It's All About The Journey

  This is the 3 nd edition of the Introduction to Rally Last time we talked about the path that the handler walks in relation to the signs on the course. We have also reviewed signs #3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10.   To review, if you will be continuing in the same direction after performing a sign, the sign will be on your right.   If you are changing directions, the sign will be in front of you. The signs are numbered, beginning at #1 and are to be done in numerical order or you will not qualify. We’ll be talking about signs #1 & 2 today - the START and the FINISH signs.   We’ll also talk a little about ring entry.   If your dog can get into a ring and be able to focus on you (pay attention) when you arrive at the START sign, you will most likely Qualify!   The most difficult part of competing is during the Entry and getting started.   Getting your dog to focus on you after getting him out of the crate; moving from the crate to a new location; pre...

  AN INTRODUCTION TO RALLY - 2 This is the 2 nd lesson of the Introduction to Rally Last time I mentioned to you that the Rally signs will be on your right, except for a sign where you will turn to the right or left or you’ll do a 180.  In this case, these signs will be placed DIRECTLY in front you on the path you are walking. Below is a very accurate diagram of the placement of signs for a course.   You will see that the COD (Change of Direction) signs are directly in your walking path (arrows).  You will also see that signs #2 & 4, from lesson 1, are continuous signs in this course. (You will continue to walk in the same direction after performing these signs)   These signs are placed on your right in this course.  There is a text box with the 6 sign numbers used in this course.  This is the order of the signs for this course.  This list not only helps you to easily pull these signs to lay out a course, but it also lets the handler k...

If you’re interested in learning about AKC Rally, you may already have a dog that can do the required skills, as long as you, too, can perform the required skills.  😊 The hardest thing about Rally is for you, the handler, to perform the skill and know how to get your dog to do their part.  If you make a mistake, so does your dog.  Most of the deductions in Rally are caused by the Handler!!! 😮 Are you ready to try some Rally Signs?  When you do a course with signs, the signs will be on your right.  Signs will generally be on the right until you get to a turn sign.  Then that sign will be on the course path (in front of you).  So when you practice them, get used to these signs being placed about a foot in front of you on your right.   This is Sign #3.  When you arrive at this sign, you will stop and your dog will Sit.  Pretty easy, right?  You need to know what you need to do to get your dog to sit when you stop.  If yo...

When you see a dog make a beautiful left turn during heeling, it is something you will never forget.  It's a beautiful thing to see.  Their rear end just rotates smoothly during the turn.  Any dog can do a very nice left turn.  To begin, you want the dog to be aware of their hind feet.  It begins with shaping the dog to offer this.  And, of course, you reward the dog when their rear feet move. The dog in this video already understands what shaping is all about.  He has been rewarded over and over again in the past several months for offering different things to me during our training.  Casey already knows how to turn left and how to pivot left, but I wanted him to learn to offer it in this training session.   Casey will be 12 years old in October 2021.  He's an awesome dog and has learned a lot about shaping since he came to live with me a year ago.   I hope this video is useful to you in your training.  If not, ...

Here is a great video of teaching dogs to do fronts on a platform.  You can see how they become magnetized to the platform, giving you a dog that sits straight in front, without any problems.   Fronts using Platform .  If your dog is not magnetized to a Platform, here is how to shape them .  There are 8 AKC Rally signs that start off with a Call Front.  6 of them are in the Novice class, and 2 of them are in the Master class.  I'll be discussing the Novice Call Front exercises in this blog. You may take several steps back on all of these call front signs.  This gives your dog the opportunity to give you a straight front.   Always remember that in the Novice class, ALL of these "Call Front" exercises begin with your dog immediately coming to Front and sitting in Front facing you.  Here is a video showing all 6 AKC Rally Novice Call Front signs. The demo dog is my 11 3/4 yr. old Casey.  Pay attention to how I am not rushing the s...

 Here's a video to show you how to stand your dog in the Intermediate and Advanced Rally Classes. Standing dog in Rally Advanced - https://youtu.be/cScTFj2ozzg

 Take into consideration the space you are using when you work with your dog on a Rally course.  This demo is of the same course (7 signs) that I used in my Novice class.  This is to help students understand the amount of energy you need to use, as a Handler, to help your dog work a course.   Doing a walk-through before you bring your dog to a course is so important.  It will give you the information you will need to make sure your dog is as successful as he possibly can be.  I'm talking about ANY course you do.  Not just at a Trial.  Some spaces you use are too small for a course with signs appropriately spaced.  Learn to adjust to your "space". The first half of this video is on a course with appropriately spaced signs.  The second half of the video is the SAME course in a very tiny area.  Seven signs, including start/finish and a Fast, in a 9x18 foot area. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/3xxukN4hP10