The Canadian Kennel Club Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) program identifies and rewards responsible and caring owners and their canine partners. The purpose of the CGN 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. CGN training is fun, rewarding, 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 in combatting anti-dog sentiment which often targets dogs as a whole. Additionally, the program enhances community awareness of responsible pet 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.