AKC rally novice exercises (prep for upcoming national)
Ask for explanations as needed. Also, Dawn, general handling advice for newbies? Judi? You know the signs inside and out. You're on call to help out here too  - KB RALLY SIGNS AND DESCRIPTIONS Designated wording and symbols for rally signs—Judges may use duplicates of stations marked with an asterisk in designing their courses. The principal parts of the exercises are boldface and underlined. THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES MAY BE USED IN ALL CLASS LEVELS 1. START–Indicates the beginning of the course. Dog does not have to be sitting at start. 2. FINISH–Indicates the end of the course–timing stops. 3. HALT–Sit–While heeling, the handler halts and the dog sits in heel position. The team then moves forward, with the dog in heel position. (Stationary exercise) 4. HALT–Down Dog–While heeling, the handler halts and the dog sits. The handler then commands and/or signals the dog to down, followed by the command to heel forward from the down position. (Stationary exercise) 5. *Right Turn–Performed as a 90° turn to the right, as in traditional obedience. 6. *Left Turn–Performed as a 90° turn to the left, as in traditional obedience. 7. *About Turn–Right–While heeling, the team makes a 180° about turn to the handler’s right. 8. *About “U” Turn–While heeling, the team makes a 180° turn to the handler’s left. 9. *270° Right Turn–While heeling, the team makes a 270° turn to the handler’s right. 270° turns are performed as a tight circle, but not around the exercise sign. 10. *270° Left Turn–While heeling, the team makes a 270° turn to the handler’s left. 270° turns are performed as a tight circle, but not around the exercise sign. 11. 360° Right Turn–While heeling, the team makes a 360° turn to the handler’s right. 360° turns are performed as a tight circle, but not around the exercise sign. 12. 360° Left Turn–While heeling, the team makes a 360° turn to the handler’s left. 360° turns are performed as a tight circle, but not around the exercise sign. 13. Call Dog Front–Finish Right–Forward–While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to the front position (dog sits in front and faces the handler). The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to sit in the front position. Second part of the exercise directs the handler to command and/or signal the dog to change from the front position by moving to the handler’s right, around behind the handler, toward heel position. As the dog clears the handler’s path, the handler moves forward before the dog has completely returned to the heel position. The dog does not sit before moving forward in heel position with the handler. (Stationary exercise) 14. Call Dog Front–Finish Left–Forward–While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to the front position (dog sits in front and faces the handler). The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to sit in the front position. Second part of the exercise directs the handler to command and/or signal the dog to change from the front position by moving to the handler’s left toward heel position. As the dog clears the handler’s path, the handler moves forward before the dog has completely returned to the heel position. The dog does not sit before moving forward in heel position with the handler. (Stationary exercise) 15. Call Dog Front–Finish Right–HALT–While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to the front position (dog sits in front and faces the handler). The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to sit in the front position. Second part is the finish to the right, where the dog must return to heel position by moving around the right side of the handler. Dog must sit in heel position before moving forward with the handler. (Stationary exercise) 16. Call Dog Front–Finish Left–HALT–While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to the front position (dog sits in front and faces the handler). The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to a sit in the front position. Second part is the finish to the left, where the dog must return to heel position by moving around the left side of the handler and sit in heel position. Dog must sit in heel position before moving forward in heel position with the handler. (Stationary exercise) 17. *Slow Pace–Dog and handler must slow down noticeably. This must be followed by a normal pace unless it is the last station on the course. 18. *Fast Pace–Dog and handler must speed up noticeably. This must be followed by a normal pace. 19. *Normal Pace–Dog and handler must move forward, walking briskly and naturally. This station can only be used after a change of pace. 20. Moving Sidestep Right–While heeling, the handler takes one step to the right, leading with the right foot, and continues moving forward along the newly established line. The dog moves with the handler. The exercise shall be performed just before the exercise sign. (This exercise shall be considered a change of direction and the sign shall be placed directly in line with the handler’s path requiring the handler and dog to sidestep to the right to pass the sign.) 21. Spiral Right–Dog Outside–This exercise requires three pylons or posts placed in a straight line with spaces between them of approximately 6-8 feet. Spiral Right indicates the handler must turn to the right when moving around each pylon or post. This places the dog on the outside of the turns (see 1A and 1B). The exercise sign is placed near or on the first pylon or post where the spiral is started. 22. Spiral Left–Dog Inside–This exercise requires three pylons or posts placed in a straight line with spaces between them of approximately 6- 8 feet. Spiral Left indicates that the handler must turn to the left when moving around each pylon or post. This places the dog on the inside of the turns (see 2). The exercise sign is placed near or on the first pylon or post where the spiral is started. 23. Straight Figure 8 Weave Twice–This exercise requires four pylons or posts placed in a straight line with spaces between them of approximately 6-8 feet. The exercise sign is placed near or on the first pylon or post where the exercise is started. Entry into the weaving pattern is with the first pylon or post at the dog/handler’s left side. The dog and handler must complete the entire exercise by passing the last pylon or post. 24. Serpentine Weave Once–This exercise requires pylons or posts placed in a straight line with spaces between them of approximately 6-8 feet. The exercise sign is placed near or on the first pylon or post where the exercise starts. Entry into the weaving pattern is with the first pylon or post at the dog/handler’s left side. The dog and handler must complete the entire exercise by passing the last pylon or post. It should be noted that in this exercise, the team does not weave back through the obstacles as they do in the Straight Figure 8. 25. HALT–1, 2 and 3 Steps Forward–The handler halts and the dog sits in heel position to begin the exercise. The handler takes one step forward and halts with the dog maintaining heel position. The dog sits when the handler halts. This is followed by two steps forward– halt, and three steps forward–halt, with the dog heeling each time the handler moves forward and sitting each time the handler halts. (Stationary exercise) 26. Call Front–1, 2 and 3 Steps Backward–While heeling, the handler stops forward motion and calls the dog to the front position (dog sits in front and faces the handler). The handler may take several steps backward as the dog turns and moves to a sit in the front position. With the dog in the front position, the handler takes one step backward and halts. The dog moves with the handler and sits in the front position as the handler halts. This is followed by the handler taking two steps backward and a halt, and three steps backward and a halt. Each time, the dog moves with the handler to the front position and sits as the handler halts. The handler then commands and/or signals the dog to resume heel position. When returning to the heel position, the dog does not sit before the handler moves forward. (Stationary exercise) 27. Stop and Down–While moving with the dog in heel position, the handler commands and/or signals the dog to down as the handler comes to a stop next to the dog. Once the dog is completely down, the handler moves forward, commanding the dog to move forward from down position. (Stationary exercise) 28. HALT–Fast Forward from Sit–The handler halts and the dog sits in heel position. With the dog sitting in heel position, the handler commands and/or signals the dog to heel and immediately moves forward at a fast pace. This must be followed by a normal pace. (Stationary exercise) 29. Left About Turn–While moving with the dog in heel position, the handler makes an about turn to the left, while at the same time, the dog must move around the handler to the right and into heel position. The dog does not sit before moving forward in heel position with the handler. 30. HALT and Walk Around Dog–Handler halts and dog sits. With the dog sitting in heel position, the handler commands and/or signals the dog to stay, then proceeds to walk around the dog to the left, returning to heel position. The handler must pause in heel position before moving forward to the next station. (Stationary exercise) 31. HALT–Down–Walk Around Dog–Handler halts and dog sits. With the dog sitting in heel position, the handler commands and/or signals the dog to down and stay, then proceeds to walk around the dog to the left, returning to heel position. The handler must pause in heel position before moving forward to the next station. The dog heels forward from the down position. (Stationary exercise) |
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| Too bad the pictures don't post - they really do help. Every sign (station) has the basic words (the ones Kristine posted in blue) along w/ the picture. It helps you a lot as you get to each sign. Some people have the sign numbers memorized - I never saw the need to go to that much work (and they are in tiny letters as well). I use the picture and words and the walk thru time before to imprint it. In the walk thru time (when you can walk and learn the course - done without your dog) I walk through the course like my dog is there - so the whole muscle memory thing comes into play. I walk around cones like my dog is there, make turns like he is there. That means I am allowing space for him to fit through places and not hit the cones or signs. I spend most of my walk time doing footwork, then when my dog is there on the real thing, it all works out (most of the time!) When doing the course, most signs are at your side as you do them - and the signs need to be on your right. Of course there are a few exceptions - serpentines weaves - because you enter weaves on your dog's left (like in agility), and a spiral may enter oddly too. Some are placed dead in front of you, and you turn or move - left turn, right turn, U and about turns, moving side step right. Oh - and remember you can talk to your dog (but no swearing...  ) - in addition to saying the command and giving the signal; you may pat your leg, lure like you have a treat (save for moments of desperation), clap your hands and in novice your dog is on a leash. What you don't want is a tight lead. Anytime your lead is pulled tight between you and the dog, you will lose points. It doesn't matter if you pull or the dog pulls - you will lose points. That's why advanced and excellent are sometimes easier - no leash to worry about! And points.... You start out with 100 points. You need 70 to qualify. Each station is worth 10 points - so if you miss it (people are known to space out a whole station and walk by the sign) you lose 10 points, or if it is totally incorrectly done, you lose 10 points. Most times you just lose a point or 2 if some part is sloppy. And the usual obedience things are true too - lose points for lagging, sniffing, barking, all that jazz. |
| I feel it can be overwhelming to look at the big picture sometimes, so I like to break everything into small steps. Rally is FUN! And doable if your dog knows the following things: 1) Heel 2) Sit 3) Down 4) Front 5) Finishes (left and right) If you know those things getting through the course isn't too bad. Just brush up on your trouble spots. I can organize a brush up at our hotel lot on Monday night for anyone interested. Just let me know if you would like to do it so I don't cart my signs if nobody has an interest. |
| From the Fashionesta !!!! Buckle collars only. NO tags on the collar. NO bling or adornments in the puppers hair  No bandana's  NO glitter or painted nails ON the pup. The dog goes in naked...except for a top knot or piggies..(they are ok) |
| Actually with collars, a few more besides buckle are allowed - Chain or nylon choke collars, and martingale collars are OK as well. No pinch or prongs, no gentle leaders or haltis, no harnesses. The rest are all true - pretty plain bling....  I have gotten by with colored rubber bands...... |
| can bella wear her bow for instinct testing or is that naked too????? |
sheepiegail wrote: can bella wear her bow for instinct testing or is that naked too????? Topknot or pigtails, etc allowed so they can see; not sure they ever have a bow being brought up on a herding dog as a question! Here is the link : http://www.ahba-herding.org/MainPage.php?AreaName=HCT The only dog garb related rule I saw was buckle or snaplock collars only. |
sheepiegail wrote: can bella wear her bow for instinct testing or is that naked too????? Sorry. Naked. Well, not really naked: they have to wear a buckle or snap collar (absolutely no choke or prong collars, or head halters or harnesses. Or bow ) She can wear bows outside the ring or arena, just not while working.Don't want to confuse the sheep, I guess  If they're tiny almost unnoticable bows, that may be OK. But whatever you do make sure her hair stays up. One dog who shall remain unnamed got himself all worked up and, half sighted through the hair, ran himself into a fence  Kristine |
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