By: Brecken, Spokesdog for Fitdog Sports Club

Missy. Missy! Missy! Misseeee!!!! MISSEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! I watch as a King Charles Spaniel puppy races from beach towel to beach towel. I assume this is Missy.

Not before long, two boys and an adult (Missy’s family) finds Missy looking very happy and relaxed on someone else’s towel with no intention of moving. “There are you are. Missy, come on!” They insist. Missy doesn’t flinch. She looks around and decides she likes this spot.

Her family tries to persuade her to come with them by wildly waving their hands in a “come with us” motion, kneeling down and patting their knee, and increasing the pitch of their voices, but Missy pays no attention. Only after Missy decides that she is bored with her current location does she finally stand up.

The family apologizes to the person whose towel Missy was sitting on, and just as they start to walk away, Missy dashes across a row of towels and knocks over a beach chair. “MISSEEEEEE!!!!!”

Off-leash is a wonderful thing. It is probably the best thing that I can think of. And Huntington Beach is an amazing place to go for some off-leash activities. It is the only time that I can run as fast as I can, jump into the air as high as I can and dig as deep as I can. The other dogs on the beach have always been very friendly and stay close to their owners. So I get to say hello, but I mostly hang out with my owners playing fetch (I will admit here that I am tennis ball obsessed).

But then there is Missy, the lovable, adorable King Charles Spaniel puppy with floppy ears, huge paws and a big smile with no idea where she is and what she is suppose to be doing.

Earlier when I first saw Missy, she was on-leash. And I’ll admit, I left badly for her because what dog wants to be on-leash at an off-leash dog beach? I suppose her family felt the same way, and that’s why they took her off-leash. However, after watching her run rampant for the better part of the day, I changed my mind. Here’s why.

What if Missy were to dash up the ramp and onto the street and get hit by a car? Or knock over and injury a child? Or run up to an unfriendly dog and get bitten? It’s too dangerous to risk.

I too have some recall issues. Once I get focused on something (like pigeons and skateboards), it is difficult for my owners to get my attention. It is due in part because of my breed, but it is also because I need a little more training. However, if there is a tennis ball and some treats, I’m there, so they usually just carry those around for me.

My owners are starting to play some fun recall games with me at home to fine tune my skills. I don’t mind because it means lots and lots of treats and running around. Plus without recall, I would miss out on great spots like Huntington’s Dog Beach.

Owner’s Practical Guide

Huntington Dog Beach is one of the best places to bring dogs to play off-leash. In general, the dogs are well behaved, respectful and good tempered. The beach environment makes it important to use common sense and be considerate, like picking up any dog waste immediately as it would be very easy for someone to step in it (barefoot)! There are also no water bowls available on the beach, and there is no shade for dogs, so it is mandatory to bring your own water and water bowl and even an umbrella if it’s really hot.

Like most dog beaches, Huntington Dog Beach is not fenced in, so recall is very important. Ideally, dogs should be able to immediately stop what they’re doing and return to their owner when called. For their safety, we recommend that dogs remain on-leash if they do not respond well to recall.

By: Brecken, Spokesdog for Fitdog Sports Club
This is Brecken’s first post!

Runyon Canyon is a place I frequent about once a month where I can run off leash, mingle with some friends and get decent workout.

The wide dirt paths and moderate inclines make it ideal for a casual hike or a rigorous run. And you will see a lot of people doing both with and without dogs.

If you have never been, it’s time to go.

Go to LA Mountains.com for address and details >>

But even after going so many times, I have always been curious about one thing. The large sign in front of the park – Warning: Rattlesnakes. Plus more than couple times random people have stopped and warned me about how rattlesnakes are just hanging out on the edge of the path waiting to attack dogs.

Okay, so here’s the deal. Like most dogs, I love to sniff around the parameter of any space and especially brush. After my many stints in Runyon, I have not seen one snake. And trust me, I’m looking out for them because at 13 pounds, one bite from a rattlesnake would kill me.

But I realize that I’m just one dog and my experience is limited. So I ran a quick web search on this subject because I really want to know, is it safe?

The results are in. There were a couple reports of sightings on the trail. But not much news in the way of bites. I suppose this is because foot traffic on Runyon is heavy and probably scares them off. The idea is to walk heavy (like on most trails in the area) and keep away from the edge. For me, that means obeying recall or getting picked up or bribed with treats (I prefer the latter). There is a vaccination available, but according to my vet, it’s not yet proven and may not help a little guy like me.

Go to Rattlesnake Vaccinations.com for more info >>

There is also rattlesnake training, which my owners think might be a good idea. More on that later.

Owner’s Practical Guide

The off-leash provision and wide paths makes Runyon a perfect place to bring your dog for some exercise and socialization. There is limited water bowls on trail and generally those available are dirty. Since it is located inland, the trail can become exceptionally hot during the summer, so it is mandatory to have your own water supply to prevent your dog from overheating. Like any off-leash dog parks, dogs that are not fully trained or socialized should stay on leash. The dogs on the trail tend to be very friendly and come on strong, which may intimate or scare a shy dog. This is my favorite place to go on the weekends, and in addition to offering a multitude of benefits for your dog, it also gives you a bit of exercise as well!