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Real-World Obedience · Urban CGC Prep

Real-World Obedience

A 3-week board & train program for dogs that go everywhere with their family: restaurants, stores, patios and busy sidewalks.

Real-World Obedience

Obedience that works everywhere

Obedience that only works in the living room is not much help. We train where life actually happens: shopping centers, patios, crowded sidewalks and busy parking lots.

Your dog learns to stay calm, focused and under control around people, food, noise and other dogs, so you can bring them along instead of leaving them home.

Dog holding a down-stay in a busy store aisle
The program

Built for busy places

  • Core obedience: sit, stay, come, heel, down and place, reliable in public
  • Loose-leash walking through crowds
  • A settled down on restaurant patios
  • Leaving food on the ground alone
  • Calm around bikes, carts and traffic
  • Waiting at doors, curbs and crossings
  • Confident on stairs, elevators and slick floors
  • Calm car rides and polite greetings
How it works

From evaluation to go-home

1

Free evaluation

We meet your dog, hear your goals and recommend the right program.

2

Daily training

Your dog trains with us every day, at home and out in real-world places.

3

Go-home session

A hands-on session (about 1.5 to 2.5 hours) where we teach you everything your dog learned.

4

Ongoing support

You get a written home training manual, plus check-ins after your dog goes home.

Urban CGC Prep

What is the AKC Urban Canine Good Citizen title?

The Urban CGC (CGCU) is the American Kennel Club's test for dogs that can handle real city and public life. It is tested out in the community, not in a quiet training room, and passing adds the Urban CGC title to your dog's AKC record.

The 10 skills tested

  1. Entering and exiting buildings without pulling
  2. Walking through a busy sidewalk crowd
  3. Staying calm around city noise, bikes, carts and runners
  4. Waiting at the curb and crossing the street under control
  5. Ignoring food on the ground
  6. Accepting petting from a stranger carrying an item
  7. Holding a calm down in a public building or while you eat
  8. Handling stairs or an elevator
  9. Being house-trained for apartment or city living
  10. Riding calmly in a car or on transit

Why it matters

  • Proof your dog can handle busy public places
  • A natural next step after the CGC title
  • Peace of mind when you travel, shop or dine with your dog
  • A strong foundation for therapy or service dog work

Alpha Ark is an AKC-approved CGC evaluator, so we can test for both the CGC and Urban CGC when your dog is ready.

Starting at
$3,500

3-week Real-World Obedience board & train program, including Urban CGC prep.

Exact pricing is confirmed at your free evaluation.

Book a Free Evaluation

Ready to start training?

Book a free evaluation and we’ll build a program around your dog.