Rally Obedience (also known as Rally or Rally – O) is a dog sport based on obedience. Its history stems from combining a series of warm up and freestyle exercises into a in a sport where obedience meets agility. Rally-O is out to change the way people view obedience. Originally devised by Charles L. “Bud” Kramer, Rally Obedience is a form of dog obedience with a twist – a total focus on fun and excitement for the dog, handler and spectator.
At TNT Training, we have three instructors who all compete and judge in Rally-O. Our Rally classes are open to dogs that have completed our Beginner or Super Puppy classes or equivalent. We teach you the rules of rally, how to perform each of the signs and most importantly, how to have fun teaching your dog in a positive and encouraging manner.
Rally-O is similar to agility in that a course pattern is set up for dog and handler teams to navigate. The difference is the course is made up by a series of exercises. Each station is numbered and handlers and dog proceed from one station to the next and perform the displayed exercises.
This video from Europe gives a good view of what a rally course is like
There is a lot of variety with each rally course…no two are exactly the same. Rally is different than Obedience because handlers may talk to their dogs, praise them, and give them needed verbal commands and hand signals. Most handlers love it because Rally is fun and a much more relaxed environment for their dog.
There are two main sanctioning bodies for Rally-O in the Lower Mainland, the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club), and CARO (Canadian Association of Rally-O) which encourages dogs of all breeds and mix breeds to participate. There are three main levels in both CKC and CARO; novice, advanced and excellent. Competitions are held throughout the year. Dog and Handlers compete on leash in the novice level and off leash in advanced and excellent.
Ultimately, you may not have aspirations to compete in the Rally ring (or maybe you do), but don’t let that stop you from trying out TNT’s rally classes. Although they prepare you for competition, our Rally-O classes can be considered obedience for real life. The Rally courses can be seen as a variation of the obstacles you face everyday with your dog at the end of their leash. Picture yourself struggling to hold a leash, umbrella, Starbucks coffee and at the same time navigating your way around the kids, parents, and other dogs in order to watch the soccer game. Wouldn’t you like to know your dog can be counted on the follow your lead confidently so your morning coffee remains intact and you make it to the cheering section in one piece? Register today for the next set starting Wednesday, March 7, 2012.
We are also hosting a CARO Rally O Seminar at the TNT Training Center Feb. 25, 2012
