Lizzie Langwade & Max (Maximillian Jack in the Box)
So there we were, climbing up a flight of dirty concrete steps that led to a small flat above a Londis shop (no this is not the beginning of a bad film). I didn’t know at the time but this is where I was to meet the perfect dog for me.
As I rang the doorbell of the flat, I remember saying to my mum, ‘I hope it’s not a tricolour’. Low and behold we were greeted by Max; a scrawny but gorgeous 10 month old tricolour! We were invited in by his owner, a young lady who was about 5 months pregnant – she gave this as the main reason for rehoming Max but I think she had finally realised that keeping a collie cooped up in a flat and feeding it chocolate bon-bons was not exactly appropriate. She explained she got him from a stable but didn’t know anything of his parentage.
After spending only 15 minutes chatting (during which time Max didn’t leave my side), I knew I had to have him. The lady suggested that the easiest thing for her would be to drop him off at our house later that afternoon. So home we went, nervous and excited. We promptly informed my dad that a new dog would be arriving later and he accepted this in a satisfyingly bemused manner.
After what felt like years, he arrived with all his worldly goods which consisted of a ball, a bowl and a puppy collar which was too small. From the moment he walked in the door he just seemed to fit, like he’d always been there. He got on like a house on fire with our other dog; a golden retriever bitch and his owner said she could see he was going to have a good life.
As he was already 10 months old, I cracked straight on with catching him up on the basics. He had to learn a wait, a recall, his lefts, and rights and even how to play tuggy as he was so used to playing on his own. He was enrolled in an obedience class and soon became top of the class. His formal agility training, however, got off to a shaky start as he seemed more interested in anything other than me. But with a few tears, tantrums and plenty of perseverance, he made good progress.
We entered our first ever show, Easter Celebration, in April of 2004. To my amazement we ended up winning starters jumping with our first run and then coming 7th in starters agility with our second run! Apart from a few trials and tribulations, it’s been mostly triumphs from then on.
To date he has;
Won a novice agility class
Won the novice pairs relay at Olympia
Competed at Crufts twice and has qualified for 2007
Qualified for the Adams Derby, Genesis Jumping and Team Dash finals
Become obsessed with bubbles and most importantly been my faithful friend for almost three years
He truly is an amazing, special little boy and owning Max has led me to believe that rescued/rehomed dogs make some of the best companions as they give so much for just a little bit of love
Thanks for reading
Lizzie Langwade