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Dog owners invted to learn new tricks at Rent One Park

By Tara Fasol, The Southern

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:32 PM CDT

MARION - Come. Sit. Stay. That's the invitation to anyone interested in learning more about responsible dog ownership as Extreme K-9 in Carbondale prepares to take the field at Rent One Park, home of the Southern Illinois Miners, today to teach locals about the right way to care for their four-legged friend.

Behesha Doan, training director at the Carbondale-based academy for dogs, said Responsible Dog Ownership Day is an all-afternoon event geared toward delving into the most commonly overlooked details about dog ownership.

"People will come and sign a pledge promising to be a responsible dog owner," she said. "In that pledge, we have a number of points that we want to make."

Doan said they will teach the owners the proper way to choose the dog that will best fit their lifestyle, how to safely travel with dogs, how much exercise their specific breed needs, and breed-specific grooming tips.

"We tell them how to be a respectful neighbor with the kind of dog they have," she said. "A lot of people don't know what their dog actually needs. They think they have a dog house and a fence but that's not it."

The stadium has been home to Bark in the Park events in the past but Doan said Responsible Dog Ownership Day isn't the same.

"It is quite different," she said. "You aren't just bringing your dog to the game. You get to bring them out and have fun, but we have a lot of other stuff going on."

The clinic will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today.

Box office ticket sales representative Karen Ticer said Tuesday that the event will be held in a tent outside the stadium and owners will not be allowed to bring their dogs into the park during the actual game.

"We will be down in the field and demonstrate some search demonstrations and agility demonstrations (between innings of the game)," Doan said. "We have some really flashy obedience tricks that people really get a kick out of. You will see quite a lot of things we do and who our instructors are."

Doan said the instructors won't be training dogs but will be on hand to give proud parents some helpful tips on how to keep their furry friends in line.

"We run a school here for trainers," Doan said. "We actually have that school in session right now. We have students from all around the country who come to learn how to be a trainer. Some are already professional trainers."

Doan said the day at the park is a good chance for people to get a sneak peek at what the school has to offer.

tara.fasol@thesouthern.com/351-5824