For a small fee, each member can rent the training hall for their own personal practice training sessions.
Only those whose membership has been approved are permitted to use the hall
Training Matches
Members' Training Practice Matches are held about once a month for 2 hours on a weekend morning.
The matches are held outdoors on the Cal State East Bay (formerly Cal State Hayward) campus, at the Music Peristyle lawn. Parking is in lot L.
The cost per match is $10 per handler. (A handler can work more than one of their own dogs at the same match, for $10 total.) Please pay by cash or check made out to "ODTC". An appointed club member will collect payments on site.
Unlike regular AKC events, for our Members' Training Practice Matches there is no limit on the number of participants and no paperwork to fill out in advance. So you don't need to plan ahead. Simply show up if you are interested in working your dogs that day, rain or shine.
Several obedience rings are set up on the lawn using tape dividers. There is usually at least one ring each for Novice, Open, and Utility, Members practicing Open and Utility should bring their own jumps. Please arrive a bit early to help unload and set up the rings.
Members who are training for the same level take turns being the judge and giving each other tips. Some members may want to do a complete run-through, while others may just want to practice on a couple of specific things. It is best to have a training plan in mind for you and your dog in advance, and then let your co-members know what you want to work on and what sort of feedback you'd like from them when you enter the ring.
Members need to be able to leave their dogs in a safe place when they are not working their own dogs and are helping other members train theirs. Members typically set up crates, etc. to the side of the rings.
Dogs learn best when they've trained in a variety of environments, so if you're currently working your dog mostly in your own yard or in our indoor Training Hall, we'd like to encourage you to come out and join us at a Members' Match. These matches provide a wonderful outdoor training environment. The grassy lawn and people walking by on campus provide a good level of distraction, while still allowing us to work our dogs in a relatively controlled environment.
A Chance to Give Back
Have you been to an AKC workshop, match, trial, or test? Most of the time if you're there competing, you're focused on your dog and what you need to do as a team. But take a moment to reflect on everything that's happening around you and that needs to be done to make one of those events a reality. There are an awful lot of people who have helped - everything from advertising for the event, arranging the location, inviting judges, recruiting stewards, administering entry forms and fees, setting up and taking down rings and tables, providing refreshments, purchasing ribbons and prizes, reporting results to AKC, etc., etc. These events do not just happen on their own. It takes a committed group of club members to pull them off successfully.
Connection
Regular meetings for input on the direction of the club
Educational presentations and demonstrations (search & rescue, police dog )
Winter holiday party
Members are eligible to participate in ODTC's online discussion forum. This venue gives members an opportunity to ask questions, get training tips, and find out the latest about what's going on with the club
Perhaps the biggest benefit of becoming an ODTC member is the friendships that are formed. ODTC provides many opportunities to interact with other dogs and handlers like you who are dedicated to dog training. Many members get to know each other at club events, and then spend time socializing together outside of regular club activities.
Recognition
Let's face it - dog training isn't always easy. There are peaks and valleys along the way. And sometimes, when you thought you and your dog could never reach the next level, you both surprise each other. Those moments are enough to bring tears to your eyes! You and your dog's accomplishments deserve to be recognized. ODTC supports its members by recognizing the hard work of both you and your dogs. In addition to the "Brags" column in the Woofs and Waggers Newsletter, ODTC presents members with an inscribed plaque recognizing new titles you and your dog won that year. These awards are traditionally handed out at the June Membership meeting so we can acknowledge as a group the many achievements of our members.