Point Deductions
Deductions totaling more than 10 points for any single exercise shall be considered non-qualifying (NQ). Dog and handler may be allowed to complete the course unless, in the Judge's opinion, it would be detrimental to the dog or the sport of Rally to allow them to do so.
1-2 Point Deduction: Minor Deduction
- Tight Leash
- Dog interfering with handler (crowding, jumping up)
- Loss of forward motion (dog or handler stops)
- Poor Sit , Poor Down (more than 45 degrees out of heel position or significantly to the front or rear of handler)
- Crooked Front ( more than 45 degrees out of position directly facing the handler
- Slowness to respond.
- Being out of heel position – being more than an arm’s length from the handler in any direction
- Slight touch (Ticking) of a jump
- Moving sign/cone out of position (minor move)
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1st additional cue, all classes (2 pt)
Additional cues – Novice (2pts)
3rd or more additional cues – Advanced, Excellent Versatility, (1 pt each)
3 to 5 Points Deductions: Substantial Deduction
- Handler repeats improperly performed station: Novice 3 points, Advanced 5 points
- Pylon/Post or sign knocked over is 5 points deduction
- Lack of control
- Loud or Intimidating commands or signals from handler. Should these command affect the attitude of the dog or offend the sensibilities of the judge, then the handler will be warned accordingly and will NQ.
- 2nd additional cue (Advanced, Excellent, Versatility) (5 pts)
- Slowness to respond
- Hitting Jump, pushing off jump, knocking off bar (5 pts)
- Not leashing 1st dog at Station 10 before 2nd dog begins working (5 pts)
6-10 Points Deductions: Major Deduction
- Benign leash restraint. (Continuous Tight leash) In addition to lagging, forging deductions.
- Dog/Handler Team not entering or leaving the ring on leash (10 pts)
- Dog goes under bar jump (10 points)
Over 10 Points: NQ (Disqualification)
- Interference from spectators if it results in the team going back and re-doing a station or any element of the station
- Deductions totaling more than 10 points for any single exercise, shall be considered non-qualifying NQ
- Touching the dog to put it into a position (Sit, Down, Stand) NQ-P/VC.
- Incomplete performance/Minimum Requirements not met NQ-IP
- Dog unmanageable NQ-DU
- Consistently tight leash (Dog constantly pulling or resisting) NQ-TL
- OFF COURSE... if the dog and handler team go off course and do not complete the exercise station at all or performs one or more exercises out of order NQ-OC
- Using food as a LURE rather than a reward NQ-FL
- Out of position (more than 4 feet from handler) for a substantial portion of the course NQ-OP
- Exceeds time limit NQ-ET
- Dog leaves the ring while on course NQ-LR
- Physical or harsh verbal corrections NQ-P/VC noted on score sheet, and the handler will be cautioned. Upon a second such incident, the dog and handler team will be excused.
- Dog eliminates in the ring. The performance is terminated and NQ-E shall be noted on the score sheet.
- (Jump/Obstacles)Traveling between the 6 foot marker and the jump see appendix G for details.
- (Jump/Obstacles)Traveling between the 10 foot marker and the jump see appendix G for details.
- Biting at or tipping over the food bowls.
- Dog walks on the broad jump board.
- Failure of handler to take 2-3 steps before calling dog (Halt-Leave dog-Call Front while Running (NQ-IP)
A harsh verbal correction shall be defined as one that offends the sensibilities of the judge or that causes an obvious adverse reaction in the dog (cowering, tail down, etc.). Any handler who has been excused from the ring for physical or harsh verbal corrections on TWO separate occasions shall be prohibited from competing in future Rally (CARO) events for a period of two years.
Handlers may compete with their dogs on the right side (instead of on the common heel position with dogs on the left of handler), but the dog must be in the heel position and the handler must notify the judge in advance. All exercise stations will be performed in the same manner as they would be with the dog on the left.