My Intro to Rally - 4

 This is my 4nd edition of the Introduction to Rally

We’ll be talking about the Novice Call Front exercises today and also introduce you to scoring.  

There are six Call Front signs in Novice.  It’s good to get them down right from the start! There are 12 Call Front exercises in AKC Rally – 2 more in Advanced, 2 more in Excellent and 2 more in Master!

If your dog needs to be taught to come Front, you can teach them by using a platform.  Here’s a great video to help you understand what a platform means to a dog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Friwr4bWzZ0

Once your dog is magnetized to a platform, here’s a video to show you the power of it.  All you have to do it put it down and the dogs will come.  This video shows both a Kato board and a Platform:  https://youtu.be/Y9VI36H6z8I. 
**Platforms can be made or purchased: See Info near end of this article. 

  • Always remember that in the Novice class, ALL of the "Call Front" exercises begin with your dog immediately coming to Front and sitting in Front facing you. There is not a HALT to begin any Call Front exercises in the Novice class.
  • The most important part of these exercises is the Front.  When training for fronts, all fronts should be initially rewarded (call fronts, recalls), especially when your dog is having a problem.  Reward perfect fronts with a more higher value reward.  If they are not straight at all, teach fronts using a Platform.
  • In the description of AKC Rally signs, there is a Principal Part that must be done or there will be a 10-point deduction (IP/Improperly Performed). The handler has the option of retrying the exercise and will get a 3-point deduction instead of the 10-point deduction.

The 6 signs in Novice that are “Call Front” signs are #s 13, 14, 15, 16, 26, 35.  If you use platforms, that is the easiest way to teach your dog to come to front. They’ll come front and sit straight.  It’s also easy to get your dog to come to the front of you if you back up and hold a reward (cookie/toy) with both hands in your mid-section.  This is exactly how you can begin each of these signs!  Of course, when you eventually compete in a Trial down the line, there will be no food/toy in the ring.  There will also be no continuous “luring” in the ring.  However, to begin teaching this exercise, you could use a lure.  Then you will slowly phase it out. This is a great way to show the dog what you want.  Getting them to sit straight is easiest using a platform.

Let’s go over these new signs on today’s course. 

The Principal Parts of the description of Rally sign descriptions are highlighted and underlined.

SIGN #13. CALL FRONT–FINISH RIGHT–FORWARD
AKC Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlDPpbpMJ6s 
AKC Description: While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to front. The handler may take several steps backward.  The dog must come and sit in front. Without the handler moving their feet, the dog must finish to the right. As the dog clears the handler’s path, the handler will heel forward before the dog returns to heel position.  (Stationary)

My Notes on Sign #13: When handler calls dog to the front, the dog sits in front and faces the handler. The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to sit in the front position.  The second part of the exercise directs the handler to command and/or signal the dog to move from the front position to the handler’s right by going around behind the handler towards heel position.  As the dog clears the handler’s path, the handler moves forward before the dog has completely returned to the heel position.  The dog does not sit before moving forward in the heel position with the handler.  Handler must not step forward or backward to aid the dog as the dog moves from the front to heel position.

SIGN #14. Call Front – Finish Left – Forward
AKC Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TlVTyoYEpU
AKC Description: While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to front. The handler may take several steps backward.  The dog must come and sit in front. Without the handler moving their feet, the dog must finish to the left. As the dog clears the handler’s path, the handler will heel forward before the dog returns to heel position. (Stationary)

My Notes on Sign #14: When handler calls dog to the front, the dog sits in front and faces the handler. The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to sit in the front position.  The second part of the exercise directs the handler to command and/or signal the dog to move from the front position by moving directly to the handler’s left side towards heel position.  Make sure to not move your feet on the finish until your dog clears your path.  THEN heel forward before dog returns to heel position.

SIGN #15. Call Front – Finish Right – SIT
AKC Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiJdNc-kC84
AKC Description: While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to front. The handler may take several steps backward.  The dog must come and sit in front. Without the handler moving their feet, the dog must finish to the right and sit in heel position. (Stationary)

My Notes on Sign #15: After handler calls dog to the front, the dog sits in front and faces the handler. The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to sit in the front position.  The second part is the finish to the right where the dog must return to heel position by moving around the right side of the handler.  The dog must sit in heel position before moving forward with the handler. Handler must not step forward or backward to aid the dog as the dog finishes. 
Do not halt when you approach this sign.  That small stop sign is for the finish.

SIGN #16. Call Front – Finish Left – SIT
AKC Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXPm9BUqgxg
AKC Description: While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to front. The handler may take several steps backward.  The dog must come and sit in front. Without the handler moving their feet, the dog must finish to the left and sit in heel position. (Stationary)

My Notes on Sign #16: After handler calls dog to the front, the dog sits in front and faces the handler. The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to sit in the front position.  The second part is the finish to the left where the dog must return to heel position by moving directly to the left side of the handler and sit in heel position.  The dog must sit in heel position before moving forward from heel position with the handler. Handler must not step forward or backward to aid the dog as the dog finishes.

SIGN #26. Call Front – 1, 2 and 3 Steps Backward - Forward
AKC Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcUDP2_bPuM
AKC Description: While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to front. The handler may take several steps backward. The dog must come and sit in front. The handler takes one step backward and halts. The dog must move with the handler and sit in front as the handler halts. The handler takes two steps backward and halts. The dog must move with the handler and sit in front as the handler halts. The handler takes three steps backward and halts. The dog must move with the handler and sit in front as the handler halts. The handler may command/signal the dog to finish. As the dog clears the handler’s path, the handler will heel forward before the dog returns to heel position. (Stationary)

My Notes on Sign #26: Dog MUST move with Handler on each step backward. Your dog must sit 4 times in this exercise. Your dog may finish in either direction. Your dog does not sit on the finish.   Make sure all of your steps are counted for – no ½ steps! The biggest mistake handlers make is to not do the 3 steps back portion properly. Most people will take the third step back as a 1/2 step - and this is Improperly Performed! At a Trial, you are nervous and your steps will get smaller. Make your steps clear and precise. Try to make each step at least the length of your foot... (this is what I tell my students). Try to really reach back for that 3rd step.

SIGN #35. Call Front – Return to Heel
AKC Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD3hd-lujdU
AKC Description: While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and may command/signal the dog to front. The handler may take several steps backward. The dog must come and sit in front. The dog must stay while the handler walks around behind the dog to return to heel position. The handler must pause before heeling forward. (Stationary)

My Notes on Sign #35: This is one of many Call Front signs.  You may take several steps back on the call front.  This gives your dog the opportunity to give you a straight front.  Dog then stays while you walk around, to the right, behind your dog to heel position.  Handler MUST **PAUSE in heel position!!! If handler does not pause, it is an IP. (-10 pts)

**AKC’’s definition of Pause:  Pause – a complete stop of forward motion by the handler.

My Note on Pause:  Every time you pause in Rally, saying the entire work “Pause” will be long enough and you will also probably put a smile on the judge’s face. 

These scoring deductions will answer any scoring questions you may have as a Novice handler.  More information can be found in the Rally Regulations.
Minor Deduction (1-2 points) for each of the following:
• Dog interfering with handler
• Handler error
• Knocking over a sign or holder
• Out of position
• Poor sits
• Slow or delay or resistance to respond
• Tight leash
 
• Touching or ticking a jump or pylon
• Touching the handler
Minor or Substantial Deduction (1-10 points) for each of the following:
• Excessive barking
• Handler error
• Hitting the jump
• Lack of briskness
• Lack of control
• Lack of teamwork
• Loud command or intimidating signal
• Patting/clapping in Excellent and Master – per occurrence
• Pylon knocked over in Figure Eight, Spiral, Serpentines, Send
Away or Cloverleaf
• Retry of a sign — only one (1) retry of each sign will be allowed unless otherwise stated. Retry of a sign is an automatic 3-point deduction.

Here is a practice Course and Video using these signs. https://youtu.be/916Ky0l49S4
This course shows all six AKC Rally Novice Call Front signs. The demo dog is my 11+ yr. old Casey. Pay attention to how doing the signs and the dog are not being rushed, specifically on the sits.
Take your time on these signs. Speed can kill you in Rally.




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