Rally obedience or RO is a relatively young form of dog sport that was developed in the USA and is very popular there. In the meantime, this sport, which combines elements of obedience training with those from the agility course, is finding more and more enthusiastic followers in Europe. The main focus is on having fun and the good and trusting interaction between dog and human.
Rally Obedience: What is it?
During rally obedience, the dog-human team runs through a constantly changing course, which is made up of several stations with hurdles and slaloms. At each station, a corresponding sign shows the dog handler exactly which exercise is to be carried out and where to continue afterward. Between stations, the dog walks in the by-heel position, usually on the handler’s left. The dog can be led either free or on a loose leash. The aim is to run through the individual stations as quickly as possible and to carry out the exercises as precisely as possible.
There is already a comprehensive set of rules for the young sport of rally obedience, which describes how tests and competitions are carried out. Under competition conditions, the joint performance of each team will be evaluated by an adjudicator with points and taking into account the time achieved. While the team is in the course, the judge has no influence on the exercises and gives no instructions, but only evaluates the performance of the dog and handler.
But also for dog owners who just want to have fun with their four-legged friend, this sport is a great way to work out together and at the same time promote close bonding and improve basic obedience.
What is rally obedience?
It is a relatively young canine sport that was developed in the USA and combines elements of obedience and agility.
How does rally obedience work?
Rally Obedience combines different exercises from obedience and subordination training with those from agility sports. At the respective stations, for example, quick changes of direction, running through a slalom, or overcoming a hurdle by the dog are required. In between, the four-legged friend should always walk in the foot position next to the handler and wait attentively for the next instruction.
Each team starts with a maximum number of points (usually 100), from which the adjudicator deducts points if the required exercises are not performed correctly. The behavior of the dog and/or handler can also lead to a point deduction, such as excessive barking or walking the dog on a tight leash.
Perfect communication between man and dog is expressly desired at all times in this type of sport, and cheering and praising the dog by the dog owner is permitted, in contrast to pure obedience training. You can even work with treats, but only as a reward for a well-executed exercise and not to get the dog to obey first.
The exercises, which are indicated on the individual signs, are precisely defined in the rules, and the symbols used on the signs can also be found there. There are, for example, changes of direction by 90°, 180°, 270°, or a complete circle of 360°, which must be carried out to the left or right with the dog on the inside or outside. The basic exercises of sit, down and stay, retrieval exercises, going ahead or stopping while moving are also part of a parcours. There are about 100 different task signs, of which about 10-20 are set up in a course.
For the competitions, human-dog teams are divided into different classes:
Class B: Dogs from the age of 15 months may start in this “beginner class”. The dog may be walked with or without a leash, and a course consists of 15-18 exercises.
Class 1: Dogs may be led with or without a leash, the course consists of 18-20 exercises.
Class 2: Dogs may only be led freely and 20-22 exercises must be completed.
Class 3: Dogs must be kept free running, the course consists of 22-24 exercises.
Class S: In the “Senior Class” only dogs from the age of 8 years are allowed to start (however, changing to this class after the dog’s 8th birthday is voluntary). The dog can be walked with or without a leash and the course consists of 12 exercises.
What does Rally Obedience do for dogs?
In the varied course of rally obedience, dogs can be challenged and occupied according to their own personal performance level. Carrying out the exercises as precisely as possible and the very close and intensive communication between the dog and the handler promote not only the physical but also the mental fitness of the four-legged friend.
In addition to the intensive, yet playful obedience training, exercise, and activity, the very close and trusting bond between dog and human is the focus of this sport. In this way, the self-confidence of a previously insecure dog is also strengthened, while an initially rather daring four-legged friend learns to subordinate himself to his human and to have fun with it. Behavioral problems are prevented in this way, and in many cases, they can even be remedied through Rally Obedience under professional guidance and with appropriate explanations from a good trainer.
Which dogs are suitable for Rally Obedience?
All dogs, regardless of age, size or breed, can be employed and encouraged with RO in an appropriate manner.
Which dogs are suitable for Rally Obedience?
Dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes can take part in this sport. Even dogs with disabilities can master an adapted RO course without any problems, and this is also a wonderful form of active occupation with their four-legged friends for dog handlers with physical disabilities. The competition regulations provide for special course adjustments for both dogs and dog handlers with disabilities.
Active dog breeds that love to exercise, such as border collies, Australian shepherds, and shelties, are often found among the RO athletes – but also easygoing beagles, cheerful miniature poodles, and, of course, mixed breed dogs of all colors can be encouraged to often unimagined performances in RO sport. The most important prerequisite is not absolute obedience or a perfectly trained body, but above all the fun of the joint activity of dog and human.
When can you start Rally Obedience?
Elements from Rally Obedience can already be playfully incorporated into the basic training of the young dog in the training plan at the dog school or in the home garden. Of course, the obstacles used must be adapted to the current size and the possibilities of the dog.
A dog must be at least 15 months old for official participation in tournaments. Older dogs from the age of 8 can be classified in the senior class, where the requirements are scaled-down. However, an experienced and well-trained RO dog can still compete in other competition classes at an older age.
The minimum age for the dog handler is 8 years. The same evaluation criteria apply to all participants between the ages of 8 and 18 as to adults, but they are rated and placed in a separate category J (=youth).
What requirements do dogs and owners have to meet?
The dog should have had basic training before it competes in Rally Obedience. The human-dog team should already have practiced and mastered basic commands such as heel-to-toe, sit, down, and stay, because these are important parts of the exercises. Nevertheless, the start in this sport is also recommended for relatively inexperienced teams, since obedience is developed and strengthened in a playful way during training. Of course, as with any dog sport, good leadership qualities on the part of the dog handler are an important prerequisite for success.
If the sport is also to be practiced under competition conditions, the dog must be healthy and resilient. Full vaccination protection for the dog must be proven by the dog owner as well as valid liability insurance.
What exercises are there for Rally Obedience?
There are around 100 different exercise instructions, such as sit, down, recall, turns, circuits, slalom or spiral running, overcoming hurdles, etc.
Tips to get you started: This is how your dog learns Rally Obedience
There are various ways to train your dog in the trend sport of rally obedience. The accessories such as hurdles and pylons or the numerous signs for displaying the respective exercises are available in well-stocked specialist shops or online. However, you should have the necessary experience in training dogs for training on your own – if you are a beginner and it is your first dog, starting in a good dog school is certainly the better way.
Numerous dog sports clubs and schools have long included Rally Obedience in their range of courses. Here, basic obedience is trained in a playful way under professional guidance and adapted to the possibilities of the respective dog-human team, before the level of performance is then slowly increased. The exercises can be practiced in peace and quiet on a professional set-up course until the dog and human have gained the necessary confidence, and then ideally start under competition conditions.
As in any sport, the success of a team in the RO is a particular spur. In order to be successful, you should make sure that your dog obeys you trustingly and willingly. The best way to do this is through positive reinforcement of the desired behavior – punishment and coercion, on the other hand, quickly destroy the trust of your four-legged friend. Since the dog handler can motivate and reward his dog at any time in the course, this sport is particularly suitable for teams that get along great and, above all, enjoy the joint activity.
By the way, obstinately memorizing exercises according to a fixed training plan does not make sense, since the approximately 100 given exercises are constantly being used to create new course structures with countless possible variations.
The necessary equipment
Anyone who wants to run the RO exclusively for fun and as an opportunity to keep their dog busy can set up their own course in their own garden using everyday objects. Under competition conditions, there are precise specifications as to how the hurdles, pylons and signs, including their mounts, should look. The symbols for the exercise signs can be downloaded from the Internet.
A wide, flat collar or a standard harness is also required to lead the dog, as well as a firm leash made of leather, plastic, or cotton. Chains or retractable lines are not permitted.
Is my dog suitable for Rally Obedience?
Any dog that enjoys doing something with its human is suitable for the young trend sport of rally obedience. Above all, very active dogs or those who want to be constantly busy will find a very good opportunity here to work out. The dog’s intensive concentration on the instructions of his human is quite exhausting for the four-legged friend so a relatively short but intensive training session can replace many a long walk.
But even if your dog is more of the easygoing type or you both may have had problems with training, RO is a good way to get you moving together or to get your relationship on the right track.
