Headlines

This Certificate Can Prove Your Dog Really Is a Good Boy

Published

6 years ago

July 7, 2017

PETS+ Staff

More landlords ask for canine credentials.

So you think you have a good dog?

If you’re trying to find a place to live, some landlords won’t just take your word for it. Dog interviews are now a thing, and some organizations are even offering certifications to prove that your pet has good behavior, The New York Times reports.

The American Kennel Club is now graduating about 65,000 dogs a year from its Canine Good Citizen program, according to the newspaper. The program consists of a 10-step test.

Such certification can help sway the boards of competitive New York City co-ops. But it can also help at places “like a vacation rental agency in North Carolina and a condo in Oregon,” said Dr. Mary Burch, director of the Canine Good Citizen program.

And the benefits of certification go beyond making it easier for dog owners to secure housing.

“Some of the country’s biggest insurance companies, such as Allstate, Liberty Mutual and the Hartford, will insure breeds of dogs they wouldn’t otherwise if the dog has Canine Good Citizen training,” Burch told the Times.

Read more at the New York Times

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