Other Activities
Besides training and competing with dogs, ODMAD members often participate in charity events, dog sport demonstrations, and other ways to have fun with their dogs.
Trick Contests are fun, and the best tricks win prizes. Here's Dan and Sue showing off their new spin.
Graduation Parties
During the last week of classes in every session, ODMAD holds a graduation party for all the dogs. This is not only a time to celebrate all the progress dogs have made over the term, but it's the venue in which all the dogs are able to show off what they've learned during their class sessions in trick contests and a rally style obedience course. Dogs can have their pictures taken in a cap and gown to remember their achievements.
Run with the Big Dogs
Run with the Big Dogs is an annual charity event taking place in October. Dogs and their owners enter one of two races - a 2K walk or a 5K run - with racers in both races winning prizes. All proceeds go to the Pocatello Animal Shelter.
Eight instructors, assistants, and students of ODMAD ran in the 2006 race. All of them placed or won their age category.
Griffin the cattledog dressed up as her nemesis, the cow, for the 2001 Halloween Party.
Halloween Parties
The ODMAD Halloween Party is open to everyone currently involved in ODMAD functions. Costume contests (dress yourself and your dog), trick contests, and a "spook rally" obstacle course are staples of the Halloween get-together.
A picture of A.J., one of the 4-H students, and her Sheltie, Toddie, showing off their Fitting and Showing awards.
4-H dog classes
Here, Jane Guidinger and others teach children involved in 4-H the basics involved in owning and caring for dogs, as well as how to handle dogs in obedience and fitting & showing (similar to AKC junior showmanship) events.
Bannock County Fair Agility Demonstration
Every year, ODMAD and the Delta Pet Partners go to the Bannock County Fair to demonstrate what Delta pets do and to show off their agility skills.
An annual favorite at the North Bannock County Fair is the agility demonstration and contest. Here are a group of participants from 2002.
Weekend agility practices
Often, we'll take a Saturday afternoon and go to one of the local public parks and practice agility to get the dogs acquainted with running in different places. A small crowd usually gathers to watch for a while. If you see us, stop by and say hi!
Kate & Griffin and Pam & Cody on the relay course at a practice at Alameda Park
Team Obedience
ODMAD has supported the USRVDTC trials in Idaho Falls every year with an entry in team obedience. The team or teams have been a mixture of several different breeds and competitive levels. Our goal has always been to have fun and entertain the spectators, fellow competitors and judges.
We fielded two teams in 2008: Out on Parole - they won first, and The Beach Babes.
Cash and Jane enjoy meeting new people when they visit schools and assisted-living facilities.
Delta Visits
Jane and several of her dogs are Delta-certified Pet Partners, and every year around Halloween and Christmas, they like to go to schools and other places to provide people without pets a chance to pet a dog. Dogs are social animals, and most take full advantage of the opportunity to meet new people.