Canine Good Citizen
There are many rewarding non-competitive activities that you can participate in with your Staffordshire Bull Terrier, even if your dog’s not show quality or you don’t have the time or desire to train for obedience competition or performance events such as agility, you’ll enjoy the time spent together and have opportunities to show off your Stafford’s outstanding personality while you make a difference in the lives of individuals in your community. It’s also a nice way to stay active with those retired conformation and performance dogs that may be missing the excitement of the show ring.
One of the first things you will want to do is train your dog in the basic commands of heel, sit‚ down, and ‚stay. Then with a little more training you and your Stafford will be ready to take the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Test.
The CGC Program rewards dogs that have the training and demeanor to be reliable family members as well as community members in good standing. Several members of SBTCA are qualified CGC Evaluators.
Passing the CGC test is the first step in preparing your Stafford to participate in Community Outreach programs. The breed’s outgoing personality makes Staffords well suited for therapy dog programs, accompanying Canine Ambassadors on visits to schools and youth groups, or snuggling up to a child in a R.E.A.D. Program.