Dog Fun
03/10/2015
A LOOK AT THE LABRADOODLE!
This month’s Camper of the Month for Glen Allen is an adorable little brown Labradoodle appropriately named Coco! Fairly new…
Monday – Friday
7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Monday – Friday
7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday
7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Have you ever heard of the AKC Farm Dog Certification? It is a fairly new program by the AKC, having been introduced in 2016. It is often referred to as the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test on the farm! But don’t let the word “farm” throw you off. No, you don’t have to live on a farm to participate. Nor do you have to have a herding or working dog. A farm setting just happens to be the perfect place to take your dog’s training to the next level while further cultivating the bond between the two of you.
The AKC Farm Dog Certification (FDC) was designed to evaluate your dog’s conduct in a very unique environment. Your dog will have an opportunity to apply what they have learned thus far in diverse and stimulating situations. Self-control is key when your dog is exposed to farm life with all its unusual sights, sounds, and smells. It is amazing to watch a dog’s confidence grow while they listen and dutifully perform in a variety of conditions.
Moreover, Farm Dog Certification demonstrates a dog’s natural capability to work in partnership with their human. Your dog learns and demonstrates its trust in you by willingly complying with your instruction, and remaining calm in novel environments and situations. Trust provides a level of certainty with you and makes your dog feel safe. The steps learned during the FDC test will deepen your bond and help you to become a more “connected” team.
This test is open to all breeds. Your dog must be at least 9 months of age and have an AKC number via one of the following:
Dogs with physical challenges (including amputees) are also eligible to enter provided, in the opinion of the judge, they display no signs of physical discomfort and can safely complete the test.
The FDC is not a competition, but rather a pass/fail test. In the test, your dog will be presented with the following 12 exercises:
The AKC has a great video with further detail regarding the Farm Dog Certified Test. If you are interested, I encourage you to watch it!
If you’d like your dog to be successful in a test like this but you feel you and your dog are not quite ready, the Professional Dog Trainers at Holiday Barn Pet Resorts can help you design a program to achieve this level of success.
Our Glen Allen Professional Dog Trainer, Melaina, with her two Border Collies, Posey and Coastal, is involved with the Tidewater Herding Club in Smithfield, Virginia, which will be conducting AKC Farm Dog Certified Tests on Saturday, April 8, at the Isle of Calis, which is located at 19393 Spring Lake Drive, Smithfield, VA.
In preparation for this testing, they will be hosting two Farm Dog Socials on February 19, and March 12 at 11 a.m.!
To get involved, you may contact Melaina directly at mrussell@holidaybarn.com, or tidewaterstockdogs@gmail.com.
Dog Fun
03/10/2015
This month’s Camper of the Month for Glen Allen is an adorable little brown Labradoodle appropriately named Coco! Fairly new…