The MHBTC has been holding monthly socialization and manners classes for bull terriers. In additional to several bullies and their owners coming for basic training, socialization with other dogs and general handling advice, we have enjoyed great success with potential adopters coming to these classes and meeting and working with our rescue dogs that are in foster care.

At our April session, all three of our foster dogs in attendance met and went home with families that attended the class. Bunny Bunker, now known as Bailey, shelter dog Lola, now known as Pearl and Shea, who had been in foster care for a few months, all have settled into their new homes. It gives us confidence that these adoptive families had a chance to work with the dogs and get advise on handling, praise and correction prior to adoption.

May 31 was our third class and our three newest foster dogs, Rico, Ditto and Nimsi worked with several volunteers and certainly benefitted from the session. Young Nimsi is not leash broken and is far behind on her socialization. Ditto has some difficulty with other dogs and while she did not enjoy the encounters, did learn that she could be in the room with the other dogs and behave herself. She has a long way to go, but every bit of socialization she can get is important.Rico worked his charms on a potential adopter and went home to a new foster home, where he hopes to set up house permanently. 

We even enjoyed the company of a new rescue volunteer, Kris, that is interested in learning more about bull terriers and has volunteered to help with rescue in any way. He worked with both Rico and Nimsi and both dogs did well with him. Kris contacted us through the website, so we are pleased to have this avenue for people to find us and get involved.

For the dogs and their owners that have come to previous classes, we introduced some basic clicker training. It was immediately helpful for two stubborn bullies that do not always want to walk with their owners. By rewarding simple collar responses and any movement forward with a click and treat, both dogs improved quickly. 

We also discussed grooming and had the opportunity to try out several brushes and nail grooming devises. Even these shorthaired bullies benefit from a good brushing and it was amazing to see the pile of hair left behind. The stars of the grooming tools were the Zoom Groom (a soft rubbery brush best used in a circular motion and well appreciated as a message by the dogs), the Shedding Blade, the Furminator (expensive, but it sure does remove gobs of hair) and the Dremel tool for nails.

We hope to see you and your bully at a future session. Bully School, our socialization classes, are held the last Saturday each month from 9am-noon for only $5 per dog.