Max likes hanging out with his family, Andrew, Christina and Sarah Calado and canine friend, Abby, and he’ll never turn down a peanut butter treat. The handsome, friendly Nova Scotia Duck Toller, AKA GCH Readyfor Going To The Max, is also an international champion. He’s just back from picking up the medal for Best in Class at the prestigious Westminster Dog Show in Madison Square Garden in New York on Feb. 14.
It was the 136th show for the Westminster Kennel Club and attracted 2,000 dogs of 185 breeds from around the world. The Nova Scotia Duck Toller is a Canadian breed that is the official dog of Nova Scotia. Max was the only Canadian in the show and took the title in a field of eight.
Andrew and Christina got Max, four, when they were looking for another dog to train in agility. They had seen a Duck Toller in classes with their other dog and liked the look of the breed.
“We were looking for an active dog who would be good with obedience and with children,” said Christina. “We had never been to a dog show before we got Max.”
By the time Max was eight-months-old, he was winning in Vernon Kennel Club shows and he did so well in all his shows that he finished his Canadian Championship in 2008. With handler Aaron Andriash, Max went on to get his American Championship. Like all champions, Max has to prepare for his shows. He gets good care at home and Andriash exercises, grooms and conditions him before each show.
Max has finished his field work and is entitled to put more letters behind and in front of his name than most people ever will. One of the most respected is CGN, Canine Good Neighbour, from the Canadian Kennel Club. He was named Best in Specialty out of 117 Duck Tollers in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Club of Canada show in Calgary in 2011.
He made it to New York literally by the luck of the draw. Entries from outside of the United States are chosen by lottery.
“We didn’t find out until just before Christmas. We were so excited,” said Christina. Max had to fly as checked baggage but he did well and enjoyed staying in the pet-friendly hotel with Christina, Andriash and his breeder, Jamie Klein, owner of Readyfor Tollers in Port Coquiltam.
“New York. Wow. We didn’t go in expecting anything, it was more for the experience. We had ringside seats for part of the show, then really far up. People who have season’s tickets got the closer seats. There was a big screen and it was exciting to see his name and hometown, Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, up there,” said Christina.
“New York was amazing. We were walking in Times Square at midnight with the dogs and there were crowds of people. Max liked the New York pigeons. But he was happy to be home again.”
Max will be doing some more agility training in the summer and Christina would like to see him get his Companion Dog designation.
“He’s such a happy, fun-loving boy, it’s great to have him as part of our family,” she said.
