Sep 15, 2015

Almost every dog owner has stumbled across an AKC competition on TV at some time or another. It’s impossible not to be inspired by the sight of so many incredibly well-trained dogs. There’s always that moment where, just for a second, you think about how cool it would be to do something like that with your dog. And then of course you immediately forget about the idea, never to be thought of again.

But maybe you should think about it a bit more. Most people think of AKC competitions as being restricted to rich people with expensive purebreds. But in fact, many AKC competitions are open to all dogs, as long as they are spayed or neutered.

One of the newest of these all-access dog sports also happens to be perhaps the best introduction to intensive dog training and competition: AKC Rally Obedience. It’s sometimes referred to affectionately as “Rally-O,” but most people simply call it “Rally.”

What is AKC Rally?

One of the oldest AKC events in existence is Obedience, which probably fits the stereotypical image in your head of a stiff and silent dog handler carefully directing their dog through a series of exercises, following the instructions of an eagle-eyed judge. While Obedience is impressive to watch, many dog owners are intimidated by its extremely strict nature: the formality, the quiet, and the unforgiving scoring, with points being deducted even when a dog follows an instruction correctly because their form was just a tiny bit off.

Many members of the AKC recognized the need for a more approachable segue into AKC competitions. This is what led to the development of the offshoot sport Rally. (Its full name, Rally Obedience, is a nod to its origins.) Rally was born out of the warm-up exercises—often called “doodling”—that many handlers devised to prep their dogs before an Obedience competition. Given that doodling tended to be casual and self-directed, it’s unsurprising that the sport they developed into is a much lower-key affair than Obedience.

This more casual approach is evident in many aspects of Rally.

1. Judges don’t direct handlers and their dogs through the exercises. Instead, a course comprised of a series of signs is set up by the judge beforehand, with each sign describing what the dog and handler team should do,  such as halt and sit, halt and lie down, 90 degree right turn, left U turn, etc.
2. Once handlers are instructed by the judge to begin the course, the judge is silent from that point forward, simply observing and scoring the performance of the team. Handlers and their dogs can proceed through the course at their own pace.
3. Points are deducted if a dog fails to perform an exercise, but are not deducted for more minor infractions that would warrant penalization in Obedience, such as improper form.  Essentially, Rally judges are less “picky.”
4. Rally has a much warmer feel to it, especially at lower levels of competition. While traditional Obedience competitions often require silence, in Rally, handlers are encouraged to use as much communication as they like. Depending on the difficulty level, owners can talk to their dogs, praise them, whistle, clap, kneel and pat their legs, or signal with their hands. Some owners are even known to sing to their dogs. This greater sense of fun makes the sport especially popular with children and novice trainers.
5. In Rally, dogs are not physically examined by judges as they are in Obedience, which makes Rally a great fit for dogs who are a little more shy or reticent about being touched by strangers.
6. Rally routines tend to be much quicker than their Obedience counterparts, due to the lack of physical exam, and not having to follow the verbal instructions of a judge. This can be a big help for younger and more impatient dogs.

Rally Training is a great way to grow the skills of both you and your dog!

At the Local Bark, we know first-hand how great Rally training classes can be for dogs and their owners. That’s why we offer several levels of Rally Obedience Training classes.

While Rally is more casual than Obedience, don’t be lulled into thinking that the training is lax and easy. Remember, Rally was born from the practice exercises of professional dog trainers preparing dogs for high-level competition. Rally training is an excellent means of developing your skills and ability as a dog handler, while improving your dog’s obedience and repertoire of commands.

Rally Training isn’t just for dog owners who are interested in competition.

Rally Training improves overall behavior and obedience. This level of training allows owners to let their dogs off-leash much more often when out in the open. This is because a well-trained dog will quickly respond to commands, and thus will stay safe in potentially troublesome situations involving other people, animals, or cars.

So if you’re interested in the world of dog sports, want to develop dog training skills, or just want to improve your dog’s discipline, consider signing up for our novice-level Rally Obedience class!

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