We walked into our final CGC class not quite knowing what to expect. It wasn’t the official exam — just a dry run of the CGC test for dogs — but if you know our trainer Jenny, you know that “dry run” means prepare for the toughest version possible.
In the real AKC CGC test, dogs go one at a time. The demo dog and “crowd” volunteers stand quietly at the back of the room. No close quarters, no reactive chain reactions, no handler traffic jams.
But this practice night was different: tight spaces, shared energy, and high distractions. Exactly what Lady Priscilla needed to prove just how far she’s come.
Calm Entry, Quick Recovery
We arrived second for the CGC test practice run. Jenny had changed the layout, and we were in Callie’s usual spot right by the door while Coco was settled in the far corner. Lady Priscilla walked in calmly, took her place, and lay down as we chatted with Jenny.
Callie arrived right next to us and turned toward her old spot — a little too close for comfort — which earned one quick protest bark from Lady Priscilla. But she settled down immediately as Callie took the spot just on the other side of the door.
Obi entered last with his usual burst of energy, but Lady Priscilla remained calm and focused — not unlike she was in that dimly lit boiler room she conquered at Titanic Orlando.
Sit, Down, Stay, and Recall — No Tether Required
To mirror actual conditions of the CGC test for dogs, treats weren’t allowed during any exercise (only between turns) — and we didn’t need them. We started with a controlled approach to a cone, where Lady Priscilla performed a sit, then a down. We dropped the leash and left her in a stay while we walked 20 feet away, then performed a 10-foot recall.
She nailed it. No hesitation, no wandering, and no tether needed. Just solid teamwork and steady eye contact. John Keating, the teacher in Dead Poets Society — the one who turns Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!”
into a rallying cry — would be proud.
Loose Leash Walking — Smooth and Steady
Our loose leash walk began at our assigned cone and followed a small loop — part of the CGC test for dogs that Jenny had designed to mimic real exam conditions. At one point, we passed very close to Callie, who was stationed near another cone. But Lady Priscilla was already in her rhythm and didn’t even glance her way.
Instead, she gave us a calm, attentive “service walk” (our version of a heel) the entire time, like it was second nature. Then she watched the other dogs take their turns with quiet confidence, even when they came around “our” cone.
Greeting a Friendly Stranger — With Grace
The greeting exercise included petting, ear touches, paw handling, and a quick brush stroke. Lady Priscilla clearly wasn’t thrilled, but she allowed it all without complaint.
Jenny’s feedback was simple: “She would have passed.”
Every dog handled this exercise a little differently. Lady Priscilla’s version was classic for her: tolerant, composed, and subtly regal.
Distractions? What Distractions?
For the distraction tests, Jenny walked around the room, waving a white bucket near each dog for visual impact. Back in the center, she then dropped it on the floor for a sharp auditory surprise.
Lady Priscilla didn’t flinch. Neither did her classmates. They all remained relaxed and observant, totally unfazed by the noise or movement.
Greeting Another Dog: Cool, Calm, and Cordial
The dog greeting exercise involved a controlled head-on walk toward tiny Coco (an adorable 5 pounds of pure sass, the type that used to be Lady Priscilla’s biggest nemesis). This time, she would have to manage a polite sit just 3 feet away while the handlers exchanged pleasantries, and then continue the walk past — one of the more unpredictable CGC test requirements.
Our starting point was close to Callie again, which earned one quick bark. But once the exercise began, Lady Priscilla was all business.
She walked directly toward Coco, sat when cued, ignored the other dog completely, and continued walking without missing a beat.
Coco had the same initial challenge on her turn, starting near Callie, but quickly recovered and completed the greeting just as smoothly.
Walking Through a “Crowd” = Finding Familiar Faces
For this one, my dad and Coco’s dad served as the “crowd.” It was Coco’s dad’s first night at class, and every dog in the room made a point to go check him out.
Lady Priscilla kept subtly trying to veer toward my dad. It was her version of “Excuse me, that’s my grandpa.” Coco, meanwhile, kept trying to return to her dad.
Despite the familial magnetism, both dogs stayed on task and completed the exercise without issue — another win in their ongoing CGC dog training journey.
Three-Minute Supervised Separation, Steady and Still
The final test of the evening was the supervised separation — a deceptively simple part of the CGC test for dogs, but often the hardest for dogs who are tightly bonded with their handler.
This exercise had required some extra work early on. Lady Priscilla never showed true separation anxiety, but she was noticeably uncertain the first few times we practiced. Not anymore.
She stood quietly and waited. She didn’t pace, vocalize, or fidget. Just calm, confident presence… the kind that comes from trust, practice, and emotional safety.
She’s Not Just Ready. She’s Becoming Who She Was Meant to Be
This wasn’t the official test. But it could have been.
Lady Priscilla worked the room like she belonged there. Because she does. She recovered from tight moments, responded instead of reacting, and held it together under pressure that was way more intense than the actual CGC test for dogs.
She let Jenny handle her, walked past dogs and people, ignored noise and movement, and held her ground during the most challenging skills on the list.
She didn’t just pass a rehearsal. She showed us who she’s becoming.
What’s Next?
We’ve come a long way since this dry run of the CGC test for dogs.
Since then, Lady Priscilla has officially passed the real thing — with calm confidence and quiet focus. Read the full test results here.
She’s also earned her AKC Trick Dog Novice title, with a performance so full of joy it’s hard to believe this was once the dog who shut down at every new sound.
And now? We’re just a breath away from completing CGC Advanced and CGC Urban — where she even pulled off a perfectly timed seatbelt boop. Yes, really.
But this night — this practice run — will always be the one that showed us what was possible.
The dog who once panicked at the vet’s office stood calmly for three full minutes without her humans in the room.
The dog who once barked at anything with four legs quietly greeted two classmates and walked away like it was no big deal.
The dog who didn’t just earn praise — she earned peace.
She didn’t just pass class. She passed into something new, something we’ve been building toward since the first time we dreamed we could train a service dog for Halloween Horror Nights.
Want to follow the entire Lady Priscilla CGC class journey? Catch up on Five Feet, Four Dogs and Dog Grad School.
This couldn’t have happened without The Lady Priscilla Method, our trauma-informed, trust-based approach to training. Learn the basics here, or explore the science behind it here.
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