Rally

Ever heard of Rally dog training? Why not? Come join the fun that is Rally!

Rally improves the communication between handler and dog and it helps build and maintain that bond. Any breed dog and any type of handler can do Rally. You do not have to be fit or a super star athlete to do Rally, and neither does your dog. Rally is great for young and old.

During practice, you learn that this sport is all about giving your dog the right motivation to perform the right command at the right time. Rally is based on Obedience but includes ‘tricks’ and some agility, it is a wonderful discipline to start with, to end with, to do all the time. Instead of waiting for the judge / steward’s instructions, Rally competitors proceed around a course of designated stations, set up by the trainer / judge. The team of dog & handler focuses on developing communicative strategies to fulfil tasks and complete the course. No matter the level at which you do Rally, the key to success is to learn how to sync your pace with your dog’s and to do it with a ‘smile in your step’. There are about 100 different Rally signs in total, however each course consists of 10 to 20 signs that instruct the team, who proceed around the course and at each sign they perform the instruction at that sign. Rally is quite easy training and it is also fun.

Rally was started in the early 1990’s in Canada, USA and some European countries as an alternative to normal competition obedience (less regimental) and quickly grew as a sport separate from all other disciplines.

Here in the Western Cape, Tinus van der Vyver put his focus on Rally Obedience from 2019 and together with the relatively new Western Province Provincial Rally sub-committee, a schedule was submitted to and approved by KUSA in mid 2020 and so the sport was born in South Africa.

Rally is trained on Sundays at CHDC, please enquire with the Rally representative should you have any queries.

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