Practical Skills for Real Life The McKaynine Canine Good Citizen (CGC) programme is designed to help you and your dog develop the practical skills needed for everyday life. While our obedience classes focus on teaching behaviours, the CGC programme focuses on applying those skills in real-world situations with confidence, reliability and good manners. Whether you're walking through a busy shopping centre, greeting visitors at home or enjoying a coffee at a pet-friendly café, the CGC programme helps your dog become a calm, well-mannered companion you can take almost anywhere. McKaynine has proudly offered Canine Good Citizen training since 2002, making us one of the pioneers of the programme in South Africa. Over the years, thousands of dogs have successfully progressed through our Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.

Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Programme

A Progressive Three-Level Programme Our Canine Good Citizen programme consists of three structured levels: Bronze – Build confidence and develop the essential skills every family dog should have. Silver – Improve reliability around everyday distractions and strengthen your dog's self-control. Gold – Demonstrate advanced real-life manners, responsibility and dependable behaviour in challenging environments. Each level builds naturally on the previous one, allowing both dog and handler to progress with confidence.

Real-Life Skills You'll Develop Throughout the programme, you and your dog will develop practical everyday skills including: • Walking politely on lead • Calm greetings with people • Confidence around dogs and everyday distractions • Reliable recalls and stays • Good manners in public • Self-control and emotional regulation • Responsible dog ownership • The confidence to accompany you in everyday life

Before You Begin We recommend completing our Elementary Obedience  programme before starting Bronze CGC. This ensures your dog has the foundation skills needed to enjoy and succeed in the programme. McKaynine conducts in-house assessments throughout the Canine Good Citizen programme. We also offer official KUSA Canine Good Citizen evaluations at selected times during the year for handlers wishing to obtain formal KUSA recognition.

What You'll Learn at Each Level The following outlines the skills assessed at each Canine Good Citizen level. Don't be intimidated by the list! Our experienced instructors guide you through every exercise step by step, and the programme is designed to be enjoyable for both dogs and their owners.

What is the Canine Good Citizen programme? The Canine Good Citizen programme develops practical real-life skills that help dogs become calm, reliable and well-mannered companions both at home and in public. Does my dog need obedience training first? Yes. We recommend completing our Elementary Obedience programme before starting Bronze CGC so your dog has the skills needed to succeed. Do I have to complete all three levels? No. Many owners are happy completing Bronze, while others continue through Silver and Gold to further develop their dog's confidence and reliability. Is the CGC programme suitable for all breeds? Absolutely. The programme is suitable for dogs of all breeds and sizes that have a good foundation in basic obedience. Do you offer official KUSA Canine Good Citizen tests? Yes. McKaynine conducts highly respected in-house assessments and from time to time also hosts official KUSA Canine Good Citizen evaluations. Please note that our CGC courses do not include the KUSA evaluation. What makes CGC different from obedience classes? Obedience classes teach your dog the behaviours. The Canine Good Citizen programme focuses on applying those behaviours confidently and reliably in everyday situations. Can older dogs complete the CGC programme? Yes. Dogs of any age can enjoy and benefit from Canine Good Citizen training, provided they have the necessary obedience foundation.