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Duration: 6 weeks. 1 hour session each week (6:30-7:30pm) on Wednesdays until test date.Start Date: Wednesday, September 23rdTest Date: Wednesday, October 28thSkills: 10 testedOpen to: All dogs over 5 monthsPrice: $550 (MoD Members get a special rate!)Requirements: Dogs must not be reactive or fearful towards other dogs or people, and should be comfortable in public settings.
An AKC-certified training program that teaches real-world manners to dogs and responsible ownership to their people — ending in the opportunity to test for the official Canine Good Citizen AKC title.
A CGC title has real, practical benefits beyond good manners.
Housing & insurance — Many landlords, co-ops, and insurers recognize CGC certification, using it to approve large or restricted breeds as tenants or to waive breed-restriction policies.
Everyday community access — A CGC-certified dog handles real-world scenarios with ease: crowds, loud distractions, and busy public spaces — making every outing more enjoyable for both of you.
Therapy work & advanced titles — CGC is the universal first step for therapy dog organizations like Pet Partners and Therapy Dogs International, and a gateway to advanced AKC certifications including Community Canine and Urban CGC.
Behavior & your relationship — Positive reinforcement training builds mutual trust, clear communication, and critical impulse control that makes everyday life easier for you and your dog.
Dogs who complete the course are evaluated on all 10 items by an AKC-approved evaluator. Passing earns an official AKC CGC title.
The CGC test will be administered by your AKC-approved evaluator, Anna Ostroff. The full 10-skill evaluation is brief, low-stress, and conducted at a single session on October 28th, 2026, for a duration of 2 hours.
AKC-approved evaluator — Your dog is assessed by a certified evaluator who is experienced, patient, and trained in CGC standards.
Two ways to earn — Dogs can receive a CGC certificate only, or an official AKC title that’s permanently added to their record.
Certificate only: Open to all dogs. A formal recognition of passing the 10-skill test — no AKC registration required.
Official AKC title: Permanently listed on your dog’s AKC record. Requires AKC, PAL, or Canine Partners registration. “CGC” may appear after your dog’s name.
⚠️ Please note: Completing this course does not guarantee your dog will pass the CGC test. The test is an independent evaluation conducted by an AKC-approved evaluator, and each dog is assessed individually on the day. We encourage all participants to continue practicing at home throughout the course, with the possibility of scheduling a test day in the future when they feel ready.
A stronger bond — Training together builds real communication and trust between you and your dog.
Welcome everywhere — Good manners open doors — parks, cafes, friends’ homes, even housing applications.
Official AKC title — A permanent credential recognized nationwide, on your dog’s official AKC record.
Gateway to more — CGC is a prerequisite for many therapy dog programs and an intro to AKC dog sports.
Trainer at Paws for Thought Dog Training
Anna has been working with dogs for over a decade. She began in rescue, consulting on behavior cases and serving as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Mighty Mutts. Before joining Paws for Thought, Anna worked for 7 years at School for the Dogs in NYC as a Behavior Therapy Trainer and the Group Class Manager. She is also a Mentor Trainer for students at CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. pawsforthoughttraining
Anna’s heart lies with dogs with behavior concerns. She strives to empower both dogs and their guardians through patience, empathy, and effective communication, drawing on personal experience living with dogs with reactivity, stranger danger, severe resource guarding, and urban anxiety. She specializes in fear-based anxiety and aggression, separation anxiety, and tricks training, using positive reinforcement-based methods and science-based techniques to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in dogs. pawsforthoughttraining
Certifications: CPDT-KA. FFCP, CGC, CTDI, CSAP-BC, SFTD-CPT
Dogs must be handled by their guardians in class. You may not send a friend or other household member in your place unless you have cleared it with the staff member and they have signed a waiver
Refunds are available for full group class cancellations made 7+ days in advance. We do not offer prorated refunds, credits, or make-up classes for individual missed days within a series.
Rescheduling requests may be made 7 days or more before the group class/workshop and are subject to the availability of other classes/workshops. If no other classes/workshops are on the schedule with open enrollment slots the client can be cancelled and refunded if they have reached out prior to the 7 day cancellation/rescheduling window.
**If you or your dog is sick, please reach out to inquire as to whether it is appropriate to join class at the day and time it is scheduled.
