The Reading Room • Family Dog Guides
AKC Community Canine (CGCA): CGC Skills in the Real World
If CGC proves your dog has manners in a controlled setting, Community Canine proves it out in the world. Same 10-item structure, but tested in real public places — a busy sidewalk, a pet store, a park — instead of a quiet ring.
The difference is the distractions. Walking past real dogs, ignoring dropped food on a real sidewalk, holding a stay while life happens around you. Dogs who breeze through CGC in class sometimes discover CGCA is a genuine step up.
It's also the gateway title for therapy dog work — the public-access skills tested here are exactly what therapy visits demand.
Earning this title? Create your free ThePetAdvisor account — log it, track your dog’s progress, and find testing near you.
Requirements
- Prerequisite: your dog must have a CGC certificate or title on record with AKC, plus an AKC number (registration, PAL, or Canine Partners).
- Test 1 – Wait under control: dog stands, sits, or lies down and waits calmly while the owner is occupied.
- Test 2 – Loose leash, natural setting: walk on a loose leash (not in a ring) with turns and pace changes — no pulling.
- Test 3 – Walk through a crowd: navigate a real crowd on leash without jumping or pulling.
- Test 4 – Walk past distraction dogs: pass other dogs without pulling toward them.
- Test 5 – Sit-stay in a small group: hold a sit-stay with other people and dogs nearby.
- Test 6 – Greeting a person carrying something: allow a stranger with a bag or package to approach and pet.
- Test 7 – “Leave it”: walk past food on the ground and leave it on cue.
- Test 8 – Distance stay: down or sit stay (owner's choice) at distance — about 20 feet.
- Test 9 – Recall with distractions: come when called with distractions present.
- Test 10 – Doorway manners: enter and exit a doorway or narrow passageway under control, waiting for the owner's cue.
- All 10 items must be passed. The test is administered by an AKC Approved CGC Evaluator in a public or semi-public setting.
Test items can be updated by AKC — confirm the current list with your evaluator before test day. Source: AKC official page.
How to earn it
- Step 1: Earn your dog's CGC first — it's a hard prerequisite, and the skills transfer directly.
- Step 2: Practice in real-world settings: busy sidewalks, outdoor shopping areas, parks. The jump from “class” to “public” is the whole challenge.
- Step 3: Find a CGCA test — evaluators often offer it alongside CGC test days at shows, clubs, and training facilities.
- Step 4: Pass all 10 items in the public setting.
- Step 5: Submit the title application to AKC. Your dog earns the “CGCA” suffix.
Find testing near you
Many conformation dog shows offer CGC, Trick Dog, and Fetch testing right on the show grounds — sometimes you can literally walk up ringside, pay the fee, and get evaluated the same day. Check the premium list for any show you’re attending, or ask the show secretary. Training clubs and stand-alone test days run year-round too.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need CGC before CGCA?
Yes — a CGC certificate or title on record with AKC is required, plus an AKC number for your dog (registration, PAL, or Canine Partners).
Can I take CGC and CGCA on the same day?
Many evaluators offer both at the same test day. If your dog passes CGC in the morning, you can attempt CGCA the same afternoon — just confirm with the evaluator in advance.
Where is the test held?
In real public settings — that's the point. Sidewalks, parks, pet-friendly stores, show grounds. The evaluator chooses a location with natural distractions.
Is CGCA harder than CGC?
Most handlers say yes. The skills are familiar, but real-world distractions — strange dogs, food on the ground, crowds — raise the difficulty meaningfully.
Does CGCA count toward therapy dog certification?
It's excellent preparation. Therapy dog organizations test similar public-access skills, and a CGCA title on your application shows serious commitment.
Track your dog’s Family Dog journey
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