Teen battles bullying, with help from an unlikely sidekick

DAVENPORT (FOX 13) - Polk County teenager Brittney Monk was having a hard time with bullying at school until she got her dog, a Jack Russell Terrier named Dodge.

Dodge helped Monk stop being a victim of the bullying.

"It made me feel awful," she told FOX 13. 

Dodge became Monk's best friend about four years ago. At first, her goal was to teach him a few simple tricks, like sit and down, but she discovered something amazing.

He had an insatiable love of learning. Brittney said he now does more than 200 tricks.

On Monday, she showed some of the tricks to FOX 13's Ken Suarez. Dodge pushed a shopping cart across the floor, jumped through Monk's arms, opened a suitcase and hopped in.

Their accomplishments together gave her a sense of self confidence she never had before.

"Now, I feel I can do anything with him," she said.

Monk and Dodge want to spread their story and encourage others to come out of their shell to decrease bullying.

Monk and her pup have performed at day care centers, schools and elsewhere.

Their journey seems to be resonating with many folks. They plan to audition for "America's Got Talent" in Orlando in February.