What is Rally?

Rally is a fun and exciting team sport for dogs and their handlers!

Dog and Handler teams navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform such as Sit-Down-Sit and Straight Figure 8 at the lower levels, and Send Over Jump or Recall Over Jump for advanced teams.

Teams navigate the course at a brisk, continuous performance without direction from the judge. Handlers are encouraged to talk to their dogs during the performance. Some venues allow food rewards at specified times. No special equipment is needed, making practice at home a lot easier.

• Rally classes are held several time a year at Blue Ridge K-9. Tell your instructor if you're interested.
• Rally Run-Throughs are not competitive and offer fun and practice at navigating a course with a much lower cost than trial entry fees. Blue Ridge K-9 holds them a on an occasional basis—again, tell your instructor if you're interested.
• Rally events are sanctioned by AKC, UKC, and APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers).

To compete in a Rally Trial, your dog must be registered with the sponsoring organization (a one-time process) and you pre-register for the trial, following instructions in the trial premium.

In the past, AKC competitions were only open to purebred dogs, but a new mixed-breed category has been introduced.

In UKC, all dogs may compete.

In APDT, all dogs—purebred, mixed breeds, and dogs with disabilities—are encouraged to participate.

Rules are similar across sponsoring organizations, but with some significant differences, so read them carefully if you plan to compete.

Trials typically include Novice (on-leash), Advanced, and Excellent in AKC, or Level 1 (on-leash), Level 2, and Level 3 in APDT. A team earns a Rally title (for example, RN or RL1) after successfully completing three course runs with qualifying scores.

See also What is a Title, Really?