Sorry about the corny play on a song title- but I could not resist. Zeke is on the left and Charlie is on the right. We were at Valleyfest and we met Father Michael Blackburn from St. Francis of Assisi. He was offering pet blessings and we were thrilled to have him meet two of the brothers. English Bulldogs (and their owners) need all the support they can get!
The local chapter of the American Kennel Club offered the opportunity to certify your dog as a "Good Citizen", several Rescue organizations were present, and many agility dogs demonstrated their skills, Our local Humane Society and may vendors were represented as well. It was a wonderful afternoon and both boys were well behaved.
If you ever want to strike up conversations with complete strangers, bring your dog to a community pet festival. By holding the leash and walking your friend, some of the nicest people have reason to share something about themselves and their pet accompanying them. Most dog lovers enjoy answering questions about their companions. Introverts (like the one I am married too) become chatty when the opportunity to "talk dog" appears. I think that the socialization and training for our pets- is really for the humans.
FYI: While most Bulldogs will never compete in agility competitions, many enjoy tracking. When dressed in a harness with a 20 to 40 foot lead, the Bulldog can be trained to find articles such as a wallet or a pair of leather gloves. They can compete for titles offered through the American Kennel Club or the United Kennel Club.
The positive community support for pets and their owners in our area is not unusual. Nationwide, pet festivals and celebrations grow larger every year.
We humans just need to track them down.
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