QProin As an AKC Certified Evaluator, I hold a stack of paperwork, a pen, and a clipboard. On that clipboard is a checklist—a series of tasks that a dog and handler must perform to earn a title. From the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) to its urban and community variations, and through the ranks of the Trick Dog program, these checklists are the framework of our evaluation.
But from the moment a team walks into my evaluation space in Kent, WA, I am looking at so much more than a list.
My background is not in competition alone; it is rooted in the deep, often messy, work of behavior modification. I have worked with dogs who saw the world as a terrifying place, and with owners who were at their wits’ end. This experience has fundamentally shaped what I value in a testing environment. I am not just looking for a dog who can perform a skill. I am looking for a partnership built on trust, communication, and profound reliability.
Here is what I am truly watching for when I put pen to paper.
The Foundation: The Mindset of the Dog
The single most important thing I assess is not the sit, the down, or the recall. It is the dog’s emotional state. A title earned through fear or stress is not a title worth having.
1. Engagement Over Obedience:
I am watching where the dogchooses to put its attention. A dog that frequently offers eye contact to its handler, even in a novel environment like a training hall or park, is telling me something powerful. They are saying, “My human is my safe harbor. They are more interesting than this strange place.” This voluntary engagement is the bedrock of a true partnership. A dog who performs with a glazed look, simply waiting for a cookie, has not built the same connection.
2. Resilience and Bounce-Back:
No dog is a robot.In a test, something might startle them—a dropped clipboard, a distant noise. I am not judging the startle. I am judging the recovery. A dog that gets spooked but then looks to its handler for guidance and quickly re-engages is demonstrating incredible resilience. This “bounce-back” is a sign of a secure attachment and a dog that trusts its handler to navigate the world. This is a core goal of behavior modification, and seeing it in a test setting is a beautiful thing.
3. A Sense of Agency and Willingness:
This is crucial,especially in Trick Dog. I am listening to the quality of the performance. Is the dog offering behaviors with enthusiasm and a wagging tail? Or is it slinking into a “down,” offering slow, hesitant movements? I look for a sense of joy and willingness. A dog that is a willing participant, making active choices, is a dog that has been trained with respect and positive reinforcement. This is the antithesis of a shut-down dog who just goes through the motions to avoid pressure.
The Engine: The Reliability of the Team
As a behavior modification specialist, I know that anyone can get a behavior to happen once in a quiet room. Reliability under mild, real-world pressure is the true test of training.
1. The Handler’s Energy is the Leash:
I watch the handler as much as the dog.Are they a calm, confident leader? Or are they tense, holding their breath, and micromanaging every step? A handler’s anxiety travels directly down the leash. A team where the handler is breathing deeply, standing tall, and giving clear, calm cues is a team that has practiced not just the behaviors, but the mindset required for reliability.
2. The Fluidity of Communication:
The test items are a series of conversations.In the CGC, the “Reaction to Another Dog” test is not just about neutrality; it’s a test of the handler’s ability to communicate “It’s okay, I’ve got this,” without words. In Trick Dog, the flow from one trick to the next shows me how well the handler can guide their dog through a sequence. It’s a dance. Stilted, robotic performances indicate a lack of true understanding, while fluid, connected performances show a deep and practiced dialogue.
3. Proofing in Real-Time:
My evaluation space is a controlled environment,but it’s still a new place with new smells, sights, and sounds. The very act of performing here is a test of proofing. A dog that can hold a “stay” while I, a stranger, walk around them (CGC Test 3) is demonstrating that their training has generalized beyond their living room. This is the ultimate goal of all training—a dog you can take anywhere.
A Title-by-Title Breakdown Through My Lens
· AKC STAR Puppy: Here, I’m looking for the spark. Is the handler engaged and learning to read their dog? Is the puppy curious and resilient, or easily overwhelmed? This is about setting the foundation for a lifetime of good communication.
· CGC (Canine Good Citizen): This is the gold standard for a well-mannered partner. It’s not about perfection; it’s about predictability. I look for a dog that is at ease, that trusts its handler to manage social interactions (petting, approaching strangers), and that can maintain self-control. A dog that passes the “Supervised Separation” with quiet patience is a dog with solid emotional fortitude.
· CGCA & CGCU (Urban & Community): Now we add layers of environmental challenge. I look for the team’s ability to problem-solve together. Can they navigate a crowd (CGCA) or react calmly to a passing shopping cart (CGCU) as a unified team? This is where the engagement and handler focus I value so highly become the keys to success.
· Trick Dog (Novice through Advanced): While fun is paramount, I am evaluating the sophistication of the communication. A Novice title shows the dog understands how to learn. An Intermediate title shows they can perform behaviors with a bit of flair and duration. An Advanced title demonstrates a deep vocabulary and the ability to chain behaviors together seamlessly. I am looking for that joyful willingness in every trick.
The Black Magic Philosophy: Titles as a Testament to the Bond
When I sign off on a title, I am not certifying that a dog is “fixed” or perfect. I am certifying that I have witnessed a team that has done the work. I have seen a handler who understands their dog’s mind and a dog who trusts their human’s guidance.
The most successful teams are not those who drill for the test. They are the ones who have integrated these skills into the fabric of their daily lives. The “stay” is practiced at every curb. The “leave it” is used with a dropped sock. The recalls are joyful games.
Your dog’s ability to look to you for guidance in a moment of uncertainty, to offer a trick with a wagging tail, to walk calmly through a doorway—these are the true marks of success. The title is simply the public recognition of the private, profound bond you have built together.
If you are in the Kent, WA area and are preparing for an AKC evaluation, know that I see you. I see the work, the patience, and the partnership you are building.
Black Magic Dog Training offers:
· Real-World Evaluations that assess the true strength of your partnership.
· Preparation Workshops that focus on mindset, reliability, and proofing, not just rote skill.
· Behavior-Focused Training that builds the foundational engagement needed to excel in any test.
Let’s work together not just to pass a test, but to forge a partnership that will impress any evaluator, anywhere.
Contact Black Magic Dog Training to schedule your evaluation or begin your preparation today.
Black Magic Dog Training: Where Obedience Meets the Obscure.
