Rally obedience, or “Rally-o” as it’s quickly being termed by enthusiasts, is
the latest event to hit the show circuit. It has characteristics of rally sports car
racing, dog agility, and traditional obedience combined into a new fun sport.
At level one the dog is on-leash through novice style exercises. Level two
has the dog off-leash through more advanced exercises, including at least
one jump. Either level may be timed or non-timed. As in agility, each course
is different every time. A sign at each station gives instructions to the dog-
handler team, and each team must execute the station’s particular task.
Handlers may do anything to encourage their dogs except physically touch
them or make corrections with the leash. Signs instruct teams to go fast or
slow, to halt, to make turns and circles, to reverse direction, to do a sit-stay-
recall, or other basic obedience exercises. In non-timed courses, each team
has a starting score of 200 points from which points are deducted for such
faults as missed or completely performed stations, touching the dog, leash
corrections, etc. The team with the highest score (i.e., fewest number of
faults) wins first place, followed by the next highest score for second place,
and so forth. Many dogs enjoy this change from the usual silent heeling of
traditional obedience as their owners can clap hands, talk, whistle (even
sing!) to them throughout the entire course without penalty.
the latest event to hit the show circuit. It has characteristics of rally sports car
racing, dog agility, and traditional obedience combined into a new fun sport.
At level one the dog is on-leash through novice style exercises. Level two
has the dog off-leash through more advanced exercises, including at least
one jump. Either level may be timed or non-timed. As in agility, each course
is different every time. A sign at each station gives instructions to the dog-
handler team, and each team must execute the station’s particular task.
Handlers may do anything to encourage their dogs except physically touch
them or make corrections with the leash. Signs instruct teams to go fast or
slow, to halt, to make turns and circles, to reverse direction, to do a sit-stay-
recall, or other basic obedience exercises. In non-timed courses, each team
has a starting score of 200 points from which points are deducted for such
faults as missed or completely performed stations, touching the dog, leash
corrections, etc. The team with the highest score (i.e., fewest number of
faults) wins first place, followed by the next highest score for second place,
and so forth. Many dogs enjoy this change from the usual silent heeling of
traditional obedience as their owners can clap hands, talk, whistle (even
sing!) to them throughout the entire course without penalty.
