04/05/2007

Is Rover a Good Citizen? Put Him to the Test April 14

Writer:

Martha Filipic
filipic.3@cfaes.osu.edu
(614) 292-9833

Source:

Lucinda Miller, Ohio 4-H Youth Development
miller.78@osu.edu
(740) 708-0359

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University will be going to the dogs on Saturday, April 14. And local residents can join in.

The university's 4-H Youth Development program, the youth outreach arm of Ohio State University Extension, is holding its annual Dog Expo that day to help prepare 4-H members for county and state fairs. About 200 young people and their pets will undertake agility, rally, obedience and showmanship classes, said Lucinda Miller, 4-H Youth Development specialist of Companion and Small Animal Programs for OSU Extension.

Organizers are also offering testing for pets to earn Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification from the American Kennel Club. Four-H members who are taking part in the Expo can take the CGC test for $5; other members of the public are invited to take part in the CGC test, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for a $10 fee.

Canine Good Citizen certification is often required by nursing homes or other venues where pet owners might wish to bring their dogs for visits. According to the AKC, many dog owners use CGC training as the first step in training their dogs.

"The last time we had the Dog Expo on campus in 2002, about seven or eight people showed up wanting to test their dogs for the CGC certification, just because they heard through the grapevine that we would be there," Miller said. "This time, we thought we'd open it up and let people know."

Anyone wishing to put their dog through the Canine Good Citizen paces should contact Miller by Friday, April 13, at miller.78@osu.edu or (740) 708-0359. The testing will take place in the auditorium of the Agricultural Administration Building, 2120 Fyffe Road. Guests should enter the building from the parking lot through the center doors.

The CGC trials test dogs' abilities in 10 areas:

• Accepting a friendly stranger.
• Sitting politely for petting.
• Appearance and grooming.
• Walking obediently on a loose leash.
• Walking through a crowd without straining the leash.
• Sit and lie down on command and staying in place.
• Coming when called.
• Polite reaction to another dog.
• Reasonable reaction to distraction.
• Appropriate response when separated from the owner.

Owners with pets who pass all 10 test items will be able to send in a form to the AKC to get the CGC certification.

Also during the Dog Expo, participants may view displays, watch 4-H members and their pets during the fair practice sessions, and take part in making rope or fleece tug toys for their dogs. Registration for the event begins at 8:30 a.m. An orientation will take place before classes begin at 9:45. The day will wrap up by 3:30 p.m., Miller said.

More than 300,000 Ohio children and teens participate in more than 200 4-H activities through clubs, camps and school-enrichment programs. For more information, see the Ohio 4-H Web site at http://www.ohio4H.org.

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