Rally

If you enjoy Rally with your dog, taking advanced rally classes is worth considering. Rally is a dynamic and engaging dog sport that blends elements of traditional obedience with the excitement of a timed course. While many dog owners start with basic rally classes to...

In the world of performance dog training, mastering the down from a stand is a fundamental skill. While many dogs are accustomed to downs from a sit, teaching them to transition seamlessly from a stand requires a specific approach. In this blog, we'll explore...

If you're a dog owner looking for a new and exciting way to bond with your furry friend, you might want to consider the benefits of rally. This fun and dynamic sport combines the precision of traditional obedience with the excitement of a rally-style course. Here's...

Strategic reward placement in dog training can make a world of difference in the accuracy of your obedience and rally behaviors.  Imagine a typical training session with your dog. Your pup performs the desired behavior, and you promptly reward them. Job done, right?...

When you are doing a rally class with your dog, do you struggle to remember when to have your dog sit in heel versus moving forward?  If yes, you are not alone!  One of the biggest struggles with Rally is remembering all those pesky little rules.   Let's take a...

Everyone would like to improve their scores in rally! It might be surprising to learn that many points are lost to preventable things, like completing the sign incorrectly. Handler errors are by far the most common reason for deductions in rally. Read on to learn five...

Embarking on the journey of rally with your dog can be rewarding, but it's crucial not to overlook a skill that's often underestimated – ignore the signs and cones on the ground. In the competitive world of rally, these seemingly insignificant objects can become...

There are a few different ways to teach a stand for obedience and rally.  You can simply teach your dog to walk forward into the stand, but this will result in the dog being ahead of heel position.  Many people choose to teach the dog a kickback stand, meaning that...

In the world of dog performance, achieving flawless sits in heel position is crucial for success. While it may seem like a simple skill, training reliable straight sits requires time, patience, and strategic techniques. In this guide, we'll explore some effective...

If you compete in the rally master class, your dog needs to know a left and right spin, but this skill isn’t only for rally dogs.  A counter-clockwise, or left spin, is a fun skill that can add enjoyment and precision to your heel. Teaching your dog to heel doesn't...

One of the more challenging skills in rally and obedience, for both dogs and their handlers, is the front after a jump. This skill requires the dog to clear a jump and then promptly sit in front of their handler. This is a complex task that can take time to master....

Before delving into the specifics of jumping exercises for agility, rally, and obedience, it's essential to instill in your dog the idea that jumping is not only enjoyable but also rewarding, which can be done by incorporating jumping games into your training! These...

In dog training, there is a valuable behavior known as fly which involves teaching a dog to circle a cone. This skill has proven incredibly useful in various training sessions, such as heeling and front games, introducing the concept of striding out on the broad jump,...

It's not uncommon for dogs to be distracted by cones during rally or other training exercises such as the obedience figure 8. There could be a few reasons why dogs may be distracted by the cones rather than staying in the correct heel position.     Why Might...

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have our dogs on leash when we train for obedience and rally.  Right from the beginning our dogs would learn to stay by our sides and pay attention to us.  I consider myself very fortunate that I have a facility in which I can train off...

It's not easy to navigate a rally course while staying connected to your dog. Many dogs need a lot of connection from their handlers, and if we don't give it to them they will often disconnect and their attention will wander. When there are a whole bunch of...

If I could pick one behavior that is most important to teach your dog, it would be eye contact.  More importantly, it would be offered eye contact, in other words, you don’t cue it, but rather the dog does it on his own.   Eye Contact Starts Work   I use...

You've spent some time teaching your dog the value of the pivot bowl and your dog understands how to stay on it.  (If you missed this blog on introducing the pivot bowl, be sure to check it out!)  Next, we'll focus on movement!   Teaching Movement on the Pivot...

  There is one method that has become extremely popular for teaching heel position, left turns, pivots, and rear end awareness.  Different trainers call it different things.  I’ve heard the terms brick work, perch work, pivot bowl, pivot disc, and more.  I refer...

The Dog Circles Right Handler Circles Left is one Master sign that many people dread, but it’s not nearly as difficult as it seems!  If you think of this sign as two left about turns in place, you’ll realize your dog already has the skills he needs to be able to...