Jasper Baker, CGC

Just like anyone else who is proud of the degrees they earn, Jasper can add the initials CGC to the end of his name now: yesterday, at puppy class graduation, he passed AKC's Canine Good Citizen test. The purpose of the test is to demonstrate that the dog can be a respected member of the community, and can be trained and conditioned always to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs in a manner that will reflect credit on the dog. The CGC Test is not a competitive program, but rather a program of certification; it seeks to identify and recognize officially those dogs that possess the attributes that enable them to serve effectively as personal companions and as members in good standing with the community (http://www.rtis.com/nat/user/kaydurr/cgc.htm).

Now that Jasper is certified, he can continue on the path to becoming a therapy dog. The CGC certification is also often required if you're travelling with your pet (to stay in hotels), so having that distinction can only help. Annalisse has been his main handler during training, and she's really awesome at it! Congrats, Jabber!