Rally

Rally

Rally promotes a positive relationship between the dog and its owner, and it is a great way for the beginner to start trialling with their dog. Rally was designed as a way to introduce people who are working through their obedience levels into the world of dog sports and for everyone, whether they are seasoned triallers or not, to simply just have fun with their dog. Rally provides an environment where the handler can encourage their dog by talking and rewarding by voice, but not handling the dog in any way.

Rally is often described as a combination of Agility and Obedience. A Rally course is set out with numbered stations including a start and finish. Handlers have the opportunity to walk the course to become familiar with it before competing. Dog and handler then navigate the course by following the numbers and carrying out the exercise shown on the sign positioned at each of the numbered stations. Dogs work in the “Heel” position between exercises.

At the entry level of Novice, dogs negotiate a course having between 10 and 15 signs (not including the start and finish) and work on lead during the test. There is a total of 76 signs available to be placed on a Rally course gradually increasing in complexity as the level of Rally becomes higher. The higher levels of Rally, Advanced, Excellent and Master use up to 24 signs including many of the more complex ones and the dog is required to navigate the course with the handler off lead. Encouragement by the use of word rewards and hand signals are permitted, but not touching the dog in any way.

In Rally competitors complete the course on their own while a Judge scores the round, but does not give voice commands or offer assistance. Rally has a far more relaxed atmosphere than other dog sports and each run is a different series of exercises and you never know what the course will be until you do the preliminary walk through.

Rally Competitions

There are Four levels of obedience in Australia, RN (3 passes), RA (3 Passes), RE (5 Passes), and RM (7 Passes) which become progressively more challenging. Most levels require a pass of 75 points or more out of 100, and the dog must pass every exercise within the level.  All the exercises are based on useful things dogs can do for us and which make for a better companion.

Rally Novice Class – R.N.

Rally Novice - For Dogs six months of age or over and of either sex which are not eligible for the title of Rally Novice (RN). Under no circumstances except where an application for a RN Title has been rejected on a technicality, shall a dog which has competed in a Rally Advanced A Class be eligible to compete in the Rally Novice Class. All exercises are judged on lead. Rally Novice must have between ten (10) – fifteen (15) stations (start and finish not included); no more than five (5) stationary exercises.

Rally Advanced Class – R.A.

Rally Advanced - This class shall be for dogs that have qualified for the Rally Novice (RN) Title. All exercises are judged off lead. Rally Advanced must have between twelve (12) – seventeen (17) stations (start & finish not included) and use a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 10 stationary exercises; and requires one jump. Courses shall have a minimum of 4 Advanced level stations, including the jump.

Rally Excellent Class – R.E.

Rally Excellent - This class shall be for dogs that have qualified for the Rally Advanced (RA) Title. All exercises are judged off lead. The Excellent class must have fifteen (15) - twenty (20) stations (not including Start and Finish) and use a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 10 stationary exercises and requires two jumps (not consecutive). Courses shall have a minimum of 6 Advanced level stations and a minimum of 4 Excellent level stations, including the jumps. Jumps may be a Broad Jump, Solid Jump, Bar Jump. A station consists of a single jump. One or two types of jump may be used on the course. A single jump may be used in two stations. Jumps must not be used consecutively on the course.

Rally Master Class – R.M.

Rally Master - This class shall be for dogs that have qualified for the Rally Excellent Title (R.E.). All exercises are judged off lead and there will be no jumps in this class. Rally Master must have between eighteen (18) and twenty four (24) stations (start and finish not included) with no more than ten (10) stationary exercises. The course must contain a minimum of 4 Excellent and 3 Master Class stations. 7

Rally Advanced/Excellent Title – R.A.E

Signifying Rally Advanced Excellent - To qualify for the title of RAE a dog and Handler team having gained its Rally Excellent (RE) title, must receive an additional minimum of five (5) qualifying scores, in both the Rally Advanced and Rally Excellent Classes at the same trial, of 80 points or more out of a possible perfect score of 100, under at least two different Judges. All qualifications gained in the Advanced B and Excellent B Classes towards an R.A.E. Title that were gained prior to 1st January 2021 will remain valid. From 1st January 2021 any additional qualifying scores required for an R.A.E. Title will be gained from the Advanced & Excellent Classes at the same trial.

Rally Champion Title – R.CH

Signifying Rally Champion. The Member Body will receive applications for the title of Rally Champion R.CH in connection with each dog which, having gained its Rally Master (RM) title, thereafter gains a further ten (10) qualifying scores of 90 or more points in the Rally Master Class under at least three (3) different Judges.

Rules for the conduct of Rally Trials can be downloaded from the Dog Australia website.