Howie is proud to have passed the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test. He has taken the first step toward becoming a therapy dog. MEG RAYMOND

Can your dog pass the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test? By Sarah A. Ferrell

Date published: 7/16/2005

A SMALL, BRAVE Jack Rus- sell boy named Howie offered himself up as a willing dog-in-training to educate other gentle dogs who hope to pass the American Kennel Club's good-dog examination--the Canine Good Citizen test.

Howie decided to help with the CGC test since he had a little extra time on his paws for training and civic responsibility. His mom, Meg Raymond, explains,

"He's an 8-year-old Jack Russell, semiretired from Yard Patrol since his second broken leg in a tree-climbing/squirrel incident."

Howie presented himself calmly with a waggy-tail attitude to take the CGC test at the Salem Church branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library recently. Howie gave Fredericksburg-area dog lovers a bit of how-to instruction to pass the AKC CGC test.

Howie cheerfully walked on a loose leash, allowed a friendly stranger to handle his tiny feet, peek into his pink ears, and pet him. Good dog Howie demonstrated that he is not overwhelmed with the desire to kiss or lunge at a pretty dog girl when he meets her. My beardie girl, Vivien, did her best to tempt Howie to play. Howie proved that he could walk on by the alluring beardie girl--all the while walking like a true terrier gentleman on a loose leash--his ears perked for commands from his mother.

Now that he has passed the CGC test, Howie has taken the first step required to become a bona fide therapy dog. Therapy dogs visit nursing homes, children's hospitals and many places where adults and children welcome a cheery visit and all the joy that a gentle, well-trained dog can bring.

Giving back to the canine community comes naturally to Howie, whose mom works as a dog rescue volunteer. By day and by profession, Howie's mom is a reference librarian for the Central Rappahannock Regional Library. Raymond makes her dog children, Howie, Walter and Miss Bean, proud by volunteering with Beagle Rescue Education and Welfare. BREW's Web site, brew beagles .org, offers extensive beagle education information. Biographies of beagles of all ages in desperate need of forever homes, beagle events, gorgeous beagle photography and beagle collectibles and clothing are a few of the highlights of this extensive rescue site.

Your dog can take the AKC CGC test at any age. He need not have registration papers, nor boast any kind of purebred lineage. All that matters to the AKC examiner is that he is gentle, attentive and loved by a human who has kept him healthy and clean and has devoted his or herself to training him to have good manners.

Your brilliant dog would enjoy the attention and fun that comes with mastering the AKC Canine Good Citizen obedience skills.

Ready? Set. Practice. Is your dog ready to:

Calmly sit or stand to accept a friendly stranger who stops to chat and shake hands?

Sit politely for petting?

Date published: 7/16/2005