Vegas and his friend Chase

Its a little tricky to find due to the entrance being hidden in windy,  narrow  residential streets.

The best way to get there from Sunset Blvd is turn north up Rexford, than right on to Beverly drive, left at the light (intersection of Coldwater Canyon and Beverly Drive) to stay on Beverly drive.   Stay on the road until  you see a small street sign that says Franklin Canyon Drive, this is your only clue to finding the park.  It is the third right off Beverly Drive. It all looks residential, because it is, stay on Franklin Canyon road and  continue to drive through a  main gate way leading into undeveloped land you  are now entering the park.

Here is a link to a trail map for inside the park.

When you are inside the park, be very careful about coming to a full and complete stop at the  stop signs. They have cameras that are triggered by a vehicle not stopping, and violators will receive a very expensive ticket$175  in the mail, two weeks after your visit.

The park has several highlights including a turtle pond and a duck pond. Several picnic areas, ample parking and a amphitheater.  The park has been a popular location for filming “remote” scenes and you can pick up a list of some of the parks on camera appearances at the parks office which include Law and Order

The other thing to be aware of is the on-leash rules are strictly enforced. You may get a false sense of being all alone and as you turn a corner you and your pooch will be face to face with a ranger, who is on foot and itching to write a ticket.

Speaking of itching stay on the marked trails there are several of them and they are fun to explore but the park does have poison oak. You don’t want your dog to get it on its fur than transfer it to you. Other things to watch out for are wasps and snakes.

There are a couple of rest room facilities located inside the park. The main one is up by the amphitheater and there is ample parking. The second is located at the other end of the park. At a fork in the road, which is the intersection of Franklin Canyon Drive and Lake Drive you will see a small stone building it looks like a charming cottage which is now abandoned. If you head straight you will end up at the amphitheater and Sooky Goldman Nature Center and if you turn right you head to the bottom of the park and Franklin Canyon Ranch site.

I often park right across from the stone building, there is parking for approximately three vehicles, and walk the road down to the bottom of the park. Its a lovely shaded stroll, with a little stream running alongside, which feeds into a smaller pond. At one time there was plenty of Koi in the pond but it looks like they have all disappeared.

Be sure to check the parks calendar of events of they have many fun free activities. I took a guided tour of the park and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the parks history and the flora and fauna.

There is controversy with a real estate developer  building on land that people assumed was part of the park, but was actually private property that backs on to the park. People are very adamant to keep hiking on the land and despite the efforts of the developer to keep people back he now just has a sign that says you are entering private property. If you would like to learn more there is a group called Save Franklin Canyon.

View of the City of Los Angeles from Franklin Canyon

To register your dog fill in a Dog License Application The cost is $20 you will need to provide a current rabies certificate and proof of neutering/spaying. You can take the form to one of  six centers and they will issue you the license on the spot and give you a tag which you put on your dogs collar.

East Valley Center 14409 Vanowen St, Van Nuys, CA 91405

Harbor Center 957 N. Gaffey St. San Pedro, CA 90731

North Central Center 3201 Lacy St, Los Angeles, CA 90031

South Los Angeles Center 3612 11th Ave., Los Angeles CA 90018

West Los Angeles Center 11361 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

West Valley Center 20655 Plummer St, Chatsworth CA 91311

Mailing Address:  City of Los Angeles,  Department of Animal Services      P.O. Box 54856        Los Angeles CA 90054-0856

If you mail in the form it may take as long as three months to acquire your dogs tag and proof of registration.  So please retain a copy of the application form. If I am walking your dog in  Runyon Canyon I may be asked to provide it as proof of registration.  Animal control may use the details provided too  call in to the central office to check  that the application is being processed.

I have included below some of the dog treat recipes from the school for you to try making at home for your own precious pup.

Bone appetit!

Peanut Butter Treats

1 egg, 1/3  cup peanut butter, 1/2 mashed banana, 1 tbsp honey

1 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup wheat germ

1 egg white, lightly beaten, for brushing

1) Stir together the egg, peanut butter, banana and honey n a medium bowl; blend thoroughly

2) Stir in the flour and wheat germ; mix well. Flatten dough between parchment paper and roll to 1/4 inch thick; chill to firm dough for 10 mins.

3) Cut into desired shapes with a cookie cutter, place on prepared baking sheet, and brush tps with egg white.

4) Bake biscuits in oven at 300 until golden brown, about 30 mins depending on size.

Pup Pops

4 cups fruit juice, 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 banana mashed

1) Blend ingredients together in a food processor or blender

2) Pour into molds and freeze

3) Enjoy on a hot day with your dog

Dog Biscuits

2 cups flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup cornmeal, 1 cup bulgar, 1/2 cup non fat dry milk, 1 T salt, 1 tsp active dry yeast, 11/2 cups chicken,beef or vegetable stock

1) In the bowl of a mixer with paddle, stir flors, cornmeal, bulgur, dry milk and salt.

2) In a separate bowl combine yeast and stock

3) Pour stock mixture into the mising bowl on a low speed.

4) Roll out dough on floured surface until 1″ thick and cut into shapes.

5) Bake 300 for 45mins, for crispier treats turn off oven and keep treats inside for 8 to 12 hours. Store in airtight container for up to two months.

If you have a dog that is peeing inside it is very frustrating to deal with.

The first step to correcting the behavior is to understand why the dog is doing it in the first place.

First have a veterinary ensure that the animal doesn’t have a urinary tract or bladder infection and that you are confident that you are trying to resolve a behavioral issue.

If the male is not neutered or was neutered later in life they are probably marking their territory. While this behavior is normal outside of the home on mail boxes and lamps. It is wholly inappropriate inside the home and must be curtailed immediately. With bitches I have noticed that they will more likely pee from excitement/submission when approached by a male and I have also had three different bitches who peed on my bed because of jealously when I gave affection to another dog and anger arising from abandonment when I left alone.

In the short term - I would recommend making a diaper for your dog also known as a belly band. For the male it is a wide strip of fabric that wraps around the dogs belly covering the penis. You can use velcro to close the material or  safety pins. I inserted a maxipad on the wrong side of the fabric which absorbs the urine. The belly band is very easy to make and reasonably priced to purchase. You can also purchase bitches britches for the female dogs which will also allow the insertion of a sanitary pad for moisture absorption. Its important to check periodically and change the pad as you don’t want the urine to be in contact with the skin for too long or it will cause an irritation.

In the long term you need too establish pack hierarchy and be the top dog - the underdogs in the pack don’t need to mark the territory. To be a pack leader in the eyes of the dog you need to be a calm and assertive and exert your dominance.

One method to help reinforce this is to kick the dogs off the bed. The pack leader always sleeps higher up than the rest of the pack.   Its important to not allow them up at all until they fully understand that the bed is not their area.

Is the dog getting enough regularly scheduled bathroom breaks. A good rule of thumb is every time you go to the bathroom - consider giving your pet a bathroom break too.  You may want to consider going back to crate training - for a few weeks - so the dog relearns appropriate bathroom etiquette.

If the dog is running off and peeing when you are not watching tether the dog via their leash to you. So you know exactly where they are at all times…..right beside you at your side.

Remove the scent - you need to thoroughly clean and ensure you have completely removed the odor of the urine or the dog will keep urinating and marking the same spot or another dog will think its the bathroom spot and pee there as well.

Kate Moss at Glastonbury, 2005. Photo By MJ Kim/Getty Images

It’s Fall and there is a chill in the air, with the changing of the seasons I’m thinking about winter footwear. I want to be prepared when the winter rains hit us in Los Angeles. Last year the rain came in January and lasted for approximately three weeks. According to Wikipedia Los Angeles only has 35 days of measurable precipitation a year. Admittedly 12 inches of rain is not a lot but its still totally unavoidable if you are a dog owner. Rain or shine dogs still need to burn off excess energy and go for a walk which means we need to be prepared to be outside whatever the weather.

Having grown up on a farm I know how sensible a good pair of rubber boots are. They are a practical basic – essential at keeping the feet warm and dry. Also equally important is ensuring proper support around the arch and heel, when boots are ill fitting particularly soft rubber boots they are a hazard unto themselves, lack of proper support quickly tires the feet making turning a pleasurable walk into a trudging march.

I have done my due diligence and researched what rain boots are on the market and find myself coveting the Hunter Original rain boots made of vulcanized natural rubber construction, built on an orthopedic last. They cost around $115 and are available at the many stores including Zappos & Saks Fifth Avenue.

I think the original in the knee high length is the most flattering style as it elongates the leg. Not only are these boots the choice of Scottish farmers, English Royalty and the Hollywood in-crowd but they are also hugely popular with festival goers including fashion supermodel Kate Moss who on numerous occasions has been photographed in her Hunter boots looking stylish knee deep in mud.

The boots have even had a version created by the famous shoe designers Jimmy Choo who designed a faux crocodile pair. They come in black/gold/silver/green/red/chocolate/yellow/orange/ and various other shades.

]]> http://ballandb.nexcess.net/blog/2009/10/best-boots-for-walking-the-dog-on-a-wet-rainy-day/feed/ http://ballandb.nexcess.net/blog/2009/09/ten-tips-when-taking-your-dog-to-the-beach/ http://ballandb.nexcess.net/blog/2009/09/ten-tips-when-taking-your-dog-to-the-beach/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:51:08 +0000 admin http://ballandb.nexcess.net/blog/?p=141

Going to a dog beach is so much fun for you and your dog.

Heading to a dog friendly beach in Southern California means the beach will be absolutely packed full of dogs, most of them extremely excited to be at essentially a dog park on the shoreline. Here are my TEN tips to make the most of your day.

1) Bring plenty of water for both you and your dog - and a bowl for your dog to be able to drink out of. Your dog may still try too chomp on surf but ensure they don’t take in too much salt water, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

2) Bring a blanket to sit on thats big enough for both you and your dog. The sand can get very hot on the paws.

3) Expect to get visited by other peoples dogs - sometimes dogs come up and mark their territory on your property. So don’t take anything down to the beach that you really care about.

4) Bring pick up bags - to clean up after your dog.  Not only is it the law, its also a health hazard to fellow canine visitors/people and the environment. Dog feces are as dirty as human and should always be picked up.

5) Have fido wear a nylon leash and lead. The water will ruin your good leather gear. If the nylon lead and collar get wet in the ocean be sure to rinse it out with tap water when you get home - and let it air dry in case your dogs skin is sensitive to the salt water.

6) Some beaches have strict on leash policies regulating the length of the lead, usually six feet is permissible. Leave the retractable leash at home. You really have no control of your dog at the end of a retractable leash. I have witnessed people recieve nasty cuts and rope burn on the back of their legs by becoming entangled in a retractable leash. The retractable leashes are truly a hazard in general and have no place on a crowded beach.

7) If your dog is friendly with other dogs  and has excellent recall, which means they come when called, and local laws allow, than let your dog be off leash and enjoy the beach. Keep your eyes on your dog at all times. You need to be ready to step in at a moments notice to prevent an altercation with another dog. It pretty much means if your dog is off leash you are following it around.  Even if your dog is super friendly you will still need to maintain a watchful eye as  they may follow another pack of dogs as they move down the beach and the last thing you want is for your pooch to become lost.

8 ) If your dog likes to play fetch - bring a float-able toy that makes playing in the surf more enjoyable.

9) Bring plenty of coins for the parking meters at least five dollars in silver coins. You can also usually find parking in nearby residential streets, but read the parking signs posted carefully.

10) Rinse your dog down when you get home -  again if your dog’s skin is sensitive to the salt water a quick rinse will help prevent skin irritation. You should than dry your dog off with a towel, or let him dry in the sun if its a warm day or use a hairdryer set on warm, not hot to dry them off thoroughly.

Here is a short clip of me with doggy friends at Huntington Dog Beach, SoCal.

If  you have any other tips please leave them as a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Guest Post Written By Royce Chang

Today is the one year anniversary of my dog Chase Chang aka Cha Chang, finding me by charging out of the bushes in the Kenneth Hahn Park. In the one year we have been together, he has grown from 13 lbs to 60 lbs, chewed up a few pairs of flip-flops, traumatized his cat brothers, ripped thru a couple of plush hedgehogs and given me the most wonderful and unconditional love. To celebrate his amazing presence in my life, I decided too bak some special treats for him and his doggy pals. These treats are organic, super easy to make and free of preservative, wheat, corn and soy. I wanted to share the receipe with you so you can bake them for your furry loved ones.

I used a 9 x 12 square baking dish, and was able to cut 48 treat squares

4 x 6 oz cans of tuna in water with no salt added (reserve the water)
3 eggs
1 packed cup of shredded cheddar cheese (you can use Parmesan too but its quite high in salt)
2 1/2 cups of rice flour (you can use other types flour - I choose rice flour as my dog is allergic to wheat and soy)
1/4 cups of oil (olive, grape seed…etc)
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1/4 cup of chopped almonds or sunflower seeds

Empty the cans of tuna (including the water), eggs & garlic into a blender - turn on the blender. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the mixture is a smooth consistency. In a mixing bowl, add the flour, cheese, sunflower seeds, and lastly, the tuna/egg/garlic/oil mixture. Mix everything together until all the chunks are gone and the mixture is a cake batter-like consistency.

Grease (with canola or olive oil spray) or line (with parchment paper) the baking dish. Pour in the batter and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes. The finished texture should be a bit putty-like. Allow the cake to cool and cut them with a pizza cutter.

Your dogs will love these! Keep left overs refrigerated as they don’t contain preservatives.

The concert series is well attended with groups clustered on blankets all over the manicured lawn, extended families, friends and dogs have all come together to mingle, drink, eat and having a good time. The music seemed incidental to the hubbub but as soon as it stopped at 8pm - the place emptied.

If you can catch it, definetly stop by - its a great way to start your Friday night off. The program runs from April through November.  Its a pretty cool event - and dogs are welcome. Vegas my Rhodesian Ridgeback - got a lot of attention - he was very calm receiving peoples pets and cuddles - but after an hour the crowd, the music, the kids, the interesting food smells and all the other dogs passing had him pretty fired up. Wear sensible shoes as you have to walk accross the lawn, bring a blanket to sit on and what ever you plan on eating and drinking - also make sure you have a good handle on your dog.

Rustic Canyon officially part of Topanga State Park is centrally located in the Pacific Palisades.

The rugged landscape makes a stark contrast to the immaculate residential streets below the park. The public access trail is actually a sealed road way, its narrow and very busy. Families dropping off children at the camp were back and forth in their vehicles and there were literally dozens of cyclists. One of  the cyclist advised us that a ranger patrols the road in a utility vehicle giving out tickets on the spot to owners who are caught with their dogs offleash.

The park one of  Los Angeles best kept secrets also hold some secrets of its own. As you travel the road you will notice some details  seem out of place: poured concrete stairs that seemingly drop off sheer cliff faces and an ornate wrought iron gated entrance. Answers were found in a  Los Angeles Times article tha provided clues that these artifacts are remants of a Nazi Sympathizer camp. In the late 1930’s an individual bankrolled the community, which had the infrastructure of a small town, in its day it cost $4 million dollars the equivalent of $600 million in todays money.

Directions: Take Sunset Bloulevard to Capri Drive, head north on Capri. Park on Amalfi and walk North up Casale. Follow the signs to the Josepho Boy Scouts Camp.

4th of July weekend celebrations always involve plenty of food and music, but the party Laura Hayden held also remembered animals less fortunate by raising awareness and money for the Lange Foundation. Ball and Bone donated two special collars for the silent auction. I love the idea of having an auction such a fun and creative way to raise money for charity.

The affair was held at a spectacular mansion in Beverly Hills - In the photo Vegas and his friend Chase are chillin’ pool side.  The life lesson learned is its tricky to wrangle two large dogs in high heels while holding a cocktail.