Rally Obedience as a regular class

[Rottlva]

I have learned through my rally obedience instructor that as of January 2005 Rally obedience will become an AKC regular class. For anyone who has not tried this up and coming sport, I encourage you to. I compete in regular AKC obedience, and Rally has helped me better communicate with my dog, and has allowed us to have some great fun! You are allowed to communicate with your dog in the ring while competing which allows for more novice handlers to get ring experience before tackling regular obedience. Come next January I will be chasing some rally titles, and I hope to see some others out there too! For mor info Go to : http://www.rallyobedience.com/ . :)

[Miabella]

Our AKC delegate announced this at our club meeting last night. I think it's cool, and we've started offering an ongoing Rally class. I'd like to do it, but I'm not sure I can fit it in right now!

[Patty1231]

That sounds perfect for me. I haven't competed with Rocco in obedience yet but his trainer thinks we're ready for the Spring competitions. Right now, I can get Rocco to perform with just hand signals at home but out in public I do need to communicate due to distractions.

[spoteet]

Rally is a blast and it does help get the handler and the dog used to being in the ring.

[C Ross]

I audited a Rally seminar last weekend. Diane Carr was the instructor. It looked like a blast, and I was mad at myself for not bringing the pooch so we could try the course! My club is talking about offering Rally classes, but there's a shortage of instructors.

Christine

[Jaegergirl]

i saw this at the cleveland classic in december and thought it would be fun to try. i know very little about this so forgive me if it's a stupid question. but is rally obedience easier than regular obedience? i can't remember what all they did at the show. were they on lead or off? my goal is to compete in regular obedience this spring. my only concern is that maverick thinks being around other dogs = play time (granted, we've been on training hiatus since last april and just started training again last week so i have to give him time to get back "into the groove). plus, we really need to work on the stand for examination (he tries to like the examiner as they walk past). anyway, i thought the rally looked like it was something we could use as a "stepping stone" to the regular obedience ring. thanks! :)

[Rottlva]

:) It's different then regular obedience in many fashions. First, it is less formal.They are still working on a points system, so I can't tell you about deductions, but they are going to be less strict about crooked sits, crooked fronts, the dog not being in perfect heel ( loose leads are important). You are allowed to double command ( verbal/ signal), you are allowed to coax your dog along, usiing a happy high pitched voice, a slap on the hip ect. So from that aspect, it takes some of the tension out of the quiet regular obedience.

You follow a series of 10-15 signs with directions. So, it is a little like an agility course in that you can walk your course before hand ( no dog) and you will be able to read your course mapped out on paper. The judge is not telling you commands, just a "ready" and you are off following the signs. Because of the level of encouragement you are able to give your dog, and because at the novice level there is no off leash work, I believe it to be easier then regular obedience. BUt, you have to learn to work and respond to the signs in a prompt fashion...So, to the person who has done regular obedience, it is hard to pump up the vocal volume, and keep an eye on the signs. But we are getting there! I think Novice rally is an excellent way to get into pre-novice/ novice showing.

[Jaegergirl]

thanks for the explanation. i thought it looked like it would be easier than regular obedience (for the fact it's on lead and there aren't other dogs in the ring with you). i'll have to ask my trainer if she's going to offer a class in it.

[C Ross]

I think at the novice level, Rally will be easier than regular obedience. After that, all bets are off!

OK, so Rally competitions could only be held in conjunction with some other AKC sanctioned event since it wasn't a regular class. Can we assume that there will now be Rally only competitions?

Christine

[Rottlva]

Christine, I bet until we have a large amount of judges qualified to do rally it will be held alongside traditional obedience. I do suspect that like agility here in the Northeast entrys will fill at lightening speed. I know there are some agility people who overnight entrys the moment they recieve the information.

[C Ross]

Jessica,

How will Rally judges qualify? For Obedience it's so many years in the sport, train a dog as far as Utility (?), ring steward x number of times.... What does the AKC do for a new event? How did they qualify judges when Agility was new?

Christine

[Rottlva]

? Christine, that is why rally is not starting up as a regular class until next year. The AKC needs some time to work all of these questions out, along with setting a good standard for point deductions. Should I hear of any decisions, I will be sure and share them.

[k&s]

In the interim you can compete in Rally as a Non-regular class at some AKC events, and you can also compete in APDT (American Professional Dog Trainers) rally events. the AKC and APDT signs are not exactly the same, so it is good to learn both signs. I have done APDT rally level I and it was alot of fun. Am looking forward to more rally events.