A rescue dog from Brighton has become the first dog to achieve Good Citizen status on both sides of the Atlantic.
Maxx, a 9 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross owned by Tracey Davidson, overcame a tough start to life in the US before going on to accomplish this unique achievement at a dog obedience club in Portslade.
Maxx was rescued in New York, where Tracey was living at the time, back in 2006 when he was just two years old. He was twenty pounds underweight, had several illnesses and was completely despondent. Originally Tracey simply intended to foster Maxx but it soon became clear that the pair wouldn’t be parted.
Tracey commented: “I had gone for a walk to clear my head as I had recently lost someone close to me when I came across a dog adoption event. I saw Maxx looking at me with these big brown eyes and an extremely emaciated body. They say dogs choose you and he absolutely saw me coming. Maxx had many issues but affection wasn’t one of them. He’s such a sensitive, intelligent dog.”
When Tracey took Maxx home, she quickly realised he must have had a difficult start in life as he flinched when touched, was petrified of objects and didn’t like going out for walks. Tracey hand fed him for the first few weeks in order for him to eat.
In order to work on building his confidence, Tracey decided to take Maxx training and found the Canine Good Citizen training classes in Brooklyn, New York. Maxx passed the test in May 2008 and the pair subsequently moved back to the UK in 2011.
Tracey continues: “After we got settled in the UK, I found that there was a Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme class at a dog obedience club near to where we lived in Portslade and we started classes in September 2012. Maxx recently received his Bronze and Silver Kennel Club Good Citizen awards and I couldn’t be more proud of his achievements.
“My motivation for training Maxx was to show the public in both the US and UK that Staffies make perfect companions when given proper training by responsible owners. I simply couldn’t ask for a better dog – rescuing Maxx is by far the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.”
Instructors at the dog obedience club, Linda Dewey and Kennel Club Accredited Instructor, Di Morgan applauded Tracey’s determination in completing the awards in both countries. Di commented: “Tracey is a great handler who has a wonderful rapport with Maxx. We’re delighted that Maxx has achieved this one-of-a-kind accolade. He is a lovely dog.”
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Passing Good Citizen awards in two different countries is a great achievement for any dog, but for Maxx it is extra special. He didn’t have the best start in life, but thanks to his owner Tracey, Maxx has turned his life around. He sounds like a very special dog indeed.”
As well as being a model canine citizen, Tracy has noticed that Maxx has another special talent: the ability to meditate.
Tracey says: “It is rather unusual but he does meditate. He hides his head under something, but mostly shrubs and remains still and in a trance like state for about five minutes. It’s completely extraordinary, he goes into a different world, he can’t hear a thing and his breathing completely slows down. Everybody who sees him doing it is blown away.”
To find a Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Training Scheme class near you, please visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/findadogclub. For more information about the GCDS, visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtraining.
