Rally Obedience: Turning basic obedience into fun and flashy tricks!
By Randi Benko
A lot of people think that Rally Obedience is a stuffy, boring sport. I thought the same thing! I tried it out to give my busy dog something slow and thoughtful to do and I fell in love with it. It helped build a better connection between me and my dog and helped work our on and off leash skills, and we have had a lot of fun doing it! I also think people assume it is an “easy” sport. While CKC Novice and Intermediate are relatively easy, it’s a very challenging sport that requires dedication and training.
Rally Obedience, or Rally-O, is a sport that sees dogs and handlers maneuver through a numbered course within an allotted time. On the course, you will see between 10 and 20 stations, depending on the level and the organization. Station signs are made up of sits, downs, pace changes, turns, and more. Once you get to the higher levels, you will also see jumps, tunnels, and weave poles! Rally turns basic obedience into fun and flashy tricks.
Two main Rally associations regularly hold trials in Saskatchewan: the Canadian Association of Rally Obedience (CARO) and the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). Other provinces have other associations, such as Canine-Work and Games (C-WAGS) and United Kennel Club (UKC) that also offer Rally Obedience.
Canadian Association of Rally Obedience (CARO)
CARO is an extremely inclusive and welcoming association. Purebred and mix breeds are welcome to play, and you can apply for handler and dog modifications if needed – for example, if you can’t pivot due to your bad knee or your older dog requires a lower (or no) jump, you can apply for those modifications. CARO wants you and your dog to be able to participate and to have fun doing it!
To compete in a CARO trial, you must obtain a one-time registration number for your dog. Once your dog is registered, you can compete in in-person and virtual trials. Virtual trials?! Yes! Every year, CARO hosts two virtual trials. These take place in the spring and fall and usually do not have an entry limit. Judges are assigned to each class, and you set up your course according to the judges’ maps, record your run, and send it to the appropriate judge. You are scored the same as in person trials and all qualifying scores go towards your dog’s title. This is a great option for remote locations that host very few trials or for folks with reactive dogs.
In CARO, there are 5 main classes: Novice, Advanced, Excellent, Versatility, and Versatility Excellent. For each of these, dogs and handlers start with 200 points and may incur deductions based on the performance of each station sign. Each class requires 3 qualifying runs, with a minimum score of 170 per run, to earn that class title. All classes have between 15 and 20 station signs, which include Start and Finish and may contain station signs selected from all classes up to and including that class. All classes have a time limit of 3 minutes, except for Novice, which may be 3 or 4 minutes, depending on the judge and their course.
Novice, Advanced, and Excellent see dogs heeling on the handler’s left side. In Novice and Advanced, handlers may use physical praise (petting) and/or food rewards at dedicated station signs. Once at the Excellent level, physical and food rewards are no longer permitted. Versatility and Versatility Excellent are the same as Excellent, though dogs will change heel position, from right to left or left to right, 3 or 4 times throughout the course. As you move to the higher classes, station signs become more complex, testing the skills of dogs and handlers.
CARO also has several other titling opportunities: Regular Championship, Lifetime Achievement Award, Supreme Championship, Brace, Team, and Team Champion. Each of these additional titles takes dedication and serious skill to achieve!
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)
The Canadian Kennel Club is the primary registry for purebred dogs in Canada, and as such, focuses on purebred, registered dogs. That does not mean mixes or unregistered dogs can’t compete, it just means there are a few more steps to register them to play. For mixed breed or unregistered dogs, CKC requires a one-time registration fee to be paid to enter trials, though, once registered, dogs can enter most other CKC sanctioned sports. CKC registered dogs do not need an additional registration number to be able to compete.
Many CKC Rally Obedience trials are held in conjunction with conformation shows. This can add additional challenges, as it makes for an extra distracting environment, especially for those not accustomed to that type of environment, so proofing in public spaces will be beneficial to your success! However, there are also independently run trials for those who need a little less activity.
While CKC does not allow for modifications for dogs, modifications to the course may be made for handlers with disabilities, at the judge’s discretion, so long as the modification does not aid the dog’s performance and the dog performs all the station signs.
In CKC, there are 5 main classes: Novice, Intermediate (optional), Advanced, Excellent, and Master. Each class requires 3 qualifying runs, under 2 or more judges, to earn that class title. As with CARO, you are judged on your performance of each station sign, starting with 100 points and incurring deductions based on the judge’s opinion of your performance. All classes have a 4-minute time allotment.
Novice and Intermediate classes are performed on a leash and require a minimum score of 70 to pass. While Intermediate is not a required level, it is a nice option to remain on-leash for those dogs that may need more time before moving on to Advanced. Dogs may compete in Intermediate indefinitely. Advanced and Excellent classes also require a minimum score of 70 points to pass, though dogs compete off-leash. Master classes are off-leash as well, but require a minimum score of 85 to pass.
Like CARO, CKC has several additional titling opportunities: Advanced Excellent, Master Excellent, Champion, and Grand Champion. Some CKC Rally Obedience trials may also offer Brace and Team classes, though these are unofficial classes with no title associated.
Which association should I choose?
Why choose?! Playing in both associations offers similar platforms, with some fun and unique differences. The important thing is that you are getting out with your dog, learning something new, increasing your bond, and exercising their minds and bodies! One of the biggest things to keep in mind on your rally journey is the importance of using a rewards-based training system because you want a happy, working partner, not a robot!
Whether you choose to compete with CKC or CARO (or both!), or if you just want to get out and do something with your dog, I encourage you to give Rally Obedience a try!
