The American Kennel Club (AKC) offers an array of engaging activities and official title opportunities that you can enjoy with your companion—many of which can be achieved without ever entering a competitive show ring.   Kokua Dog Training offers instruction across these specialized programs. Debi is a certified AKC judge for Farm Dog Certified (FDC) tests, Retriever Hunting Tests, and the AKC Temperament Test (ATT), as well as an authorized AKC evaluator for the complete suite of performance events listed below.

Training your dog to earn official AKC titles is a deeply rewarding experience. While displaying your dog’s hard-earned titles is a wonderful milestone, the true benefit lies in the focused, quality time you share together. This shared journey builds an unshakeable relationship rooted in mutual understanding, absolute clarity, and trust.

Our Specialized AKC Sport & Titling Programs:

• Canine Good Citizen® (CGC): Discover the foundational gold standard of companion manners. There are four distinct progressive levels available to match your dog’s expanding real-world skills: S.T.A.R. Puppy, standard CGC, AKC Community Canine (CGCA), and AKC Urban CGC™.
• AKC Trick Dog: Build cognitive flexibility and joy through five distinct levels of titling. Routines range from simple Novice parlor tricks to complex, multi-behavior chained sequences in the Elite Performer division.
• AKC Fit Dog: Keep your companion pain-free and healthy for a full life. This specialized conditioning course features three progressive fitness levels designed to safely build core strength, stability, and mental focus.
• Farm Dog Certified (FDC): Similar to the CGC, this program tests your companion’s foundational self-control and confidence amidst the distracting sights, smells, and sounds of a working farm environment rather than a public town square.
• AKC Fetch Test: A fun, non-competitive framework featuring four levels of retrieving titles (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Retriever) to reward a game your companion likely already loves to play at home.
• AKC Temperament Test (ATT): My tailored preparation courses are designed to help you confidently pass the official ATT evaluation. This national screening evaluates your dog’s natural resilience across six distinct categories of stimuli: Social, Auditory, Visual, Tactile, Proprioceptive (motion), and Unexpected stimulus.

• AKC Competition Obedience: Step into one of the AKC’s oldest sporting events. Instruction covers three progressive levels of ring precision—Companion Dog (CD), Open (CDX), and Utility (UD)—ranging from precise off-leash heeling and dumbbell retrieves to advanced long-distance signal work and scent discrimination.
• AKC Rally Obedience (Rally-O): Enjoy a relaxed, dynamic sport based on the fun concept of “doodling.” Teams proceed smoothly around a custom course of ten to twenty signs that instruct you exactly which maneuver to perform next. As a handler currently working toward an official AKC Rally judging license, I provide expert instruction across multiple progressive title levels.
• AKC Conformation Handling: Learn the art and unwritten etiquette of presenting purebred dogs in the breed ring. My instruction focuses on helping you expertly gait, stack, and present your dog’s unique anatomical structure to the judge with natural ease, precision, and confidence.