Dogmata is proud to announce that last month K-9 Little Bastard (also known as LB) and his handler, Gator, who is a veteran, have successfully acquired their Service Dog certification.
LB, the American Bully, began his training on September 4th, 2015. In just 25 days, LB and his handler, Gator, successfully achieved their CGC title by passing the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test. The next step towards becoming a Certified Service Dog was passing the AKC's Community Canine Test (CGCA).
The CGCA contains the same basic test materials as the CGC, but must be held in a public place such as Home Depot, Lowe's, Pet Supermarket, etc.
Once LB had obtained his CGC title, Gator continued his training by practicing LB's obedience commands in dog friendly establishments and exposing him to different scenarios. Each outing they made together was a bonding and learning experience for them both. By working diligently as a team, LB and Gator acquired their CGCA title on December 9th, 2015. Their final hurdle would be two tests combined into one session: the American Kennel Club's Urban Canine (CGCU) and the Public Access Temperament Test (PATT).
The CGCU is a new addition to the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen program. It takes some elements of the previous Canine Good Citizen tests, but also has some testing items that overlap with the PATT.
The final two tests take a combined total of four hours to complete. It is our chance to put your dog through the ultimate test. The testing areas include a nearby Wyndham Hotel, Tractor Supply, Pier Park, and various other locations. Food was thrown directly at LB while he laid under the table at Red Brick Pizza, toys bounced past him at Pet Supermarket, and excited children ran up in LB's personal space for petting because OMG ITS A PUPPY! LB performed flawlessly by being calm, submissive, and always looking towards Gator for leadership.
On February 6th, 2016 LB was certified as a Service K-9.
We were also proud to certify Andre, the doberman, as a Service Canine for his handler, Steven. This Marine proudly served our country in Afghanistan. Andre had previously undergone training with Steven's wife, Dawn. However, Steven and Andre needed to be certified as a team. The only training Andre and Steven needed before pursuing their final test was learning the commands stop and stand - everything else was exceptional. On February 29th, 2016, the team was officially certified.
Steven and Andre after completing the Canine Good Citizen.
Dogmata also congratulates:
