On March 3, 2015, Roxie, a former homeless Pit Bull earned her Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title with MDT Dog Trainer and owner Eric Allport at Michigan Dog Training in Plymouth, Michigan. The CGC promotes responsible dog ownership and evaluates the dog team in ten different well mannered behaviors: 1. Accepting a friendly stranger, 2. Sitting politely for petting, 3. Appearance and grooming, 4. Loose leash walking, 5. Walking through a crowd, 6. Sit and down on command/Staying in place, 7. Coming when called, 8. Non-reaction to another dog team, 9. Non-reaction to distractions, and 10. Supervised separation from the owner.
As noted in an earlier blog post, “Loveable Pit Bull Attacked Repeatedly by Another Dog Finds Forever Home” , Roxie in a former life was tied up in a back yard with another dog who repeatedly attacked her. Community dog lovers rescued her and Dr. Cheryl Good of Dearborn Family Pet Care temporarily adopted Roxie to give her a safe and loving reprise while she treated her for the injuries and mistreatment she had suffered. Dr. Good nursed her back to health and then elicited help from Michigan Dog Training to teach Roxie excellent obedience through it’s K9 University board and train program. Now that she was healthy, the plan was to train her so that she would become easily adoptable for her forever home.
While Roxie had a large following of supporters, no one was available to adopt Roxie as a permanent family member despite her being a very sweet and loveable dog, obedience trained, and rehabilitated. That’s when MDT Dog Trainer Eric Allport decided he wanted to open his home and heart to her. The two have been inseparable ever since. She has become a running partner with Eric, she goes on family outings with him, she comes to work with him and she even sleeps on a comfortable bed right beside Eric. And, as demonstrated by attainment of the CGC title, Eric has continued Roxie’s training. Congratulations to both of them! MDT is very proud of Eric’s commitment and love for dogs and Roxie’s achievements.
