The American Cancer Society Bark For Life is more than just an event.  It is an opportunity to help save lives and create a world with less cancer  by supporting the American Cancer Society.

This is the second year we have formed a walk team with the help from Off Leash Dog Training customers.  Our goal is to raise $2000 and we are more than half way there already.

This year the walk will take place NoDa Art district

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Registration 12pm / Walk begins 1pm

As you can see from the map, it’s an easy walk. But even if you can’t make it to the walk, you can still donate to our team page. To learn more about Off Leash Dog Training Foundation

To Join our team:

Group Lessons for our dogs are an important part of the Off Leash Dog Training’s Train as you live™ system.

Usually chain stores and part time dog trainers use the group lessons to maximize their profit/ per dog training hours. Here at Off Leash Dog Training in Charlotte we do things differently.  Our group lessons are designed to take your dog’s obedience to the next level.  This is why  you must first complete first phase of your dog training to attend any group lesson.   If you are an Off Leash Dog Training client and are new to group lessons please read this post BEFORE attending your first group lesson.

But….   Why even bother with group lessons ?  Especially when your dog is finally listening to all your commands.

As we see it dog training group lessons have the following benefits:

Socializing  your dog with other healthy, happy, balanced dogs and people who are also committed having a good relationship with their own dogs (as you know we’re a different breed of people also)

Controlled Distractions We all agree that you know your dog is trained for off leash obedience when your dog can ignore distractions of real world.  Best way to get our dogs’ obedience to the next level is to give them opportunities to learn in a positive environment where they can get some wins.  We suggest group of dogs who listens to their owners provide just that.

Obedience Proofing  Knowing what to do and actually doing it are not the same thing.  It’s no secret that many of our customers (when they first call us) start by saying something like “My dog is a great dog. Will come, sit, shake….but only when he wants it.” This means your dog knows what to do, but being disobedient.  You can only keep your dog safe to the extent of the reliability of any given command.

Finally, and this is very very important is our group lessons and exercises are designed to help you Integrates dog into your family.

Hoh Hoh Hoo!   Here is another Holiday Season.

Watch Off Leash Dog Training trainer Turk Akbay in another episode of Carolina’s Dog Master for WCNC36 Charlotte Today Show

Susie is rescue dog from the Puppy Mill that made the news. (Graphic Video)

When her owner called us one of the first things she mentioned  was,  that she had not been able to put a leash on Sussie.  She would run and hide from her, and her owner had not been able to put a leash on Susie over couple of years.  Fortunately for us,  Sussie’s owner had been thru a few other dog trainers with no success, and -as it often happens- She said “You’re my last hope.”

Here is a video of Susie’s progress. Enjoy

To join our community visit: Off Leash Dog Training

I am often confronted by people who claim that their breeder told them [fill in the blank] breed can NEVER EVER be Off Leash.  One of my favorite dogs ever is Diego the Vizsla

In  Our dogs are family™ concept we believe the main responsibility of the human is to keep our dogs safe.  Meaning,  there will be times when You the human will need to be in an absolute position of authority.  As in any time you’re near a busy street or train tracks in downtown Charlotte.

For our dog to understand that when you say No,  You mean No

Your dog must first  understand the concept of Boundaries… Not as in borders of your property, but as in  I like helping people, but  you don’t just walk into my house and use my bathroom….Boundaries

If you have kids you’re probably  practicing this.

Discuss this article on our Off Leash Dog Training Forum

Turk Akbay of Off Leash Dog Training in Charlotte visited Lary Sprinkle and Charlotte Today Show crew for another episode of Carolina’s Dog Master.  This episode was (so timely) on Holiday Safety for families with dogs.  Our dogs are family ™ so we do want them to be with us during holiday season and not locked up in a room.   Here is a link to past  TV Shows with Turk Here is a link to other holidays and dogs articles

To continue the discussion about this episode Visit our Forum

Holiday season is approaching fast.

As far as your dog is concerned Holiday season is insane time. More people are in and out of the house, family’s energy is out of whack. Not to mention lots of strange boxes & plants are being placed in the house. In fact very little is familiar.  Here is a past episode of Carolina’s Dog Master series with WCNC36 Charlotte Today Show 

I view our dog’s need during the holidays in two categories. 1) Dog Sanity and 2) Dog Safety.

Dog Sanity

1 Try to enjoy the season. Stay calm. We all get stressed out during the holidays, and our dog picks up on our stress. She looks to you as a leader. If you are calm, she can be calmer. If you spend a little quiet time with your dog every day – it will help you, too.
Review your dog’s basic obedience training exercises daily. Don’t teach your dog something new during this stressful time, but review what she already knows & reinforce yourself as a pack leader.
2 Keep the routine with your dog: Keep your dog’s regular daily routine. Feed and walk her at the same times as you usually do. Changing her routine can make her stressful, and she may seek attention by misbehaving.
3 Play with your dog before your party. If you tire her out, she’ll be too tired to get into any mischief when guests arrive. If that is not possible, hire a dog walker or take him to doggie daycare.

Dog Safety

1 Tree water at the base of live trees can be harmful to your dog if preservative chemicals have been added to prolong the life of the tree. Cover the tree basin with foil or a tree skirt to keep your dog from drinking the water.

2 Anchor the tree with cord or wire to the ceiling directly above the tree’s trunk to prevent your dog from knocking over your holiday tree. REMEMBER ! Don’t attach it with wire to a wall behind the tree because your dog could get caught in the wire if be darts behind the tree.

3 To keep your dog from accidentally swallowing something that could get lodged in his throat hang your ornaments with ribbons rather than hooks

4 Don’t use toothpicks. Because your can eat the toothpicks if they are dropped on the floor and they can get stuck in his throat or puncture internal organs.

5 Tie up loose electrical cords of the lights used to decorate the tree and keep them concealed by attaching them with wire or cord to the trunk of the tree.

Once again the Holiday Season is here.  It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy of the season and forget that this is a stressful season for our dogs.  Here is a quick video from Carolina’s Dog Master series