If you have dog that loves fun (and most do) and you feel that you could do with some exercise too, Rally is the sport for you. Instead of the break-neck pace of agility, Rally calls for a brisk continuous pace. No, there are no obstacles here like in agility, there are numbered signs which indicate the different exercises to be performed. Sit-Down-Sit, Straight Figure Eight, Send Over Jump, Pivot 180° Right, Spiral Right with Dog on the Outside, Side Step Right, and Drop on Recall are the exercises to be performed and completion depends on the obedience and trust between the dog and the handler. Handlers are allowed to encourage the dog during the course of the event.
Handlers and dogs just beginning together or retiring from other sports find Rally to be perfect. The intense and overpowering sense of competition in other sports is replaced by a friendly atmosphere. The aim is to have fun and hence there is no bar on breeds, purebreds or mixed breeds – the more, the merrier. Age, gender and size do not matter. In fact, in some places even handicapped dogs can take part in the competitions. If you plan to enrol your dog for the sport, you can look at taking the dog to classes where training is imparted. In keeping with the laid back approach of the sport, trainings are imparted to all age groups. Puppies over six months, adult dogs and even dogs past their prime can be enrolled into separate batches.
Why should you take part in this sport? Exercise is welcome both to the handler and the dog and being active is one of the primary reasons why people enrol for this sport. Some others plan to seek laurels in high profile competitions and take this sport as the first step on that arduous route. Then there are others who after the rigors of having competed in high profile events plan to scale down activities.
In the United States, the major sanctioning bodies are American Kennel Club (AKC); World Cynosport; Canine Work and Games (C-Wags) and, Canines, and Humans United (CHU). The AKC events are open to dogs registered with the AKC, a team of handler and dog starts with 100 points with a judge making deductions for any mistakes committed. Each dog needs to qualify under multiple judges to earn a title. The dogs are categorized into Novice (beginners who perform on leash), Advanced (off leash and those who have completed the novice title) and Excellent (who have got the Advanced titles and navigate through 15 to 20 stations with two jumps. Titles can be earned at each level and culminates in the National Ranking Awards and different championship titles. In some events the minimum qualifying age for the dogs to enter competition is 18 months.