What is Included
Started in 1989, Canine Good Citizen (CGC) is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. It is also the pre-cursor for therapy dog training.It is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club (AKC). State legislatures began recognizing the CGC program as a means of advocating responsible dog ownership and 22 states now have Canine Good Citizen resolutions.
The AKC has developed a standardized 10-step test that all CGC candidates across the country must pass. Here are the items that are covered in the class and tested:
- Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger
- Test 2: Sitting politely for petting
- Test 3: Appearance and grooming
- Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)
- Test 5: Walking through a crowd
- Test 6: Sit and down on command and staying in place
- Test 7: Coming when called
- Test 8: Reaction to another dog
- Test 9: Reaction to distraction
- Test 10: Supervised separation
Visit the AKC website
to see more detailed descriptions of these test items and the overall program.Enrollment Details
Price for the course
$225 for the 5-week course.Number of classes in the course:
5 total classesTime duration:
1 hour per classPrerequisites:
Must have taken a manners course here or at a reputable training businessMissing a Class:
If you need to miss a class, that's OK! Please keep in mind the following:- You will have access to TrainTrack, so you can watch videos of any exercises covered in class
- You could attend another class for the one you missed, without your dog
- We don't recommend missing the final class, as this is the graduation
Ages:
No age restrictions.Requirements:
Click hereSee schedule / enroll:
Click hereClasses in progress:
Click hereRefund policy:
Please note that classes are not refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the start date. This is because by giving you a space, we are not able to sell the space to someone else. Why are Tucker Pup's classes the best in Chicago?
- Small class size - lots of personal attention
- Experienced, professional trainers with strong credentials
- Positive reinforcement only - no shock collars, choke chains, coercion, raised voices, or other negative methods
- Classes are fun and highly interactive
- Spacious classrooms. In a store like Petco, classes are in the middle of the store, and the area is very small
- Variety of times and days of the week to choose from
- Warm, professional atmosphere with a total commitment to customer service
- Proven track record of training thousands of dogs just like yours. For most dogs, our method can work over its lifetime, if implemented properly
- TrainTrack™, our proprietary online tool enabling you to watch videos of the exercises you have learned, log your progress, and track what needs the most work.
- Many types of classes, enabling you to continue building important skills
- Our trainers offer private lessons if you need help with behaviors not covered in class
Two people / two dogs:
If there are two of you, both people can attend the classes. We encourage this, so both people hear the message at the same time, and both get practice working with your dog. If you want to enroll two dogs, there would need to be one adult per dog. One person cannot handle two dogs.Why classes vs. private lessons?
Classes vs. private lessonsHave questions?
Call us at 312-829-8787, 365 days per year between 7am and 7pmNot sure?
You can have a free consultation with one of our experts to help decide if this is the right class for youDon't delay - classes fill up quickly! We take enrollment 365 days per year, and answer calls from 7am to 7pm each day. Any request submitted after 7pm will be processed the next morning.
Positive Reinforcement Methods
Tucker Pup's only uses positive reinforcement methods. We do not use prong collars, choke chains, shock collars, poking, yelling, leash popping, or other aversive methods. Dominance can easily cause your dog to distrust you, and to only comply in order to avoid a negative outcome. This isn't truly learning, and can cause your dog's behaviors to become much worse.
Positive reinforcement is much more effective for creating long-term learning and a stronger relationship with your dog. Dogs love training when this style is being used, are much more responsive to their owners, and are much happier in general. In short, positive reinforcement gives you the best chance of success, and can be the fastest way to get results. If you are hesitant, please trust us on this one and feel free to ask us questions.
Positive reinforcement combines an encouraging tone of voice, clear instruction, relaxed body language, the use of rewards (e.g., treats, favorite toy), patience, and empathy.
If you are concerned about giving treats, keep in mind that they work very well for most dogs, you can phase them out at your discretion, and it is possible to use something else that your dog values, such as a favorite toy.
TrainTrack™ Online Portal
Re-Watch Training Exercises on Your Device
Tucker Pup's offers a proprietary online system called TrainTrack™ that revolutionizes the way dogs are trained.
The trainer will show you the exercises in person, then you can access TrainTrack to see the homework and other helpful information. Many exercises include videos, and all of them include instructions. It also includes handouts and a documentation of what you covered. This is incredibly helpful because there is a lot of information to take in, and it can be hard to remember everything that was demonstrated and discussed.
In addition, you can log your progress on TrainTrack as you are working on your home exercises. This can be invaluable for ensuring that you spend enough time, in various settings, for your dog to learn the methods thoroughly.
For private lessons, you can even upload videos to your trainer, and they can watch them in between sessions to help provide advice.
TrainTrack works on any Internet-connected device, so you can use it on your mobile phone, even when you're on a walk or working outdoors.
TrainTrack is used for all of our training services, including private lessons and classes.
To access TrainTrack, you must log in to our website. On your Customer Center, you will see the link to TrainTrack towards the top of the page.
The trainer will show you the exercises in person, then you can access TrainTrack to see the homework and other helpful information. Many exercises include videos, and all of them include instructions. It also includes handouts and a documentation of what you covered. This is incredibly helpful because there is a lot of information to take in, and it can be hard to remember everything that was demonstrated and discussed.
In addition, you can log your progress on TrainTrack as you are working on your home exercises. This can be invaluable for ensuring that you spend enough time, in various settings, for your dog to learn the methods thoroughly.
For private lessons, you can even upload videos to your trainer, and they can watch them in between sessions to help provide advice.
TrainTrack works on any Internet-connected device, so you can use it on your mobile phone, even when you're on a walk or working outdoors.
TrainTrack is used for all of our training services, including private lessons and classes.
To access TrainTrack, you must log in to our website. On your Customer Center, you will see the link to TrainTrack towards the top of the page.
Customer Reviews
Yelp has listed Tucker Pup's as one of the top 100 local businesses in the country in 2025. We are the only pet business who made the list from Chicago, and the only pet resort / training business who made the list nationally.
See the List
Our reviews speak for themselves. See what other people are saying about us!
Neighborhoods We Serve
Tucker Pup's is located in the West Loop / Fulton Market District neighborhood. People come to us from all over Chicago, especially from .