A NOTE ABOUT DOG PARK CLOSURES:

For those of you who are new to our website/facility, you will want to know that the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District has a "hotline" phone number that you can call during the rainy season to check on whether or not the dog park is open.  When there has been significant rain, they close the dog park to keep the dogs from tearing up the turf.   If you have any doubt about when that applies, you should call the following number (it's a recorded message, so you can access the information 24/7):

        916-966-1011 (extension 23) OR:  Follow this link to the Park District's Field Closure Update page.

The FORDOG volunteer group is NOT informed of changes in status due to weather, so we can't tell you when these closings will occur or how long they will last.  Given the time of the year, we urge you to check to make sure, especially if you live some distance from the dog park.

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FEBRUARY 9, 2010:  (MISSING YOUR DOG PARK BUDDIES?)

There seem to be two aspects to a dog park: the dog part, and the people part.  With the dog park closed for the last several weeks (and likely to be closed for at least a couple more), both dogs and people might enjoy a little get-together.  So we've been asked by one of our dog park docents, April, to share this invitation with all of you:

Please join an "ad hoc walking group" on Tuesday afternoons to walk around Phoenix Park.  Meet near the dog park at 4:45 for a "walkabout" around Phoenix Park itself: if you go all the way around, it's almost a mile, with sidewalk or roadway all the way (unless you choose to walk the soccer fields).

Second walk will be this Tuesday, February 9th -- it may be a little drizzly, but not too bad.  Walk will continue at least until the dog park re-opens.

	February 2nd With only a 2-day notice of the event, 10 Canines participated on the first walk. And it didn't rain! See you on the 9th!

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TRAINING YOUR DOG:

It takes time, it takes patience, it takes consistency … and it is completely worth the effort!

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers declared January as National Train Your Dog Month, and asked their members to submit stories of how they had used various techniques to solve “unsolvable” canine behavior problems.  This month, and in coming months, FORDOG will share with you the winning entries, because we believe that the life of any dog can be enhanced by training.  By “training” we don’t mean tricks – although most dogs love to learn, and the process of teaching those tricks can be a lot of fun for both the dog and his/her guardian.  We don’t mean training to do anything fancy or complicated.  “Training” begins with teaching your dog the rules that he or she needs to follow in order to live safely with your family, and to live with the kind of stability and security that a dog gains by knowing what is expected.

The first story is about Bob, a “goldendoodle” who spent the first three years of his life mostly in a crate because his owners had no idea how to handle a large, energetic dog.  When Bob was adopted by a new family, he did not know how to walk on a leash; did not know how to approach and greet people or other dogs; had no self-control when he saw cats, dogs, deer or squirrels; [does any of this sound familiar to you????]; had no interest in people at all: did not look at his new owners, did not solicit play, did not even wag his tail.  

But the new owners were determined not to give up on this dog.  They contacted a trainer, who helped them set goals and devise “baby steps” to teach Bob the things he needed to know.  It took some time, and it took persistence, and it took a little creativity, but … well, apparently small miracles do still happen.  Read the full story for yourself at http://www.trainyourdogmonth.com/winners/adopted/default.aspx