Love For Bully Dogs: Pack Walk Will Benefit Breed With Bad Rap

Some dogs get a bad rap. Mostly, it’s the “bully dogs” that have gotten the raw end of the deal, including boxers, pit bulls and terriers.

Recently, the bully breeds have been getting their due respect, including this July 11 article in Time Magazine, titled, The Great Pit Bull Makeover.

Chuck Stella, who runs Elite K911 and Rescue K911, training and obedience, also places hard-to-adopt rescued bully dogs.

“These bully breed are awesome dogs,” he said. “They are really nice dogs and social.”

His training, which includes “pack walks,” helps socialize dogs in a structured setting.

“People think they’re aggressive because of how they act around other dogs,” Stella said.

Although he specialized in bully breeds, he trains all breeds of dogs but has focused on the most neglected.

Three times a week he holds pack walks, which include a half hour of obedience walking with a handler followed by a half-hour obedience training session.

“We teach them ‘sit,’ ‘stay’ and how to walk past without reacting to other dogs,” Stella said. “The biggest problem they have is structure.”

Elite K911 Dog Training in co-operation with Lead by Faith Dog Training is putting on the pack walk event on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park in Avon that will also serve as a fundraiser for costs associated with placing the dogs.

“The money is to get the dogs vetted, including getting them spayed, neutered and addressing other issues, Amy Hagan, who works with the Rescue 911 group, said. That might include heartworm treatment.

Hagan, who is friends with Ann Guggenbiller of Avon Lake-based Lead With Faith dog obedience school, helps Stella out on Wednesday pack walks, taking one of the dogs up for adoption.

“I love them,” she said of the bully breed dogs. “I’ve been in rescue for almost 10 years and I have had no problems with them. Some have fear issues, but I’ve never seen one aggressive.

“I have kids and I would never let them near them if I thought they were aggressive my kids have learned the truth about them.”

The Pack Walk will include a half hour obedience walk (no flexi-leashes, please) followed by a half hour obedience session.

The Pack Walk on Saturday, July 27 starts at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park in Avon, 3701 Veterans Memorial Parkway off Detroit Road. Cost is $10 per dog with all proceeds going to the non-profit 501(c) 3 Rescue K911 organization.