Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Rally Cry

I've started my Beginning Rally class! What is Rally, you ask? Here is a description borrowed from the organization that created Rally, the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers):
Dog and Handler teams navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform such as Sit-Down-Sit, Straight Figure 8, Send Over Jump, Recall Over Jump. Teams navigate the course at a brisk, continuous performance without direction from the judge. Handlers are encouraged to talk to their dogs during the performance. All dogs, purebred, mixed breeds and dogs with disabilities are encouraged to participate. Rally trials can be hosted by any organization. Trials typically include Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 courses. A team earns a Rally title after successfully completing three course runs with qualifying scores. Titles can be earned at each Level and teams may also earn Championship titles, National Ranking Awards and a special Award of Excellence.
According to an instructor at our training facility, Rally was created as a sort of backlash against Obedience competition (my human's interpretation, not the instructor's) ...a more relaxed, more fun approach to evaluating the dog's knowledge of commands and dog/handler teamwork. During the trial, the handler can encourage the dog verbally and even use treats (sparingly), whereas these are forbidden in Obedience competition. My human served as a Steward at a Rally trial hosted by our club, and she thought it was so fun to hear the different ways the owners would praise their dogs throughout the course ("GOO'BOOOOOYEEEEEEEEEE!!!!") She said the dogs looked like they were enjoying themselves almost as much as the owners!

Apparently, Rally has really taken off while Obedience entries have fallen. Now, the AKC has gotten in on the act and is also sanctioning their own Rally trials.

So here's a clip of me at my second Rally class. I am the youngest in the class and it shows...I get distracted pretty easily at nice smells on the floor, at my human cousin who's taking the video, at the other dogs working the course...but I still had fun! My human says I need to work on my "place" (sitting at her left side, right next to her and close to her leg)...I have a tendency to swing out wide to sit. So you'll see her using a treat to try to get me closer in. Hey, she has lots of stuff to learn, too! You'll see her mess up one of her "about turns" (or was that supposed to be a 270 degree turn?). Enjoy!

13 comments:

  1. I'm so impressed, Sedona!!! I can't wait to see how you progress. :-)

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  2. Oh Sedona!

    My mom is looking at me and wondering why she just doesn't see me EVFUR doing anything like that!

    Furry khool work fur woo!

    I do hope your human khan improve along with woo!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra

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  3. Hey Sedona! Good to see you (& your mum) in action! Ou sure were focussed on that cookie in her hand! We are gearing up for our first APDT rally the first weekend in December, then another AKC rally the next weekend. Kinda tricky differences between the two clubs! Hope you continue to enjoy your classes; that's a great start & can't wait to see you progress! BTW, that was some pretty fancy videography, catching you in the mirror & all :)

    Rally-ing Snorts-
    Brutus the Frenchie

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  4. Hi, Sedona!
    I am sure you two are going to do it great in no time!
    Glad you had fun!
    Kisses and hugs
    Lorenza

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  5. Sedona, good luck at school. I hope you get good grades and bring the teacher an apple. It was fun watching you

    licks and sniffs, Sasha

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  6. Good luck, Sedona! We really enjoyed watching your video!

    Rally sounds fun... it's something we may do with Rory in the future.

    <3 Jessie

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  7. Oh, DONY! You did REALLY great!!! What kind of TREATS do you get!?!? Are they special ones just for when you do Rally!?!?
    Love,
    Ammy

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  8. Sedona,

    We love Rally!!! APDT Rally is great and I know that you will be terrific at it. Enjoy the treats.

    Your friend,
    Niamh

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  9. That was great, Sedona - Mom would love to try that with Thunder too. We think you did very well for your second class. Go, Sedona.

    woos, the OP Pack

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  10. Oh Sedona! WONDERFUL job!!! Rally is something I'm getting interested in too, cause obedience is just so hard for me (and for ma too hahahaa!!). That looks like lots of fun and I'm so proud of you and your mom - what a nice place!!! Look forward to hearing more about This!
    Hugs xo
    Sammie

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  11. Good job Sedona - it looks like you and your Mom can both enjoy it.

    XOXO
    Lilly, Piper, Carrleigh and Java

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  12. Hi Sedona!
    I loved watching your video! You(and your mom) did very well! The Rally looks like a lot of fun!
    Good luck in your classes! =)
    xoxo
    Thor

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  13. Hi ya pal! So glad to see and hear about your rally training. Mom has been hearing fun things about it, and we are hard at work with just basic obedience, but rally is in our mind!
    Thanks for stopping by, always nice to hear from you!

    Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
    Sierra Rose

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