Justin Rudd, a Belmont Shore community activist, is one of aficionados of gorgeous bulldogs that he, together with his Community Action Team, plans to stage the annual Bulldog Beauty Contest and Pet Adoption Fair on February 15 at Marine Stadium.

The main goal of the event is to gather bulldog lovers together and find homes for unwanted pets in dire need of a mother’s love. Rudd expects to see “400 drooling contestants and an estimate of 1,000 spectators.

Beginning at 11 a.m., there will also be pageants for French bulldogs, pugs and senior dogs of all breeds and mixes. Pet adoptions will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m..

Starting at 11 am, there will be pageants for French bulldogs, pugs and senior dogs of all breeds and mixes. Another exciting event of the fair is the Bulldog Beauty Contest, at 1:30pm, where each pet will strut down a 100-foot red carpet as an outdoor runway, flanked by hundreds of seats, rentable for $5. Pet adoptions will take place throughout the event. The dog candidates will be judged base on personality, charm, face and first impressions.

Awards at stake are oldest contestant; congeniality; best smile; farthest distance traveled; and best legs. The top 10 will be announced in each of the breed categories and awards.

Costumes are optional. Rudd says dogs are attractive enough and does not need to be covered.

Last year, more than 300 bulldogs from at least four states and Canada participated.

The event is produced by Justin Rudd and benefits his nonprofit 501(c)(3) Community Action Team (CAT), which includes Haute Dogs and Operation Santa Paws, as well as beach cleanups, spelling bees, art contests and photography events.

Marine Stadium is at 5225 E. Paoli Way.

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photo credits to C-had

You can train any dog to ride a skateboard. It is seen as an innate behavior based on the prey drive of dogs. When they see something moving fast, they instinctively want to chase after it. It may differ from a certain breed to another but one thing is common – training your dog will require lots of patience and work. Learn some tips on how to actually train your bulldog how to ride a skateboard.

Start it slow.
Have your dog start training with a stationary skateboard. Let your dog feel the skateboard. Lock it down and train your dog to get up on it and stand. Attach a leash to the end of the board and let your dog stand on it or sit while you drag it slowly.

Davis started Tillman with a wider board with bigger trucks because it offers stability. Tillman now rides new school, old school, long board and everything in between.

Bulldog Tyson uses Bulldog skateboards with Tracker trucks while Tillman rides Powell Peralta skateboards with revenge trucks. Puppies need not to fret about riding goofy like right foot forward, they just need to grab the boards, throw them down, push off from the closest side and ump up for a ride.

Treat him well.
Blow a whistle whenever your dog does something right as a treat. The sound of the whistle will let him know he is doing what is expected of him. You can give your bulldog a treat but is recommended to exclude treats. Training should be based on the dogs’ drive to play.

Follow the leader.
Your bulldog might not be too interested by the time you show him his skateboard. Demonstrate it to her by moving the skateboard or showing your dog how to use it.

Jim Blauvelt, owner of bulldog Tyson, had no problem of introducing Tyson to skateboards. As a puppy, Tyson would go crazy at skateboarders at the beach. Blauvelt thought his pet hates skateboards. One day, they threw out a skateboard then right away bulldog Tyson started stepping up on it. Since then, Tyson would often bother owner Davis to let him go skate. Blauvelt got Tyson a long retractable leash with harness that goes over the dog’s shoulders rather than his neck to encourage Tyson with skateboarding.

Practice makes perfect.
Take your bulldog out for practice done every single day. When he gets the hang of skateboarding, let your dog practice for two hours per day. Just like dogs Tillman and Tyson practice for two hours a day, three to four times a week.

Safety first
Don’t let your pet chase people while skating. It completely changes the motivation your dog has for skateboarding. It should be all about having fun while your dog is out exercising. Always remember to put safety first. Practice at a safe location where the board won’t wander into a road or in front of a car.

Pet owners Davis and Blauvelt met at a bulldog beauty pageant two years ago where Tyson was showing off his skateboard prowess. The two men struck up a conversation and soon became friends as well as their dogs.

The two bulldog owners along with their dogs often meet in the TNT training camp in one corner of the parking lot at Natural Balance when their pups practice for the big day in Rose Parade. The camp was set up by animal trainer Sue Chipperton of Valencia. They take turns on the track for six to seven minutes at a time, each bulldog taking a break while the other dog skates.

The practice continued with the dogs on a track in a truck that moved around the parking lot.

Watch out.
Bulldogs are known to have breathing difficulty so be wary of your dog getting overheated. Be cautious of your dog showing any signs of overheating. Some breeds overheat faster than others. Adjust the length of the training session based on how hot or cool a day would be. Shorten the training time when the weather is too hot. Let them skate longer on cooler days.

Fun time
Finally, never ever force your dog to ride a skateboard when your pet doesn’t want to. Take it as a quality time for both of you to have fun and bond as well. You might want to go skateboarding too with your bulldog. Happy skateboarding!

Watch a video of Tyson and Tillman in a skateboarding face off.  Judge which English bulldog skates better.

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