Once a week for seven weeks, a group of dog owners plan to meet based on what kind of dog they have to teach them commands.

These meetings are the “Bully Basic Obedience” class taught by local dog trainer Betty Hargis.

The class will teach bully-breed dogs basic skills like recall, sit, come, walk nicely and greet.

The class starts on Sept. 20 and runs until Nov. 8. It will meet at 7:15 p.m. Thursdays at the dog training facility, 918 17th St.

Other classes being offered include agility classes, general basic obedience, swimming, canine good citizen and puppy socialization.

Ellen Johnson, a certified dog trainer in Charleston, said basic training for every dog is a must. Since 1995, Johnson has had three dogs from her classes hit and killed by cars.

“If (a dog) doesn’t have good recall, then it can be life ending for your dog,” Johnson said.

However, this basic training class is exclusive to bully breeds like the American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, boxer, bulldog and pit bull.

Betty Hargis said she wanted to bring like-minded dog owners together because it makes them feel more comfortable.

“Putting everyone together of like breeds, they tend to mesh better,” Hargis said. “Many times, other owners are not always kind (to bully breed dogs).”

Tiffany McSparran, a junior biological sciences major, said she hears of people being mauled by dogs, mainly bully breeds, all the time on the news.

McSparran said she would consider getting a bully-breed puppy but not an older one from a shelter.

“It’s how you raise it,” McSparran said.

Hargis, who owns a bully-breed dog, said the breed gets a bad reputation for not being good dogs.

“(This breed of dogs) adore their owners and are very soft with them,” Hargis said.

Jazmin Smiley, a sophomore journalism major, said she thinks good training and love is key to a well-behaved dog.

“If they are brought up correctly, then they are good dogs like any other breed,” Smiley said.

Having a class that teaches dogs the basics will help change the public’s mind about the bully breed, Hargis said.

She said that in general, it is the public that needs more training than the dogs.

Part of the reason they get a bad reputation is genetics—the bully breeds can be more aggressive, but most of it is environmental, Hargis said.

“It’s the people that create the monster, not the dogs,” Hargis said. “The dogs don’t have a choice.”

For more information on dog classes, contact Ellen Johnson at 217-345-3576 or Betty Hargis at 217-549-4084.

Amanda Wilkinson can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].