Just signed up for Rally-O classes

[Caledon]

Almost finished Level 4 - working on dumbbell retrieve, down on recall and find it. Wow - lots to work on with this level.

So, now I'm signing up for a beginner class in Rally-O. This will be pefect to fine-tune heeling, which we are not good at. Looks like I'm going to luck out again as I think the class will only be three, one person is repeating it, the other has switched handlers, and then there will be Dakota an I, totally new.

Just printed some flash cards and am going to get a head start on learning the signs.

I did watch our instructor take her dog through this in May where he got his last of three.

[Caledon]

Sorry, I didn't post my question.

My instructor said that succes in Rally-O depends on the handler's ability to learn the signs and react quickly. It sounds as if your dog can easily lose interest if fast movement through the course is not maintained.

She also said that on several ocassions an instructor has taken a dog though the classroom trial that was not performing for the handler, and had amazing results.

Any tips?

[BlackPuppy]

Wow, if you are on Level 4, you will have no problem with Rally. I hope you're not bored IN CLASS.

Balto really loves Rally. It's much more interesting than sitting in one place for a whole minute.

[BlackPuppy]

After Balto finished his RN, I took an advanced Rally class and my instructor was so off on all the advice she gave me. Balto just got confused. I just learned the signs on my own with little tips from friends and the AKC Rally Yahoo Group.

And in some of those trials the signs are so close together if you take 3 big steps you're there, so you can't always walk briskly. Walk a speed that your dog is comfortable with under the circumstances. If something doesn't fit your style, use verbal signals to help the dog.

I practice my footwork for all the signs so the dog knows exactly what's coming by my speed or foot direction - and sometimes hand direction. At a trial, you get time for walk throughs, make sure you don't rush, and make sure you read every sign and it says what you think it says. Sometimes the course maps don't match the sign. Ask the judge if you're confused about something. Bring your regulations with you to a triail. Know Left from Right. LOL!

[BlackPuppy]

One thing that people lose points for is the Left Pivot. The dog and handler are supposed to move together as a unit, yet some handlers rush the pivot while the dog is delayed in reacting. My dog knows that "Get In" means that he's going to be doing some kind of backwards movement and he needs to stay in position, so I do my 180 Left pivots in 3 foot movements that my dog can easily match.

[Kayla's Dad]

I agree with what Carole has said so far. A couple of things on what I've seen posted.

I would not so much say to keep a fast movement as a quick steady pace. My issue with encouraging people to maintain a fast pace is that they rush some of the movements - like the pivot and exercises where they need to hesitate two-three seconds before continuing to the next exercise.

On the pivot that Carole was mentioning, in our classes we put down a small circle like a paper plate and have the class practice their pivots and about turns on the plate without stepping off. Same for the about turns. Just remember that the pivots and the left/right turns are entirely different movement of your feet which your dog will pick up on. I also did the three step pivot steps. And two step for the left and right turns.

The exercises where you really need to hestitate before continuing to the next exercise is another area people lose points in a lot. On exercises where you need to perform a exercise and then start up with a heel again learn to count out two/three seconds before starting to heel to the next exercise. With one judge, even though we silently counted out "one thousand one thousand two.." to three seconds, we still got docked for not hesitating. So next time in his ring, several went to loud mode - "Hesitate 1, hestitate 2, hesitate 3, okay heel!" He had his sense of humor and none of us got docked, well at least for that. And his wife who's also a judge-almost don't have to pause in her ring.

The most important part of Rally - interact and encourage your dog throughout and make it as much fun as you can for both of you. You want the dog up but in control and you really want both of you to enjoy the experience.

[Caledon]

Wow these are great. Thanks to both!

I dont' think my instructor meant fast movement as in racing through the course, but rather keep things moving so your dog doesn't lose interest.

[Kayla's Dad]

Originally Posted By: MaryWI dont' think my instructor meant fast movement as in racing through the course, but rather keep things moving so your dog doesn't lose interest.

[Caledon]

Printed and cut the flash cards. There is a lot to learn!

I was looking for some videos on left and right pivots, but was didn't find them, mostly because I stared to watch Rally-O trials. I think I will have problems with these. Does anyone know a you-tube video that demostrates how to train for them?