Should You Teach a Show Dog to Sit on Command?
“Hello, AKC, I have a problem. My dog needs to pass the Canine Good Citizen Test to do therapy work, but I have not taught him to sit. He is being trained for the show ring and if I teach him to sit, he will sit in the ring. Can he pass the CGC Test without sitting?”
Just as there are no breed-specific exceptions to CGC test items, there are no exceptions made for dogs whose owners believe the time is not quite right to teach all of the skills.
However, with some behavioral know-how, there is no reason why dogs being trained for other competitive events can’t be taught to sit for the CGC Test. The behavioral principle that comes into play here is called stimulus control. An example of stimulus control in the real world is a child who has learned that yelling on the playground is fine but that it is not acceptable to scream in a library.
Dogs are keenly intelligent, amazing creatures that can easily be taught to know what is expected of them in different situations. One trick is to use different collars for different activities. For example, a fine, light show lead signals to the dog that it is time for the show ring, whereas a thicker buckle collar signals that you’re getting ready to do obedience.
A second trick for ensuring that your dog will know what is expected is to teach the words that are relevant to each activity. In preparation for the CGC Test, a dog learns words such as sit, down, and come. As an example, a dog shown in conformation can be taught the word stand, and the handler can learn to give the dog the verbal reminder to stand as soon as there is any sign that the dog is beginning to sit. With a few reminders paired with food rewards for standing, any unwanted attempts at sitting in the ring will soon disappear.
What is your opinion on the dual ring dog that is trained for or competes in more than one event at a time? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
AKC's Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Director, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
Oh I am so glad you wrote this !! In my classes, I emphasis this point over and over. Dogs absolutely can be taught that they are expected to do different behaviors in different situations and using different collars is a great prompt. One of my personal pet peeves is people thinking a conformation dog should not be taught to sit. Many years back I was competing in both venues and my bitch went directly from getting RWB in conformation to 1st place in her obedience class at the same show.
Thank you !
Karen Elliott
Sunnyside Golden Retrievers
CGC evaluator # 227
A dog can certainly do both obedience and conformation. With the CGC test it is even easier as you are allowed to give the sit command. It does not have to be automatic.
The closest I have come to dual ring success at the same show was RWD to a major and DQ on the recall. My boy Magic did that twice. For his first two CD legs he did compete in the conformation ring that day, but did not get any ribbon with purple.
Thanks for your great comments, Karen and Ann. For beginning handlers, if they are training at the same time for 2 events, it is sometimes better to show in only one on a given day, while an experienced trainer like Karen can keep her cool (easy for me to say, I wasn’t there!), get to both rings, and get the dog mentally prepared for the change in activity.