Before taking the Canine Good Citizen test, owners will sign the Responsible Dog Owners Pledge. We believe that responsible dog ownership is a key part of the CGC concept and by signing the pledge, owners agree to take care of their dog's health needs, safety, exercise, training and quality of life. Owners also agree to show responsibility by doing things such as cleaning up after their dogs in public places and never letting dogs infringe on the rights of others.

The first tests shows that a dog will accept a friendly stranger. The second demonstrates sitting politely while being petted by a friendly stranger. The third, the dog will permit an inspection and brief grooming by the stranger. The fourth test shows that the handler is in control of the dog while out for a walk on a loose leash. The fifth test shows that the dog cam move politely through a crowd. The sixth text the dog remains in place on a Sit or Down when commanded by a handler. The seventh test shows that the dog can be easily calmed after play or praise. The dog must demonstrate polite behavior around other dogs in the eighth test. In the ninth, the dog must react confidently to distractions. The tenth test shows that the dog can maintain good manners while left on its own. All tests are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

According to the AKC, "The purpose of the AKC Canine Good Citizen® Award Program is to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respected member of the community." To receive the CGC certificate, dogs must be old enough to have received necessary immunizations such as rabies vaccines. Handlers and their dogs take the 10-item Canine Good Citizen® Test, which may be presented in a non-sequential order if the AKC Tester desires. The American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test is a certification program that tests dogs in simulated everyday situations in a relaxed atmosphere. It identifies and rewards dogs that have the training and demeanor to be reliable family members as well as community members in good standing. The purpose of the CGC Test is to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respected member of the community because it is trained and conditioned to act mannerly in the home, in public places and in the presence of other dogs. The program embraces both purebred and mixed-breed dogs, as the anti-canine sentiment does not discriminate between the purebred and the non-purebred. Canine Good Citizen training is fun and useful. Through it, you and your dog will establish a closer bond, and your dog will have the added benefit of knowing how to please you. This test of your dog’s manners and training is not a competition and does not require that you and your dog perform with precision.

A Curly that lives in the house, has regular exercise and work, including any type of work that takes advantage of the breed's innate intelligence, and is a part of the family, is a happy Curly. The most important care and training of a Curly is involving him in the family's day to day activities. Include your Curly in your every day life and he will repay you with years of friendship. The AKC Standard states that "outline, carriage and attitude all combine for a grace and elegance somewhat uncommon among the other retriever breeds." The grace and elegance is combined with a sturdy structure and hardworking, persevering temperament to create an excellent working retriever.

The Curly Coat is possessed of an imperturbable temperament. Even tempered, this dog is intensely loyal and will be protective of the family while maintaining unfailingly good manners to humans likewise mannered. Curlies tend to be reserved rather than extroverted with strangers. However, this reserve can be shed rather dramatically when someone the dog knows and loves approaches! Curly Coats are very slow to mature and this should be taken into account when training them. They are always quick and intelligent, however, so tailoring your training into multiple, short, and interesting sessions will yield the best results over time. Of course, not all Curlies are paragons of virtue.

Most Curlies cannot be kept out of the water and are great natural swimmers. You should exercise due sensibility when introducing a puppy to water. Never throw the pup into the water: allow him to approach the water himself on a gently sloping entry with plenty of shallow water with little or no current. As he gains confidence, he will be splashing about in no time. If an adult dog is around to encourage the pup, he will probably be swimming before you (or he) know it!

Originally bred to retrieve ducks on English seaboard marshes, the Curly-Coated Retriever is a black or liver-colored dog easily recognized by his coat, which is one mass of crisp curls that covers his entire body. The coat is easy to care for, as the curls stay in place with little or no attention. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a strong, smart, active dog who exhibits intelligence and endurance. He will practically live in the water. Temperamentally easy to train, he is a charming and faithful companion, and an excellent guard dog. His curious nature may lead him into many amusing escapades that call for an owner with a sense of humor

The Curly is a hunting dog for the person who likes variety: ducks, pheasant, grouse and a dog who can also be a companion to children and a family friend. Though he is designated as a retriever, the Curly is also an outstanding upland game dog on pheasant, grouse, quail, etc. Curlies are currently being hunted throughout North America, and are used extensively for hunting in New Zealand (where they are the hunting dog of choice) and Australia. Many, if not most, of the people hunting Curlies are family oriented who just want a dog that hunts and can be a companion so hunting Curlies is rather a silent revolution

Curlies and agility go hand in hand. I have trained the first AKC agility titled CCR, with many others close on my heels! These dogs love the sport. Basic obstacles comprising an agility course might include: high jumps, bar jumps, broad jumps, tire and hoop jumps, water, platform, sway bridge, A-frame, teeter-totter and dogwalk. Other obstacles are weave poles, weave hoops, open and pipe tunnels, collapsed tunnel, crawl tunnel, tables and boxes. Dogs must, of course, clear the jumps on the course, and they must touch the "contact zones" on obstacles that include that requirement. In competition, the dog must touch at least one foot in the contact zone or faults are accumulated. The reason for this is to ensure that dogs negotiate certain obstacles safely. The natural agility of the curly makes them super at this sport. They can be clowns in the obedience ring, but their speed, intelligence and natural athleticism gives them and edge in Agility competition. Its great fun for both you and your curly. There have been several very successful curly and owner teams in the US and Canada.

Training can improve your relationship with your Curly. While obedience is a competitive sport there is also practical obedience which is not much different than teaching basic manners and communication. If you are uncomfortable with the formality and, yes, rigidity, of formal obedience you can still become a happy team in practical obedience. I recommend obedience to any Curly owner. It will make your dog a better member of your family.

About the Book

Follow a litter of puppies from birthday until they go to their new homes. The diary contains lots of pictures, tips on puppy rearing, some breed specific information, and lots of information on the care of any breed of dog.

I started doing an on-line puppy diary since many of the people that would be getting one of my pups would not be able to travel here to see the pups. I did not want to put a bunch of cute puppy pictures online, and encourage anyone to have a litter just because they wanted to see cute puppies! Breeding dogs, if done the right way, is a lot of work. Lost sleep and sometimes heartache. It takes a lot of time, effort and money to raise a litter of puppies. Once I started doing The Puppy Diary, I realized I had a captive audience. These people logged on every day to see the pictures, and read what was happening. I used this opportunity to cram as much education into each day as I could. Health, Coat issues, grooming, feeding, socializing, vet care, puppy evaluations, shipping puppies.... you name it! I tried to put it in The Diary. It was suggested that I make it into a book. Well here it is! There are 560 pictures and over 300 pages of living with and watching one litter grow up.

I am sure may conscientious, caring breeders raise litters similar to the way I do. Its is a good look into the time, money, commitment it takes to bring up a litter of pups. Some of the things that go on behind the scenes, that the eventual puppies owners (family), never realize go into the litter. Enjoy my litter as I see them. Day to day

Contents:

Chapter One (Week One) ... Page 1
Seger comes into season
Happy Birthday!
Removing the Dewclaws
Start of the Bio Sensor program

Chapter Two (Week Two) ... Page 48
Coat issues.
Tail Gland Hyperplasia
Do Curlies Shed?

Chapter Three (Week Three) ... Page 94
End of Bio Sensor Exercises
Worming The puppies
Eyes are open
First pup escapes from the box

Chapter Four (Week Four) ... Page 130
Weaning. The great food fight!
Introduction to the puppy play room
Shark Cage

Chapter Five (Week Five) ... Page 156
Field dog? Show Dog? CPE?
Happy Mothers Day!
First Stacked pictures

Chapter Six (Week Six) ... Page 195
Toys! Toys! Toys!
What�s In A Name?
Kids and Dogs
Introduction to Wings

Chapter Seven (Week Seven) ... Page 236
About Puppies and Retrieving
Socialize your puppy
First Shots & Vet Visit
Splish Splash, first bath!

Chapter Eight (Week Eight) ... Page 286
Shape up or ship out!
Requirements to ship puppies
See all the pups!