About Rally Training for Dogs

Rally obedience, or "Rally-O," is a type of dog training that allows dog and owner to work together as a team, building a bond and training the dog at the same time. Rally courses designed by a judge consist of at least 10 stations, each one with a sign that informs the owner which command should be performed. Rally is less strict than regular competitive obedience, and levels include novice, advanced and excellent.

  1. Starting Out

    • Find a local training club that offers Rally-O, which shouldn't be too difficult. Ask around for recommendations of training facilities and call to see if you can schedule a tour, or come by to watch a training session, before you sign your dog up. Once you've found a club you feel comfortable with, sign up for a novice class.

    Novice Classes

    • In the novice-level class, dogs will be kept on-leash while completing the course. Commands will more than likely be simple, and there will be approximately 10 to 15 stations along the course. If your dog already knows commands such as "sit," "down" and "watch," you'll be one step ahead. If your dog is unfamiliar with these commands, practice them at home to take the pressure off your dog in the new environment.

    Signs

    • At each station, the handler must give the dog a signal or command in order to get him to perform the behavior listed on the sign. Handlers are encouraged to talk to their dog, remain optimistic and reassure the dog in order to build his confidence. Points are given for teamwork, so make sure you work together.

    Timing

    • In competitive Rally-O, you will be timed around the course, but when you start training, the focus should be on learning to work with your dog, getting your dog excited about Rally-O and teaching your dog the commands he might come across along the way.

    Breeds

    • Any breed of dog, pure or mixed, is encouraged to compete in Rally-O. The main objective is to bond with your dog and have a good time. If you enjoy competing in Rally-O with your dog, you can advance to different levels, earn titles and ribbons, and, as a plus, you'll end up with an extremely well-trained dog.