Homeless bulldog Kelly has been training hard and with help from her behaviour coaches, she has learnt some winning ways.

Today, she took some time out from her obedience classes to observe some other bulldogs in training — the Western Bulldogs, as they went through some practice drills at the Whitten Oval.

A team with a premiership under their belt and a dog who is already a winner in everyone’s eyes — it’s fair to say they provided each other with some mutual inspiration.

We think Kelly possibly hasn’t had the ideal start in life, arriving at The Lost Dogs’ Home with scars all over her face and she appears to have had a litter or two. Also she was very unsure when meeting new dogs, which can suggest that Kelly just didn’t get the opportunity to socialise with lots of different canines as much as she could have as a puppy.

To give this extremely loveable, bulldog the chance to be adopted in a new, loving home, she desperately needed some guidance. We decided to place her into the Home’s Behaviour Rehabilitation Program and pair her up with ‘Head Coach’ and behaviour expert, Nicole Beasley from Planet K9.

“Kelly was very unsocial and tended to growl when other dogs came near her. We think she had only ever met another dog very occasionally,” explained Nicole.

“We had to slowly introduce her to different dogs, teach her to be tolerant when they approached her and accept them around her.”

Nicole and her team worked with Kelly over several weeks and slowly, but surely, she began to relax and interact more easily with other dogs.

Yet while Kelly was initially not a big fan of new dogs, she has always been quite fond of people — and they to her! During her training, she got to socialise with many of the Home’s staff, who couldn’t resist her good looks and the opportunity give her one of her favourite treats — a belly rub!

Displaying the very best canine manners during her visit with the Western Bulldogs, we now feel Kelly is definitely ready find her own ‘team’ — a family to love her.

“We think she is a bit of a rising star and would make a great addition to the right team! Kelly is perhaps best suited to a home with another quiet, laid-back dog or otherwise, she will be more than happy to be an only dog,” said Nicole.

If you are interested in adopting Kelly, please contact The Lost Dogs’ Home on 9329 2755.  During the school holidays, if you complete the Home’s Pet Licence, you will receive 50% off the cost of adoptions for all dogs and cats at our North Melbourne Shelter. For more information, visit dogshome.com.

UPDATE: Kelly has been adopted into a loving new home!