Rally Obedience is the new dog sport that's taking the nation by storm. Also called Rally-O, it combines competition dog obedience with agility -- with the emphasis on having fun. That's why fun-loving Golden Retrievers love this sport!
Rally-O is basically an informal, relaxed version of competition dog obedience. All dog breeds are welcome -- both purebred and mixed breed dogs.
It doesn't take athletic skill to participate and is even open to physically challenged handlers and dogs.
Rally is a natural bridge from the Canine Good Citizen certificate to dog obedience (if you choose to go that route).
It's also a great way to have fun with your dog!
Attitude is more important in Rally than precision. The emphasis is on having a good time and developing teamwork between you and your dog.
Here's how it works.You and your dog will enter the ring and follow a course of numbered signs.
Each sign indicates a different obedience skill for your dog to perform.
You move at your own pace, completing each skill before moving on to the next one.
Though your dog has to be under your control, a perfect "heel position" is not required.
Rally is a fluid, continuous performance.
Once started, you move from one exercise to the next without being directed by the judge. He just tags along to watch for mistakes.
His stopwatch is running, but the time is only taken into consideration if there's a tie in scores.
There are currently about 50 different exercises in the sport.
The judge will choose 10-20 exercises and build a course using the signs designating the selected exercises.
All exhibitors will receive a course map from the judge.
They're allowed to walk the course without their dogs prior to the start of the class.
Each owner/dog team starts out with the same number of points.
The judge deducts points for such errors as missed or incompletely performed stations, touching the dog, and leash corrections.
The team with the highest score (i.e., fewest number of faults) wins first place. The next highest score takes second place, and so forth.
Unlike traditional obedience, in Rally you can give your dog numerous verbal cues and hand signals to help him with each exercise.
You can talk to him and praise him as much as you like. You may even repeat your commands without losing points.
You can also encourage your dog by clapping your hands, patting your legs, whistling, or whatever works for the two of you.
In some venues, like the APDT, you can even use food to reward your dog at the end of selected stations.
Now that's encouragement a Golden Retriever can understand!
In fact, the only thing you can't do is physically touch your dog or make leash corrections.
Loud or harsh commands or intimidating signals will also be penalized.
The signs for beginning levels include basic skills like sits, stays, and downs. The more advanced level skills introduce jumps, distractions, stands, spins and heeling backwards.
There are three levels of Rally-O competition: Novice, Advanced and Excellent (or Levels 1, 2 and 3 depending on the venue). Titles can be earned at each level.
Your dog will perform on-leash in the Novice class, but off-leash for the Advanced and Excellent levels.
This fun sport was originally devised by Charles "Bud" Kramer from the obedience practice of "doodling." That means doing a variety of interesting warm-up and freestyle exercises.
Bud is a dog sports enthusiast who has been instrumental in using positive dog training methods (like clicker training) in the sport of agility.
He came up with the idea to merge obedience and agility, and called it Rally, for the sport of road rally for cars.
Rally-O is now offered by several venues: The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) conference held the very first Rally trials in September 2001. The American Kennel Club allowed AKC Rally Obedience as an exhibition sport at obedience trials for several years before it began awarding titles in 2005.
The American Kennel Club held their first Rally, Agility and Obedience trials for mixed breed dogs in April 2010. How did this come about?
In response to surveys and inquiries, they initiated the AKC Canine Partners program in 2009 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the organization. The program allows owners to register their mixed-breed dogs, making their pets eligible for participation in AKC events.
Many local dog clubs offer Rally Obedience training classes, as well as schedules of upcoming Rally events. Check the Internet for your nearest club.Rally is an excellent way to practice basic obedience skills, work toward passing your Canine Good Citizen test, or train with the goal of formal obedience competition -- all while having fun with your dog.
Although Rally was designed with the traditional pet owner in mind, it can still be very challenging for those who enjoy higher levels of competition.
So why not give Rally Obedience a try? You're guaranteed to have a great time!
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