Wyn & Mary Burch, Ph.D.
AKC's Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Director, Certified Applied Animal BehavioristCitizen Canine Blog (that’s right, this one!) Wins at Westminster!
Every year, on the Sunday before the Westminster dog show, dog writers from across the country travel to New York City for annual writing awards that are the equivalent of “Best in Show” for dog writers. This year, the Citizen Canine blog (that’s right, this one!) won an award as the Best Blog in a writing competition and the Citizen Canine book won the prestigious Maxwell Medallion in the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) contest. For more information on DWAA, see dwaa.org
About the Programs
AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy® is the puppy level of Canine Good Citizen® (CGC). AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy is designed to provide dog owners and their puppies with a great start in training. With more advanced skills than AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy, CGC rewards dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. The Hartford is a proud sponsor of the CGC and AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy programs.
Monthly Archives: January 2013
Sit and Watch: For Dogs Who Lunge on Leash
In the official Canine Good Citizen book, “CITIZEN CANINE,” I described a procedure that I called “Sit and Watch.” This is for dogs who lunge on leash when they see other dogs, or for dogs who become overly excited when … Continue reading
My Dog Won’t Play at The Dog Park
This email came from a Citizen Canine Reader: Hello Citizen Canine, I like to take my rescued Pug to the dog park. My dog LOVES people, but I want him to have dog friends that he can visit with and … Continue reading
Walking Your Dog: The Other End of the Leash
We had some great comments related to the last blog on walking your dog. Citizen Canine readers pointed out the importance of dog owner behaviors when it comes to everyone enjoying walks with their dogs. From our readers: * CGC … Continue reading
Walking Your Dog: Essential Skills for the Community
Last Saturday, I went to a local park to take a walk. The center of the park has a large lake that is surrounded by a sidewalk. The many geese and ducks who live at the lake are people and … Continue reading
Walking on Sunshine: How to Make Walking Your Dog More Pleasant This Year
Getting fit is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions. Taking a walk with your dog is a great way for you and your pup to get some exercise and bond. However, if your dog pulls the leash or … Continue reading
Association for Behavior Analysis International: Learn About Behavior
This week we’ve talked about how dog trainers are increasingly interested in the science of behavior. The granddaddy of all behavior analysis organizations is ABAI-the Association for Behavior Analysis International. The Association for Behavior Analysis International® (ABAI) is a nonprofit membership … Continue reading
Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies: Learn About Behavior
In the last few decades, dog trainers have become increasingly sophisticated. They are learning about the science of behavior, including operant and respondent conditioning. When learning a new field, it’s best to go straight to the source for the most … Continue reading
Why Get the New CGC Title?
On Saturday morning, I went to the mailbox and there it was, an envelope from the American Kennel Club. I was excited as I opened the envelope and saw the new official Canine Good Citizen title for “Wyn.” Several weeks … Continue reading
Measuring and Monitoring Canine Fitness
This week, we’ve been talking about canine fitness programs on the CGC blog. For maximum success and safety when it comes to fitness, measuring and monitoring are two important concepts. Steps to Measuring Your Dog’s Fitness 1. Start with a … Continue reading
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Tagged fitness, measuring fitness, monitoring fitness, overexertion, shaping
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Starting a Fitness Program for Your Dog
So, you’ve decided to get started with a fitness plan for your dog, and hopefully yourself. If there have been far too many treats and nights sitting on the couch watching television, your pup may have a few pounds to … Continue reading
