What is Rally Obedience?
This new sport is intended to promote positive relationships between dogs and owners based on trust
and respect. Rally encourages participation of ALL dogs, purebred or mixed breed, pets or titled
champions as well as physically challenged dogs and or handlers.
ATTITUDE is more important in RALLY than precision. Dogs and handlers
"just gotta have fun".
The concept of a single continuous performance, uninterrupted by orders from
the judge, demands a sustained communication between the dog and handler.
The handler may talk and give hand and body signals to his or her dog throughout
the performance. This provides a mental stimulus for the handler as the
course outlines are different at each trial.
This is a new program for dogs and their owners, where dog and handler use directional signs to run
through a numbered course within an allotted time.
Rally Obedience goes beyond basic heeling by interspersing over 40 obedience movements with the sits,
turns and paces of traditional heeling. It also requires a brisk pace, positive attitude and happy
demeanor.
Rally is for those who desire an effortless activity that is fun and games. It is not simple or easy, but
challenges you and your dog in a partnership that improves heeling and teamwork. The ability to work
as a team in this way during a Rally Style Obedience performance, greatly adds to the handlers ability
to maintain the dog's attention and attitude at a high level. This feature, along with variability
incorporated into course design and format, creates a fast moving continuous performance.
Rally is designed so that dogs in all levels of training may participate. A beginners course could include
heel, sits aided by the handler, turning paces, sit stay and elements of the recall. As the dogs gain skill,
more difficult courses are designed which will improve you and your dogs performance levels and
confidence
Rally O is now being offered By CARO (Canadian Association of Rally Obedience)
for all dogs, and as a Regular class at CKC (Canadian Kennel Club),AKC (American
Kennel Club) UKC, United Kennel Club) shows but is open only to purebred dogs.
APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) offers Rally titles as well and is
open to all dogs.