Today we received news from Colorado that Ryan Matthews, the independent owner of Off Leash Dog Training in Colorado, has been accused of abusing his dog Montage. This news comes as a complete shock to us. We have known and worked with Ryan for over 3 years now and have personally witnessed the love he has for animals, especially for Montage. It is difficult for us to even fathom that these types of allegations have been brought against him.

At this moment we are choosing to wait and see what happens with the charges. The news thus far has only reported what has allegedly happened and we choose not to rush to judgment about Ryan. We are extremely optimistic that the charges have no actual basis and will be dropped. However, we wish to make it perfectly clear that Off Leash Dog Training does not, and will never, condone inhumane and abusive treatment of dogs by anyone. Ryan or anyone else.

To address the concerns of our customers and community members, it is and always has been our philosophy at Off Leash Dog Training to treat dogs with respect. We want our relationship and communication with our dogs to be between friends with different roles and responsibilities rather than that of a boss and an employee. We take this philosophy seriously and will never treat the dogs that we train or our own dogs inhumanely.

We sincerely appreciate the comments that have been posted in support of Off Leash Dog Training and Ryan Matthews. We value all of the relationships that we have with you and your dogs and we will continue to keep you updated on the situation as it develops.

On a Code Orange Day be careful with the dog walks; you should limit their walk to slow and easy ones. If a dog is old or very young, this is especially important. Don’t let him have a lot of water before or after the walk if it is 30 minutes or longer.

If you usually walk your dog around 30 minutes, you should limit the walk to about 15-20 minutes on Code Orange days.
You and your dog can enjoy playtime inside after a few ice cubes. Be careful with the humidity, even on a Code Orange day – your really old or young dog should be limited on the time spent outside.

On a Code Red Day, limit your outside time with the dogs to enough time for the dog to do #1 and #2. If a dog is old or very young, this is especially important. Their walks should also be slow and easy ones. Don’t let them have a lot of water before
or after the walk if it is 30 minutes or longer. Use ice cubes as a source of water. Again, outside time should be limited to letting the dog do its business with playtime inside after a few ice cubes.

Be careful with the humidity, especially on a Code Red day – your really old or young dog should be very limited on the time spent outside.

Here is a link to detailed information when traveling with your dogs

If you plan your trip carefully, taking your dog along can make your travel experience more fun for everyone.
Here are a few helpful tips to make the experience go as smoothly as possible.

PACKING
Pack for your dog how you would pack for yourself. Think of everything your dog needs on a daily basis and prepare accordingly. Food, water, bedding, leashes, toys and medications are all important for your trip.

DRIVING
• Get your dog used to the car by letting him sit in it with you without leaving the driveway, and then
going for short rides. Do this kind of test run before you commit to a long vacation.
• If possible, avoid car sickness by letting your dog travel on an empty stomach. However, make
sure he has plenty of water at all times. There are some fantastic spill proof bowls to help you
accomplish this.
• Keep the car well-ventilated. If the dog is in a crate, make sure that fresh air can flow into the
crate.
• Stop frequently for exercise and potty breaks. Be sure to clean up after your dog.
• Car rides are boring for everyone, so instruct your children not to tease or annoy the dog in the car.
• Never, ever leave your dog unattended in a closed vehicle, particularly in the summer. If you must
leave the car, designate a member of the family to stay with the dog.
• You may also consider looking into a doggy seat belt to improve safety on your trip.

LODGING
• Find out in advance which hotels or motels at your destination or on your route allow dogs. Many do not, or have size or breed restrictions.
• Keep your dog as quiet as possible.
• Do not leave the dog unattended. Many dogs will bark or destroy property if left alone in a strange place.
• Ask the management where you should walk your dog, and pick up after him. Do not leave any mess behind.

FLYING*
Size Matters
• In most cases small dogs dogs under a certain weight can fly in the cabin with you as long as their crate fits under the seat.
• Large dogs are required to ride as cargo in airline approved crates.

Veterinary Preparations
• All airlines require health certifications and proof of vaccinations.
• Many airlines will not transport animals when it is extremely hot or cold and may require paperwork signed by your veterinarian to allow specific temperature ranges for your dog’s travel.

Breed Restrictions
• Pug-nosed animals should never travel in the cargo hold of a plane. This is because of the structure of their faces, which may inhibit their breathing during air travel.

Quarantine
• Most states do not have quarantine regulations when flying within the US. There are a couple of
exceptions though such as Hawaii.
• Outside the USA, there are much more extensive quarantine regulations, but they vary widely. It’s
always safer to find out about quarantine regulations in advance.
* Each airline has its own set of rules for canine air travel. You should call for information and make
arrangements well in advance of your trip.

LODGING
• Find out in advance which hotels or motels at your destination or on your route allow dogs. Many do not, or have size or breed restrictions.
• Keep your dog as quiet as possible.
• Do not leave the dog unattended. Many dogs will bark or destroy property if left alone in a strange place.
• Ask the management where you should walk your dog, and pick up after him. Do not leave any mess behind.

JUST IN CASE
• Have a small dog first aid kit with you at all times when you are traveling with your dog.
• Keep veterinary contact information readily available and after hours numbers in case of emergency.
• Be sure you know where you can take your dog while on your vacation so if something does happen, you can quickly get the help you need.
• Consider getting your dog a microchip implant for easy identification as well.

Last but not least:
HAVE FUN!

One thing is for sure; Customers of Off Leash Dog Training are not interested in only teaching their dogs sit/stay.  Our members want to integrate their dogs into every part of their lives.  We call that  “Train as we live.” So here at Off Leash Dog Training we always look for ways and partnerships to help our clients reach the next level on their relationship with their dogs. One of the great partnerships we have established is with US. National Whitewater Center.

USNWC is premiere outdoor adventure experience located near intersection of I-485 & I-85

Once again this year starting in May we will begin our weekly Hikes at USNWC.

USNWC Hikes are classified as Level-2 because of high number of people, bikes,dogs and often live band we will encounter. It’s suited best for dog/handlers who are comfortable around severe distractions.

We will have lots of great spot to Place our dogs on

Although dogs are not allowed in Whitewater rapids for obvious reasons, we might get an opportunity to let our dogs swim in Catawba River.  Watching your dogs play in water with a gorgeous sunset as a backdrop is an experience everyone should have.

As always we will integrate training into the play time with our dogs, but most importantly we will have fun with our dogs.

This group lesson is Free of charge to Ultimate Off Leash Clients.

USNWC has $5 fee for parking. Our friends at USNWC has provided us with parking passes to purchase  for $40. (good thru 31 DEC 11).  If you would like to go ahead an purchase your Parking Pass to USNWC  contact our office here.

We’re looking forward to seeing you at the next USNWC Hike.

Southern winters are still winter!

This winter has been the coldest one  I have seen in Charlotte, NC.  I’ve never had to deal with ice storms and snowy days with my dogs before.  So, I asked Dr Herman  of South Charlotte Animal Hospital to give me some pointers to share with our community on Winter Dog Safety.  Below is re-posted by Author’s permission.

Pet safety is very important all the year round. It is just as important to consider fall & winter weather here in the South!  Here are a few things to keep in mind in order to keep your pet safe and healthy throughout the cooler months.

Water Needs
It is horrible for your outdoor pet to become dehydrated. You can check the coat by lifting it. If it doesn’t fall back immediately but kind of slumps there, your pet could be becoming dehydrated and it’s dangerous.  This can cause kidney and bladder problems and…well… just make your pet sick.
During the summer it’s easy to remember putting out fresh water for your pets…simply because we’re so hot!  But please don’t forget your pets in the cooler seasons.  Put out clean water just as often.  The downside of this cooler weather is that leaves fall, and we neglect the ‘outdoor housekeeping’ since we’re not outside as much.  This makes for things that can ‘dirty up’ your pets water dish and create a ‘swamp’ in the water dish.  Not so great for Fido needing a fresh drink.  Keep it in mind.
Foot Protection
Don’t forget that we can still get frost here in the South and if you have an outdoor dog…consider their tootsies!  It is a mighty cold hard ground to walk on and if we get a real cold snap here…be sure to provide lots of blankets or padding to break the barrier and give them something to rest on.
Blankets
Put plenty of clean blankets in their outside houses to help provide warmth. And clean them often. It is actually best to just rotate them daily. You don’t want them full of dirt and bugs or damp and wet.  Talk about uncomfortable and icky!
If it rains, the blankets will get damp from your outdoor pet being wet. Be sure to change the blankets to keep a dry one on hand for your outdoor pets. You don’t want your pet lying on a frozen blanket. No more than a human could handle lying on a frozen blanket.
Poisons
Rat and mouse killers are used more commonly during colder weather. When using rat and mouse bait, place the products in areas that are inaccessible to your pets. If you suspect that your pet has ingested any rat or mouse bait contact us (or C.V.S. http://www.carolinavet.com/) immediately.

Flea & Tick
Also, please treat your pet for fleas and heartworm.  If your pet spends time outside it is very possible for your furry friend to get fleas and/or heartworm.  Both of which are nasty and one of which can be fatal.  Even in the winter months here in the South, it is still just as easy to get fleas or heartworm and quite honestly it’s one of those times that an ounce of prevention is worth a…life of a pet.

South Charlotte Animal Hospital is located 10833 Pineville Road Pineville, NC 28134
(704) 552-2005

Dear County Commissioner,

I’m writing in response to recent information that has come to me about the harassment by county Parks & Rec Dept. staff of Turk Abay, owner of “Off Leash Dog Training”.  I understand it is being suggested that Turk is using county property to conduct business.  As a  client of “Off Leash Dog Training”, I’m stunned that our tax dollars are being wasted by persecuting someone who does SO much to make our community a safer place.  Turk Akbay – Off Leash Dog Training conducts  paid classes  at his facility in the University area or at his clients’ homes.

The social “meet-up” sessions he organizes at locations all over Charlotte are “not paid” social training gatherings like the running groups, bootcamp classes, even the water color painters  that are opportunities for like-minded dog owners and their dogs to socialize in safe manner.   As you may already know  Off Leash Dog Parks are Public “Play at your own risk.” places. Last year what Parks & Rec “claimed to be”  the only fatality in dog park was one of our fellow students  inside the dog park.  After city has stop enforcing Pooch pass program due to budget cuts we don’t even know if the dogs in dog parks are current on their rabies shots.. If they had them at all in the first place.
Turk does such a phenomenal job in helping dog owners teach their dogs how to behave in public and personal spaces.  You’ll never see his dog owners letting their dogs defecate without scooping,  barking and causing a nuisance, and certainly never behaving aggressively toward strangers.  This cannot be said about MANY other folks we’ve interacted with on county property.

Canine responsibility is something he and his trainees take VERY seriously and should be held as an excellent example of park stewardship and responsible pet ownership.  His public gatherings only happen an few hours a week and cannot possibly be causing anyone distress.

I appeal to your common sense and humbly request that Parks & Rec staff to use their time in more pressing issues rather than single out a dog trainer because of they don’t agree with the name of his company.

Thank you so very much for your time,

A little known fact about me.   I grew up afraid of dogs.

First time I met a dog was while we were visiting one of my mom’s friends.  Looking for bathroom I opened a door and  came face to face with a boxer.  I quickly discovered 6 year olds can not out run boxers.

After being what must be like being a gazelle in the mouth of a lion I became one of those kids who freeze up, unable to move whenever I saw a dog.  Living in a city where  most dogs are strays, untrained, and often mean I have experienced first hand “dogs know when you are afraid” in the form of getting chased and bullied by dogs…. Last time I was “chased” by dogs was in Bali, in 1999.  Pack of dogs that were guarding the street to where my hotel was forced me to sleep at the beach that night.  Not a bad deal to watch the sunrise in Balinese beach,  but it’s not fun  being chased by dogs.

So, when I see people who are afraid of dogs, I understand that feeling of terror  from a very personal perspective.  Feeling like your heart is about to thump right out of your chest or  the mental images flashing in your mind’s eye of a dog in any second going to tear your flesh and let you bleed out  is very visceral fear and just as any fear can be overcomed with  a little systematic desensitization.

For the fear to die, first and foremost the person who is afraid of dogs must have “I had  enough of this fear attitude.” and it must come from that person.  You the outsider can not superimpose this on them. In the case of kids you can point out what they are missing by being afraid so they can make the correlation themselves. Not you.

When that mindset is reached,  now we can talk about what is the “real fear”  is it the bite,  getting rabies shots, getting knocked down and breaking a hip,  is it a memory of past attack  or something entirely different?  When this discussion is taking place leave “your” judgement out of it.  Neither agree nor disagree. Just listen. I suggest asking questions to let the fearful person  dig deeper.

You are afraid that dog will bite you.   What it is that scare you about the bite ?  It’ll hurt.

I wonder how much it Hurts?   Oh. it hurt like hell when that dog bit you.  What did that hurt like ?  (more than hell right? what was it?)    What you are doing is taking the air out of the fear.

Next is find a dog that does not have any of these qualities.  Different size, different breed, different energy level etc.  and build some confidence on the fearful person about being around dog(s) and mark that behavior like we do with dogs.  Petting a dog has natural calming effect on people.  Start by petting the dog on the side away from “the teeth”  Nice long strokes.  You don’t have to cheer like Panthers finally scored a touchdown, but recognize how well they’re doing (lack of fear is our natural state)  Keep the sessions short, and break often,  and repeat as often as possible on different occasions.  This will work.

If you are in Charlotte, NC we can help you with some of our trained dogs.