What is Rally?
Rally is all about teamwork and Rottweilers love to work and please you making Rally a perfect way to improve the bond between you and your dog. As a team you navigate a course together, side-by-side, at your own brisk pace. You move through a course with signs where your dog performs different exercises. The courses are designed by the Rally judge (10-20 signs per course, depending on the class level) that include various turns and commands such as sit, down, stay, etc.
Unlimited communication from the handler to the dog is to be encouraged and not penalized. While touching isn’t allowed, you can use verbal commands, clap your hands, pat your legs and use hand signals to praise and encourage your dog.
Scoring in Rally is less rigorous than in other competitions like traditional obedience or agility. You begin with a perfect score of 100, with points deducted along with way. If you retain a score of at least 70 points, you will qualify toward earning a title. As you qualify the required number of times, you will move onto the next level.
Although AKC Rally is the main venue, if you enjoy the sport you can also participate in other challenges in WCRL/Cynosport Rally and UKC Rally.
Earning AKC Rally Titles with Your Rottweiler
Novice is for those just getting started:
- All exercises are performed with your dog on leash.
- There are 10-15 signs.
- Exercises vary from turning 360 degrees to changing paces during the course.
- You may talk, clap your hands and/or pat your legs to encourage your dog.
- To earn a title it takes three qualifying scores. Intermediate or Advanced is the second level with more challenging exercises:
- After Novice, handlers may choose which class they are ready to participate in, either the Intermediate or Advanced level.
- All exercises are performed on-leash in the Intermediate level and there is no jump required.
- All exercises are performed off-leash in the Advanced level and there is one jump required.
- There are 12-17 signs.
- To earn a title it takes three qualifying scores.
Excellent is the next level of competition. The course is similar to the Advanced level (above), but with some more challenging exercises.
- All exercises are performed off-leash.
- Handlers are not allowed to pat their legs or clap their hands to encourage the dog.
- Dogs must jump twice.
- There are 15-20 signs.
- To earn a title it takes three qualifying scores.
Master is the highest level of competition. The course is similar to the Excellent level (above), but with some more challenging exercises.
- All exercises are performed off-leash.
- Handlers are not allowed to pat their legs or clap their hands to encourage the dog.
- Dogs must jump once.
- There are 15-20 signs.
- To earn a title it takes ten qualifying scores.