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Rally incorporates the skills of obedience: right, left and about turns, change of pace: normal, fast, or slow, various positions: sit, stand, down, around obstacles and over jumps working in unison with distractions: handler focus, and teamwork.
Rally differs from traditional obedience in that instead of the judge calling out each exercise, your team navigates the course from station to station by performing the 'exercise' depicted on signs posted to your right. Also, in that you may talk to your dog during your performance.
Correctly interpreting the signs is important as you can not execute the exercise correctly for a qualifying score, if you do not interpret it correctly.
**Tip - from my personal experience on this!
Rally competitions offer three titling levels, each requiring an increase of expertise.
Rally can really be a lot of fun!
For additional information try any of these websites...
http://www.rallyobedience.com/
http://www.akc.org/events/rally/index.cfm
http://www.apdt.com/po/rally/default.aspx
3 Examples of Rally signs:
Halt, About U-turn, Fast Pace, About Right Turn
August 9th, 2008
Southwest Obedience Club - Gardena
Mas Fukai Park
Judge: Laurie Aggas
Our first Rally Trial. After the 10-minute course familiarization period (walking the course), we were the first dog/handler team to go in the ring.
When I doubted myself, in how to execute a couple of the stations, I realized that I was a bit nervous. None-the-less Quinn was there for me all the way.
In spite of 'my' huge deduction incurring errors, Quinn's wonderful working spirit earned us a qualifying score, and put us in the placements none-the-less with - a 4th!
Quinn is one fabulous dog!
A word of thanks to all wonderful folks at the trial who offered encouragement, tips and congrats!
dogsports people are tops!
Southwest Obedience Club 08-09-08
Rally Novice 1st leg, 4th place
Our First time in the Rally ring, in the company of several lovely & polished teams. Quinn was a trooper when my indecision over one of the signs, got the best of me!
He just kept working, a true team player!
Together we pulled it together and finished in style.
Four lovely teams - 1st place on the left thru 4th place on the right.
An exciting day!
Southwest Obedience Club 08/09/08
1st trial - 1st leg - 4th place
August 10th, 2008
South Bay Kennel Club - Torrance
North High School
Judge: Mr. C. Z. Pat Alvarez
Novice A & B walked the course together, but went in the ring separately, B going first. This enabled me to have time with Quinn before our turn to warm up and connect. I felt great about our prep time.
There were several truly lovely teams in our class. Since we were the first dog in the ring for Novice A, I had the opportunity to watch and cheer for them.
The camaraderie is a huge perk in this sport. I received helpful advice, chat and a bit of community under fellow exhibitor's Eze Ups.
In rally ties are broken by 'time', which is to say that time is the placement or tie breaker between dogs with the same score.
Quinn and I were on! we sailed through the course smoothly and it felt terrific. I am sooooo proud of 'us'!
The icing on the cake....was that the judge agreed!
Oh, Quinn's breeder, Lissa Thomas, was on hand to see his performance.
100 points - a perfect score and 1st place
South Bay Obedience Club 08/10/08
2nd trial - 2nd leg - 1st place
August 23rd, 2008
Santa Barbara Kennel Club
Earl Warren Showgrounds
Judge: Pauline Andrus
What an incredible run thru we had! Smooth and precise...our connection was exciting!
No faults on course, all was going so well, unfortunately, turning too soon [station 12] incurred a Non-Qualifying score also known as NQ. None-the-less we were most, very pleased with how nicely the course flowed for us. We had a fun couple of minutes in the spot light!
Agility and Rally course maps have something in common!
The actual placement of the obstacles/stations are not always exactly as they appear on the maps. This is true of Station 12 from 08/23/08 and Station 14 of 08/24/08.
Example: Station 12 was not inline with station 13 as it appears to be on the map. 13 was a bit more in line with station 11 than station 12.
The course map - we omitted the highlighted station; by turning too early, resulting in an NQ.
August 24th, 2008
Santa Barbara Kennel Club
Earl Warren Showgrounds
Judge: Larry Andrus
Day 2 in
lovely Santa Barbara!
Walking the course I was very aware of each and every sign. The first time I walked I realized that Station 14 'Fast' pace was almost hidden. Rather than situated in the line of travel it was directly to my right as I turned right, such that your first step thru the turn put it behind you - out of your line of vision! My first clue was the second to last sign, Station 15 that indicated "Normal' pace. Hummmm? I hadn't seen the change of pace prior to the return to normal....good thing we alloted a ten minute familiarization period to pre-walk the course prior to each class. Also as my luck would have it - a Guardian Angel was nearby in the form of a friend, Laurie Burnam, ensure that I saw the sign.
We had a near perfect score. Out of a possible 100 points, we had 99. We lost one point for sniffing. On one of the stationary exercises, 'Down, Walk Around dog' Quinn went down immediately, finding his nose so close to the very interesting grass....he then committed to sniffing. Thank our lucky stars and his enjoyment working, he returned to the game and flowed through the balance of the course.
Again even with the little bobble, this was such a blast !
Trophy a hare head wine goblet which can be inverted resting on the ears. Very cool!
What a wonderful weekend we had.
Needless to say a titling leg and taking 1st place were the icing on the cake.
What could be more special?
The connection I shared with Quinn both in and out of the ring, and the camaraderie. Oh my gosh...a huge dogsport family, cheering for you sharing the ups and downs of training and trialing.
It is amazing....all the great folks I have come to know through dogs and dogsports (agility, herding, obedience, rally classes, clubs and trials).
YEA for us! Titling leg and 1st place!
The Rally Novice title is award to a team after earning 3 qualifying scores.
What's next?
We will save Rally Advanced, and Rally Excellent for the not so near future.
We are currently gearing up for our Novice Obedience debuts the CD in AKC and U-CD in UKC.
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