Making a splash at Strathmore Stampede

By Laureen James Times Contributor

The Extreme Dogs joined the 2026 Strathmore Stampede with a group of talented canines. 

According to Emilie Menard, the main dog handler, the dogs are all rescues and they are pets first.

“We are staying at the Travelodge here in Strathmore and the dogs just (settled) right in,” said Menard.

There were two other handlers – Carla Antal and Strathmore’s own Shonna Sales, who hosted the event. They all showed off their dogs’ special talents: weaving poles, dashing through tunnels and diving long distances to catch a toy in a 37-foot pool. 

Menard said they have one dog in the show that jumps so far they had to buy a 48-foot pool to accommodate him. 

“These dogs have so much drive that sometimes they don’t make good pets for the average dog owner, but we need that kind of passion for this sport,” she said.

These are special dogs that just beam personality and seemed to thrive on the trainers’ and audiences’ approval. The organization promotes responsible breeding, and all trainers use their personal pets in the show.

According to Menard, all of their dogs sleep on the bed – Menard has 12 dogs, so she said the bed is pretty crowded, but she sleeps well knowing her dogs are with her.

Running with the Rams was another great event that allowed kids to test their athleticism and skill with a group of sheep.

The kids competed in three groups of four to see how many sheep they could leave a colorful handprint on. The kids were competing for fun and a buckle.

The Heritage Towne experiences at this year’s Strathmore Stampede will leave lasting memories of family fun.