CKC Canine Good Neighbour Program
The Canine Good Neighbour Program
Welcome to The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) Canine Good
Neighbour (CGN) program. The CKC Canine Good Neighbour
program identifies and rewards responsible and caring owners
and their canine partners.
The purpose of the Canine Good Neighbour Program test is to
ensure that one of our most favoured companions, the dog, is
accepted as a valued member of the community. Canine Good
Neighbours can be counted on to present good manners at home,
in public places and in the presence of other dogs.
Canine Good Neighbour training is fun, rewarding, and useful, and
can enable owners to achieve a better relationship with their dogs.
The objectives of the CKC Canine Good Neighbour program are
three-fold:
1. To increase awareness and appreciation of dogs as valued,
contributing members of society.
2. To assist in teaching and promoting responsible dog ownership.
3. To certify that dogs conduct themselves in a manner, which is
reliable and trustworthy in situations encountered in everyday
living, be it around people, at home, in public, or in the presence
of other dogs.
The program embraces both purebred and mixed-breed dogs and
has been created to assist canine owners combat anti-dog sentiment
which often targets dogs as a whole. Additionally, the program
enhances community awareness of responsible dog ownership
and the benefits associated with dog ownership.
The test is not a competition calling for precision performance by
the handler and dog. Rather, it assesses the handler and dog’s
relationship together with the handler’s ability to control the dog.
Dogs are evaluated on their ability to perform basic exercises as
well as their ability to demonstrate good manners in everyday situations.
The Canadian Kennel Club encourages all dog owners to participate
in this program, thereby ensuring that our beloved canines
are welcomed and respected members of our communities.
(excerpt from the CKC Canine Good Neighbour Program Participant Handbook)
