Ready to Rally
Rally is a competition obedience dog sport. Also known as Rally Obedience or Rally-O, it is played with dog-and-handler teams navigating a course of ten to twenty numbered stations on a field, each with a sign indicating a behavior or skill to perform:
Halt and Sit
U-turn
Call Dog Front and Finish Left
Moving Down
Send Over Jump
Straight Figure 8
Handlers proceed through the course with dog at heel
Judges design the course and observe as teams navigate the course, scoring them on their ability to complete the skills. The competition is more relaxed than traditional obedience, with handlers able to encourage, praise and double command their dogs.
Rally competitions are usually open to all breeds. Trials may have several levels, and teams compete for titles and championship. The American Kennel Club sponsors a series of such events called AKC Rally in which both purebred and mixed breeds comptete.
A good starting point for anyone new to dog sports, Rally events offer a challenging introduction to obedience and agility.
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