Know the rules

We failed.  Again.   And the greatest failure/frustration is mine, in that apparently, I'm completely unaware of the standards for the CGC these days.    One tight leash anywhere = fail.   I was unaware that the CGC holds higher standards than either Rally or Novice obedience.   I owe Fizz an apology for misunderstanding the test, and for entering her before she was ready.  The failure is mine, completely.

Fizz did a much better job on all stations.   She sat while the friendly stranger approached, shook hands and talked.   The stranger left, Fizz stood, I told her to sit, and she did.   She failed, b/c she didn't maintain her sit.   I was surprised to see this 'fail' b/c she did sit the whole time we were greeting.  For greeting the stranger, in which the stranger pets the dog, she was perfectly behaved, and equally so for the grooming/foot/ear inspection.

On out for a walk, we were fine through most of the heeling pattern. Good attention, a nice right turn and a perfect sit on the halt.    In one corner, some sort of smell grabbed her nose.  She had a tight leash, I called her to come with me, she did and we finished up with a great about turn, 2 more lefts and a fantastic halt at the end.   We failed b/c of the single tight leash.   You can earn a CD leg w/ tight leash....you lose points, but you don't fail.   I find this aspect of the way CGC's are being administered absurd.  One tight leash does not an out of control dog make.   But apparently them's the rules (and I wasn't aware of their stringent nature).

Sit and down on command were fine, as was the 'stay,' and the come when called.  I even got a nice straight come with front sit (we've sort of been working on that).  :)

Crowd with distraction was fine, even though they were bouncing a giant exercise ball, I was able to keep her with me and moving on (I know she was dying to play with that ball!).  The two dogs that I 'helped' with, by being part of the crowd, did not have that ball. 

Greeting another dog.  Fizz sat, held her position and we exchanged pleasantries.   As we went to leave, Fizz crossed in front of me and we failed.   She didn't get anywhere, I had her on a very short leash, and she didn't greet the handler or dog, but the fact that she even approached = fail.

I was very happy with the improvement in Fizz's behavior/performance.   She gave me some lovely heeling on the walk, held her sits when I asked her to, and was a good girl around the other dog and the big bouncing ball.

We will not be re-attempting the CGC anytime soon.  I was unaware that I need a fully obedience trained dog to pass this test.   In the past, that is NOT how they've been administered (I've put CGCs on 6 dogs, never with a failure).  However, the standards have apparently changed, and now I clearly understand them.    I do not have the money to take CGC prep classes (they're offered around here....for $150-180).   I don't have the money to do $25/wk drop in classes to practice greeting other dogs (and not the same dogs we always see in class).  

In the past, I have tested all of my dogs between 7 and 9mos of age.  They've been judged on their temperament, their behavior and the level of control they demonstrate (to handler).   Because THAT is the standard of the CGC that I've known since I did my first one in Dec of 1996, that is why I entered Fizz in April, and now.   For April, we were ill-prepared.   For today, for the standards of testing that I've known for the past 16yrs, we were ready.   I am disappointed in myself for not understanding the rules of the game and for setting her up for failure.    We will not be attempting this again any time soon, as our heeling is not formalized, and I don't see how you can pass these days without competition ready heeling.