Novice B rally

[Liesje]

OK, I'm *still* trying to figure these classes out! My understanding is that in rally, the A/B distinction is (or can be) based on the dog, rather than the handler. For example, last spring we were in Advanced A (I've never done agility before, Kenya had just moved up from Novice). I was competing against someone that has titled several dogs in Rally, even RAEs, but she was in Advanced A because the dog had just moved up. The way I understand it is that the Advanced and Excellent classes are where the RAE dogs are competing, b/c they've already earned an RA and/or RE title so they move into the B class.

But what about Novice B? If I try Nikon in Rally, is he Novice A or B? Or do I simply choose?

[Kayla's Dad]

From the AKC rules and regulations: Chapter 3 under the Rally section:

The Rally Novice A Class: To be eligible for entry in this class, dogs
may not have won an AKC Rally Novice (RN) title or any AKC obedience title prior to the close of entries. A handler must own the dog entered or be a member of the owner’s household or immediate family.
<u>The handler may not have previously handled any dog that has earned an AKC rally title or any AKC obedience title.</u>

So you would be going through the B group with Nikon.

[selzer]

It is all pretty confusing. Everett was direct and to the point.

But since Rally is kind of a door way to Obedience and Agility, they will allow you to be in Novice A in Obedience even if you have a Rally title, but they will not let you be in Novice A in Rally if you have an obedience title.

As you move up beyond novice, it depends more on the dog:

Since Arwen has a CD, if I chose to go into Rally Advanced, I would have to enter the B class.

Babsy only has a RN, so she would move up to Rally Advanced, class A.

I could title all my dogs in RA being in Class A, save Arwen.

In novice, you can only title one dog or dogs being titled simultaneously in class A. Once you finish tht first dog, you have to move to class B with all the rest of your dogs.

After getting an RA, you may want to continue showing in RA but you must then move to class B.

I think that this is good as people who have an RE will continue to show in the Advanced and Excellent classes to complete an RAE. These dogs should be at a higher level than dogs going for their first three qualifying scores for their RA.

[Liesje]

Thanks guys! I totally forgot about the "other obedience title" bit. Makes sense. So, Nikon would be Novice B but he could be Advanced A, right? (he has no titles)

[Liesje]

Sue I agree, I like that the RAE dogs are in their own class.