teams!  They already had friendly sociable dogs, but now they have friendly social dogs who have controlled enthusiasm.

All in all, it was a good night for the Rubin Family.   I love these outings with my dogs.

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