Students must complete Basic Obedience or have prior approval before registering for Rally classes. Please contact us for more information!
Does your dog already know basic obedience and you want to do more with him? Our rally obedience classes might be the solution! Rally is like an obedience obstacle course for dogs and it a lot of fun!
Rally Obedience is a team sport similar to agility in that the handler guides the dog through a course. The difference is that the course is made of different signs that indicate obedience-like skills the team must perform before going on to the next sign. The team attempts to correctly complete all the signs in a specific order in the quickest time. Skills on the signs include things like sit, down, stay, and heeling.
Both the dog and handler develop strong teamwork skills in Rally. It’s also a great venue for the dog to learn self-control. Dogs of all breeds (and mixed breeds) love Rally!
Rally is much less formal than traditional competitive obedience and less physically demanding that agility. You may talk to your dog the entire time and use many different cues while doing the course.
Our rally obedience classes focus on learning the individual behaviors that the signs use and then putting those behaviors together while learning how to perform each sign. After learning the signs, they are put together into a full rally course. AKC and ASCA Rally Obedience are the primary venues we address although you can easily do other venues using the information taught in this class.
Contact us or look at the calendar for the latest class schedule.
Private lessons are also available!
Rally Obedience classes currently taught at Cowtown Dog Sports are:
Rally 1
(6 weeks)
Basic Dog Obedience is required before taking this course.
Review of sit, down, stay; Introduction to Front and Heel positions; Introduction to Left and Right Finishes. This class will help you learn the basic behaviors for Rally, help you learn Novice level signs, and practice Rally courses!
Coal having fun!
Rally 2
(6 weeks) Continued polish of basic rally skills covered in Rally Obedience 1; More Novice level signs and sequencing.
Rally Obedience A-C
(ongoing) Continuation of rally skills covered in Rally 1 and 2; Advanced, Excellent, and Masters level signs; continued practice of Rally courses.
FAQ
If I take rally obedience classes, do I have to compete?
There is no requirement that you compete in rally if you attend our classes. Our main goal is to help you and your dog learn something new while providing exercise, working as a team, and providing a “job” for the dog. However, some of our students currently do – or plan to – compete in rally and we will do our best to prepare you for competition in case you decide you want to try it.
What rally obedience venues are covered?
We mainly focus on AKC and ASCA rally. However, you will find that most rally venues are very similar in the skills that are required and thus it is not hard to participate in other venues. You just need to make sure that you learn their signs and have the
Coal
What skills will my dog learn?
Rally skills include sit, down, stand, stay, and some positional skills such as heeling and “Front”. The dogs also learn to work around distractions like food and toys.
Does my dog need previous training?
We require teams that would like to do rally go through our Basic Dog Obedience class first. This is to make sure that the dogs have an understanding of basic training skills such as sit, down, stay, and a recall. While our obedience class is designed to help any dog become a valued family member, the class will also prepare you for rally training.
How old must my dog be to start training?
We accept puppies as young as 4 months old in our Basic Dog Obedience classes. After completing Basic Obedience, they continue on to our Rally 1 class.
The great thing about Rally is that it is a great venue for both younger and older dogs! We find that older dogs enjoy spending time with their handlers and learning something new just like the younger dogs do!
Do I need a lot of equipment?
Rally obedience doesn’t require much in the way of equipment! All you need is a treat bag full of treats and a leash at the beginning stages. Some other inexpensive training tools may be added, but many of these can be found around your house or easily acquired. Many of the skills can be practiced in your living room!