Canine Good Companion (CGC) program
Canine Good Companion™ is United Pet Club's certification for dogs that show good manners and calm behavior around people and other animals. Dogs earn it through three tested tiers, Puppy, Companion and Advanced, plus a Master award for dogs that also hold a verified outside title. Every other page in this section builds on what you find here.
What the Canine Good Companion program is
Canine Good Companion™, often shortened to CGC, is United Pet Club's own dog behavior certification. It gives owners a structured way to prove their dog behaves well around people, other dogs, and everyday distractions. It is our program, not a chapter of the AKC, CKC, FCI, UKC, or any other outside organization, and passing it does not create service dog, therapy dog, or public access rights. It measures manners, nothing more and nothing less.
The program runs on three tested tiers. Puppy certification fits a young dog under about twelve months. Companion certification is the foundation test at any age, the right starting point for an adult dog with no formal training or one newly adopted from a shelter. Advanced certification builds on Companion with off-leash reliability and public behavior under real distraction.
A fourth credential, the Master award, sits above all three. It is not something a dog tests into directly. It recognizes a dog that already holds Advanced certification and a verified title from an outside kennel club, breed registry, or sport or therapy organization.
Why age is not the whole story
United Pet Club used to split dog certification by age alone, a puppy stage and an adult stage. That framing left a real gap: an adult dog with no training history, especially a newly adopted one, had no honest entry point except the hardest test available. The current structure fixes that by testing skill at the level a dog actually shows, not the number on its birth date.
Companion certification is that fix. It is the same foundation standard at any age, so a calm, well-mannered eight-year-old rescue and a well-prepared ten-month-old puppy can both test at the tier that actually matches what they know. See CGC certification levels for the full comparison of what changes between tiers.
Who earns CGC certification
New puppy owners
Puppies enrolled early build good habits during the socialization window before bad ones take hold, covering sit, loose leash walking, and calm greetings.
Adopted and untrained adult dogs
An adult dog with no training history starts at Companion, not Advanced. The tier tests the same core manners a puppy learns, just held to an adult standard.
Dogs ready for more
Dogs that already hold reliable manners and want off-leash work, public composure, and a harder recall move up to Advanced.
Renters and their landlords
A certificate gives a property manager a concrete answer about noise and behavior risk instead of a guess based on a five-minute meeting.
Volunteer program handlers
Dogs headed into hospital, school, or nursing home visits need to stay composed around strangers and unfamiliar equipment. CGC training builds toward that, though the certificate itself is a manners credential, not a therapy dog credential.
The Master award
Master, UPC-CGCM, is not something a dog tests into on its own. A dog earns it by holding Advanced certification plus a verified title from a recognized kennel club, breed registry, or sport or therapy organization, things like obedience, rally, agility, herding, scent work, or a therapy-animal certification. A conformation title alone does not qualify, since conformation judges physical structure and says nothing about manners.
Every outside title has to be documented and verified before the Master award shows anywhere on a dog's record. United Pet Club is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or recognized by any of those outside organizations, and Master is never sold or purchased as a plan feature. Full detail on what qualifies lives on the Master award page linked above.
Getting your dog tested
United Pet Club tests dogs in person with a certified evaluator or through an online video submission, judged against the identical standard either way. Positive reinforcement is how the program is taught and evaluated: dogs are scored on what they do right, not punished for what they get wrong.
Once you know which tier fits, dog certification walks through exactly how testing works, what happens on test day, and what to do if your dog does not pass an exercise the first time. Working with a certified dog trainer beforehand is optional, and plenty of owners prepare on their own.
Common questions about the CGC program
What is the Canine Good Companion program?
It is United Pet Club's certification for dogs that show good manners, obedience, and calm behavior around people and other animals. Dogs earn it by passing exercises across three tested tiers, Puppy, Companion, and Advanced, with a Master award available to dogs that also hold a verified outside title.
Is Canine Good Companion the same as the AKC Canine Good Citizen program?
No. Canine Good Companion is United Pet Club's own program. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or equivalent to the AKC's Canine Good Citizen program or any other outside organization's credential.
How old does my dog need to be to start?
Puppy certification is built for dogs under about twelve months. Companion certification has no age requirement and is the right starting point for an adult dog, including one newly adopted with no training history.
My dog is an adult with no training. Where do I start?
Start at Companion. United Pet Club built it as the foundation test at any age specifically so an untrained or newly adopted adult dog has a real entry point instead of being pushed straight into Advanced work.
Do I need a trainer to certify my dog?
No. Many owners prepare their dog on their own and test whenever they feel ready. Structured training help is optional at every tier of the Canine Good Companion program.
Can I test my dog online instead of in person?
Yes. United Pet Club offers both options for Canine Good Companion testing, and a dog is judged against the same standard either way. Choose whichever fits your schedule and your dog's temperament.
Does CGC certification give my dog public access rights?
No. A Canine Good Companion certificate is proof of good manners and obedience. It is not a service dog, therapy dog, or emotional support credential, and it does not grant public access rights anywhere.
What is the Master award and how is it different from the other tiers?
Master, UPC-CGCM, is not a test. United Pet Club awards it to a dog that already holds Advanced certification plus a verified title from an outside kennel club, registry, or sport or therapy organization.
Ready to get your dog certified?
Reach out and United Pet Club will help you choose the right tier and testing option for your dog.