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 Section I. Exercises 1. START 2. FINISH 3.HALT - Sit and Forward. While heeling, the handler halts and the dog comes to a sit in the heel position. The team then moves forward toward the next exercise sign (station), with the dog in heel position. (Stationary) Pretty straight forward. Just a halt with an automatic sit -- except in Rally you can also command the dog to sit. How long does a halt have to be to prove the dog accomplished it? Do their back ends just touch? Or do you (or should you) count to 3? Thanks in advance! When the butt hits the ground, it's a sit. Just make sure he's sitting before you take off or it's a failure to complete the exercise. 4. HALT - Down Dog and Forward. While heeling, the handler halts and the dog comes to a sit. The handler then commands the dog to down, followed by the command to heel forward from the down. (Stationary) Also pretty clear -- handler comes to a halt and the dog sits, then the dog is commanded to down, and then the team goes to the next station. 5. Right Turn. Performed as a 90º turn to the right. Although it says 90 degree turn to the right, this should not be performed in a military style where you stop and pivot to turn. I have seen people do this. Just like in Obedience, you sort of "slightly round" the corner so the turn is smooth. It should take two steps to complete the change of direction. Of course, that's not a hard and fast rule, just smooth handling. 6. Left Turn. Performed as a 90º turn to the left. As above, but to the left. If 90 degrees is expressly indicated, and the arrow has no rounded corner, then the footwork should express that message. On some of the other turns, the angles are obviously curved allowing more flexibility on the turn. Pivots have a stop sign "halt" indicated on the sign. The 90 degree turns should be slightly curved, but the AKC signs probably will not show a curve on the arrow. Any 90 degree turn, ideally, should take two steps to complete. Am I going to penalize someone for taking 4 steps? No. Am I going to penalize someone for doing a pivot in place? Depends on if they STOP in place to do it. If the turn is smooth and continuous -- no penalty. Here, in Obedience, the corner should be "slightly" rounded. Otherwise, you're really talking about stopping to make the turn which is not "smooth" or "natural." Bud's signs did indicate a slight curve on the turns, but the AKC signs show a "corner". I think only because it was easier to draw. Again, Rally is not that precise either way, but if the participants have a chance to go on to Obedience, they need to learn what would be expected there. 7. About Turn - Right. While heeling, the team makes a 180º about turn to the handler's right. 8. About "U" Turn. While heeling, the team makes a 180º about turn to the handler's left. The About Turns should follow the same path forward and back, it should not be a "circle" when performing the turn. On the "Left U Turn" the dog should actually back up to stay in position. 9. 270° Right Turn. While heeling, the team makes a 270º turn that starts to the handler's right. 10. 270° Left Turn. While heeling, the team makes a 270º turn that starts to the handler's left. I'll tackle 9 and 10. I tell my students that whichever way they're facing is 12:00. A 270 Right is a tight turn to 9:00. A 270 Left is a tight turn to 3:00. If the dog is large, a larger area of movement might be necessary. This is NOT a pivot but a 3/4 circle - the smaller the better. There's one thing I've told my students, and it's helped immensely. When starting the 270 right, look to your left, that's where you'll end up. When starting the 270 left, look to your right, and that's where you'll end up. The 270 is a 3/4 turn. That means that the 270 right is *effectively* a left turn, and the 270 left is *effectively* a right turn. 11. 360 Right Turn. While heeling, the team makes a 360-degree turn (a complete circle) that starts to the handler's right. Performed as a tight circle. 12. 360 Left Turn. Same as above except turn is to the handler's left. After reading the numerous posts on what constitutes a "turn", I need to throw this question out. At our last Rally match, many people did the 360 degree circle as a 360 degree pivot. The sign definitely shows a "circle" and the description is as a circle. Now how would you score on this one? I would definitely say this is an error. In the Glossary, it says that 270 & 360 will be performed as a tight circle. To me, a 360 pivot would certainly be a tight circle. Would I expect someone with a Great Dane to do that? No. Do we want to penalize someone for doing the exercise, but a harder version of it -- or should it be for not performing it as well? It's not like they get EXTRA points if they do it even better. Hello listers. How many of you have seen people try to do the 360 or 270 by circling the sign itself? I don't know what the attraction is, but I see folks attempting this frequently when the station is in the center of the course, as opposed to against a ring gate. If someone performed the station that way in competition, would you deduct for it? Yes, I've seen it. Yes, I deducted for it (one or two points depending on how big the circle ended up being) ;o). I would think you'd have to deduct. Making the circle large enough to encompass the sign would certainly be more than the "small circle" allowed in the descriptions. 270's and 360's. I think they are walking turns. If they were pivots wouldn't it say pivot as the 90* pivot sign says. Either or is acceptable.... In the AKC rules, at the end of the descriptions, the glossary suggests that 270 and 360 degree turns: 270º, 360º -- turns are performed as a tight circle. That indicates that the turn should be fairly tight, but not a turn in place. It would depend on the dog how tight it should be, in my opinion. You would not expect a Great Dane to be able to do as tight a turn as a Chihuahua or a Sheltie. How do you score it if the team completely circles the sign? If the team circles the sign on the 360 or 270, that is an Incorrectly Performed Station--10 points. This is per Roger Ayers at a seminar. 13. Call Dog Front - Forward Right. While heeling, the handler stops his/her 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. The second part of the exercise directs the handler to move forward while commanding the dog to move from the front position to the handler's right, around behind the handler and into heel position as the handler continues forward. The dog does not sit before moving forward in heel position with the handler. (Stationary) 14. Call Dog Front - Forward left. While heeling, the handler stops his/her 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. The second part of the exercise directs the handler to move forward while commanding the dog to move from the front position to the handler's left, then turning toward the handler and moving into heel position as the handler continues forward. The dog does not sit before moving forward in heel position with the handler. (Stationary) 15. Call Dog Front - Finish Right. While heeling, the handler stops his/her 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. The second part is the finish to the right where the dog must return to the heel position by moving around the right side of the handler. Dog must sit in the heel position before moving forward in heel position with the handler. (Stationary) 16. Call Dog Front - Finish Left. While heeling, the handler stops his/her 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. The second part is the finish to the left where the dog must move to the handler's left, and sits in the heel position. Dog must sit in the heel position before moving forward in heel position with the handler. (Stationary) These signs should be discussed at as a group. In all four exercises the dog sits in front. Signs 13 & 14 have the second part of the exercise as the dog executing a finish, but the handler begins heeling when they give the command and before the dog can sit at heel. There is NO SIT at the finish on 13 & 14, but there IS on 15 & 16. The AKC signs read: Call Front, Finish Left/Right, Forward for 13 & 14, and the description will be changed to reflect the signs. Signs 15 & 16 signs read: Call Front, Finish Left/Right, Halt, and the description will be changed to reflect the signs. Hopefully, that will make it clearer as to what each exercise should be. 14 & 15: Once the dog is in the front position, you tell the dog to finish (using your particular command) and you start heeling. So you call your dog front, dog sits, you tell the dog *around* (or heel if it's a forward left or whatever), and as the dog proceeds behind/to beside you, you start heeling and the dog heels along with you. My only question would be how long do you keep your dog in a halt? I would guess just for a second or 2 and move on but am not sure. The halt is only long enough to make sure the dog has come to a complete sit. If your dog sits quickly, you can get going faster. The one point they make at the AKC Seminars is "Don't make the Judge think" which means don't do anything which would surprise the Judge, or make him/her wonder if the dog actually performed the exercise. The TIME only counts in a tie -- but you've got to GET that high score for the time to matter at all. Focus on the exercises, smooth and steady, and everything else will take care of itself. Have a great time. To get the dog into the front position, it is permissible to take several steps backward as you call the dog into front. THAT exercise will always be performed that way, since it is listed for use in the Novice Class. There are two signs in Advanced which require the dog to sit at heel and move on their own to front, then finish. Those are: 41. Halt - Call Dog Front - Finish Right and Forward; 42. Halt - Call Dog Front - Finish Left and Forward. I know we just need to learn the signs and know what they mean to be ready to compete, but I thought a "finish", traditionally, always involved the dog going from front to SIT in heel position, so isn't the wording of the sign incorrect in that it isn't actually a "finish" if you're dog doesn't sit at heel. I am new to all this obedience stuff, so I certainly may be wrong, but I thought the signs used to have different wording which I thought was clearer. The old signs did say forward left/right if you were to continue forward without a sit. The AKC signs say finish/forward or finish/halt. I teach Rally, judge Rally and give Rally seminars and this past weekend I had the opportunity to show in Rally at a match and guess what sign I read incorrectly? I saw "finish left" and that's what we did. Never even saw that "forward" part of the sign. Sort of makes it a "trap" for Rally. Is the handler "allowed" to step back with their left foot for the finish left...or their right foot for the finish right? Since you are allowed to use "body language"...I would assume a step back would be allowed? Yes, no? No. Footwork is one of the few things in Rally that the handler gets scored for. They can use body language -- which would be twisting and turning, using arms and hands, head movements and leaning, but the dogs should work without additional footwork. If it's not allowed in the description for footwork, it's not allowed, generally speaking. To me, Body language is from the knees up, and footwork is from the knees down. Knees up, I'm not going to deduct except for touching the dog, but knees down I expect proper performance. Part of the responsibility of Rally is to teach good handling, and for that the handler must understand and perform good footwork. Any additional body language from the knees up can be phased out before a team gets to the Obedience ring, if that's their plan, but improper foot work will haunt them and will be harder to "fix," in my opinion. My friend and I were just practicing all the signs for preparation for our "first" official AKC show. And on one of the finishes to the left (flip finish) without thinking I moved my left foot back as part of the signal to finish. Are moving feet allowed in Rally? From a non-judge's standpoint, the regs say you can clap your hands, pat your leg, or give all kinds of verbal praise. You can use hand and voice signals. Nothing mentioned about the feet, so I would say to break yourself of that habit. If nothing else, it might show up at the darndest times, such as a traditional obedience trial, and you could make a botch of your performance. My take is that you cannot use your feet. No. Moving feet on the finish is not acceptable. Pretty much the only deductions taken for handling in Rally (aside from touching the dog) would be for footwork. I always tell folks that Rally scores handlers "from the knees down". Since handlers are allowed to use body, voice, commands, signals, praise, and almost anything else we can think of in Rally, the footwork is expected to be correct. It's one of the few things about handling that is, and should be, enforced in Rally. Unless the description of the exercise allows for steps or movement, as in exercise #36 (where the handler is allowed to touch the dog and/or move forward to stand the dog) footwork should be fairly precise. Stepping back or forward to aid the dog in accomplishing an exercise would be like (IMHO) shuffling feet on the Halt, 1, 2, 3 Steps forward, or even taking the wrong number of steps. To me, that's incorrect performance. I like this description. I agree - foot work in Rally should be correct. Some exercises very explicitly state how the footwork should be done - HALT, 1, 2, 3 Steps Forward, Call Front, 1, 2, 3 Steps Back, Backup 3 Steps, HALT, Turn Right 1 Step, Call to Heel, and the 2 HALT, Call Dog Front, Finish Right/Left all come to mind. In the other Call Front exercises (Call Front, Finish Right/Left, HALT/Forward), the handler may take a few steps back to get the dog into the front position, but from there should remain in a halt, meaning no moving of feet. I agree with you - no moving feet once you are actually "being scored". It is a good training aid....but gotta get to solid feet before compete! Thanks. In any case, I believe that Rally should teach "good handling" as part of teamwork. Many will not attempt sports other than Rally, but for those who do, or are planning to investigate their options, Rally should prepare it's participants to do well in whatever other sport they might choose. From that standpoint, footwork for Obedience is very important. It might as well start in the Rally ring. Learning to run and remember a course while being timed, and entering the Weave with the first cone on the dog's left, send over a jump as the handler runs by, etc., would be important in Agility, and they might as well start in the Rally ring. With as relaxed and forgiving as Rally is regarding scoring, I feel that footwork is a principal feature of the Rally performance and very important to perform correctly. I would say no. Excessive body movements are not allowed, like sticking a foot out so that the dog fronts properly; I'd say this is very similar to that. I would deduct for moving feet - probably as an incorrectly performed exercise. Moving the feet on the finish is definitely something I do and teach when training the finish; however, it must be phased out. You can use a very large signal with your arm to get the dog moving back and into position. You shouldn't need to also move your feet. This was a question that came up in the last seminar in Colorado. Roger said that he would allow the single step back on a finish in Novice but not in Advance. Actually most of us practicing judging had taken off the point and Roger said he hadn't. You must remember that some things will be left to the judge's discretion. Many small issues/differences of opinion were discussed and Roger said he would not disagree with either point of view. It makes judging a little more difficult but I guess consistency because the best policy. IMHO, I would take off 1 point. 17. Slow Pace. Dog and handler must slow down noticeably. 18. Fast Pace. Dog and handler must speed up noticeably. 19. Normal Pace. Dog and handler must move forward, while walking briskly and naturally. 20. Moving Side Step Right. While heeling, the handler takes a step to the right and forward and then continues along the newly established line. The dog must stay in position. Is that a diagonal side step? In my Rally class I learned it as a diagonal. I do it as a diagonal step. As I move my right foot forward, I also take a step to the right, and on my next step with my left foot, I bring it in to the same line I'm now walking on. I agree, and that's the only I've seen it performed. If the handler hesitated and stepped DIRECTLY to the right, then resumed heeling, that would form a break in the exercise. Since it's supposed to be WHILE HEELING, the diagonal step just makes sense. Since it is a "change in direction", I would assume you place it so the exhibitor does the side step "in front of the sign"...yes...? The Moving Side Step Right (MSSR) is not a change in direction. The heeling plane only moves one step to the right and continues on the same path, parallel to the pervious one. Changes of direction mean the team turns 90 or 180 degrees, typically. The MSSR, like the 360 right or left, does not change the direction. The MSSR may be performed just past the sign, which makes it easier to perform, but should not be in front so that the handler steps right and passes the sign on the other side. I would probably not deduct for it, but it's not proper. If you are aware that there is a MSSR coming up, it's very easy to angle slightly to the left as you're heeling to allow yourself room to perform the exercise and still be to the left of the sign. And you don't need to do a huge step. A normal step is all you need - it just needs to be enough for the judge to see that you made the move and the dog followed. BTW, the dog's front end will move first and the hind end will catch up. The dog does not have to do a full-body side step because you are moving. The Halt- Side Step Right - Halt would be the full-body move. 21. Spiral Right - Dog Outside. This exercise requires three pylons or posts placed in a straight line with spaces between them of approximately 5 - 7 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. The approaches, spiral patterns and directions of exits are illustrated in Figures 5A & 5B (arrow indicates the path of the team). The exercise sign is placed nearest, or on, the first pylon or post (this could be at either end, depending on the approach from the previous exercise) where the spiral is started.. 22. Spiral Left - Dog Inside. This exercise is performed in exactly the same manner as Exercise 19, with the exception that the turns of the spiral are to the handler's left and the dog is on the inside of the turns. Refer to Figure 6 for illustrations of the approaches and spiral pattern of the exercise. Spirals, by now, should be well understood. They still make me dizzy, and I try never to pair them up with, say, a 270 or 360, either going into them or coming out of them. Another quick comment for those extra new to Rally, on the Spirals, you have to completely circle the first pylon on the last spiral. The spiral is 3-2-1, with a full circle around 1 before moving on. Super to know this fun event is spreading! The illustrations for the entrances on the spirals show entrances perpendicular to the first cone. Are straight on approaches not legal? As for the exits, it looks like the AKC version requires you to make a complete circle around the first one on the exit, even on the Spiral Right, Dog Outside when the next exercises to the handler's right as they approach the last cone, whereas WWKC, you don't have to make that extra circle of the last cone. Just ant to verify this for my class this week. 23. Straight Figure 8. This exercise requires four obstacles (pylons, posts or people) placed in a straight line with spaces between them of approximately 6 - 8 feet. The exercise sign is placed near or on the first obstacle in the series (this could be at either end, depending on the approach from the previous exercise). Entry into the weaving pattern is with the first obstacle at the dog/handler's left side. The approaches, entrance and weaving pattern are illustrated in Figure 7. 24. Serpentine. This exercise requires four obstacles (pylons, posts or people) placed in a straight line with spaces between them of approximately 6 - 8 feet. The exercise sign is placed near the first obstacle in the series (this could be at either end, depending on the approach from the previous exercise). Entry into the weaving pattern with the first obstacle at the dog/handler's left side. The approaches, entrance and weaving pattern are illustrated in Figure 7A. It should be noted that in this exercise the team does not return as they do in the Straight Figure 8. I really like adding the Serpentine to the list, as you can use it to continue on in the same direction, but still get the "weaving" action of the Straight figure 8. I think this will be quite popular. On all of these signs, I put the sign actually ON the first pylon to save space. Gives the dog and handler more room to work around the pylons. Has gone over well here. I have a hard time remembering which is 5-7 foot spacing and which is 6-8 foot spacing. To save brain drain, I just make all my pylons 6 feet apart. And I, too, put the sign on the first pylon to save space and make it easy for the students to figure out where the entry is. Actually, I do give a little more room on the Figure 8 exercise, as some of the dogs working through those pylons are large (we had one of the biggest Great Danes I've ever seen in Rally Novice at our last Trial). I tend to set them a little closer on the Spirals -- to "get it over with" quicker! 25. HALT - 1, 2 and 3 Steps Forward. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler takes one step forward and halts. This is followed by two steps and a halt, and three steps and a halt. The dog heels with the handler and sits each time the handler halts. (Stationary) As already discussed, the team must come to a halt before beginning this exercise, so there are actually 4 times that the dog must sit. On the 1, 2, 3, Steps Forward, each step counts -- not just the ones with your left foot. You come to a halt with the dog sitting before beginning the exercise. Then (with either foot) you take one step forward and bring the other foot up to meet it, and the dog sits, then you take two steps and bring your feet together and the dog sits, then you take 3 steps and bring your feet together and the dog sits. EACH step is counted, except when bringing the lagging foot up to meet the other one when halting. To me, this means that you would simply step out to the right of the dog, swing them around to the opposite direction (opposite from where they were, now facing the same direction you are heading), and get them into heel position as you're moving forward. Now this question is going to be harder to ask. It involves the 1 step HALT, 2 Step HALT, 3 step HALT. Walk me through it please including foot work. Most of us at this meeting are leading off on our left foot and stopping, for the most part, on our left foot but there are a couple who stop on their right foot and bring their left foot up to the right. We are finding we are ALL LEFT FOOTED and tripping over ourselves! The footwork is my first help I'm asking about with that exercise and the second is.... even though the sign doesn't say HALT first (it just says 1 step HALT) don't you stop your forward motion with a halt and your dog in a sit position before doing as the sign says? 26. With Dog Front - 1, 2 and 3 Steps Backward. With the dog in the front position, the handler takes one step backward and halts. This is followed by two steps and a halt, and three steps and a halt. The dog moves forward with the handler and resumes a sit in the front position each time the handler halts. (Stationary) My understanding is you come to a halt then you take one complete step (left foot and bring the right foot next to the left foot). That is step 1. Step 2 is left foot, right foot and left foot bringing the left foot next to the right foot. Step 3 is left foot, right foot, left foot and bringing the right foot next to the left foot. It's a moving recall. You take one step backward with the dog moving with you, you halt, the dog sits. Then you take two steps back and the dog moves with you, you halt, the dog sits. Then you take three steps back, etc, etc. Then you somehow have to get a finish in there. I believe we have also discussed this one. Verbiage has been changed to reflect that the dog moves forward with the handler, as in what I tend to call a "moving front." Here's what Bud says (and I intend to go with his description): With the dog sitting in the front position, the handler takes 1 step backward and commands the dog to move forward at the same time the handler moves backward. As the handler stops, the dog assumes a sit in the front position. This procedure is repeated with the handler taking 2 steps and then 3 steps backward with the dog sitting at each halt. The rules were supposed to be changed to reflect that the handler resumes heeling and the dog resumes heel position. Not a finish as much as just "resume" heel position, but no matter how the dog gets there the idea is to continue on. I took this exercise to mean that the dog sits and waits while the handler takes a step backwards. Once the handler has stopped, they call the dog front. They then tell the dog, "wait" or "stay" and take two steps backward, stop and then call the dog to front, etc. I did not take this exercise to mean it was a 'moving front'. I too would like to know how other people have been doing it. Kristine Most of these exercises were based on what we used to call "doodling," which were exercises meant to sharpen up the dog's performance for the ring, and those little 'hop front's' were designed to get the dog in close and straight in front. I don't think the "wait" portion belongs in the exercise, but I would probably not penalize someone who did it that way. I've taught it both ways until it gets fully interpreted by AKC. Bud's directions indicate it's a *moving* front. He didn't say that in his book, but his latest recommendation definitely states that the dog moves forward as the handler moves back. If you've taught it has a stay-until-told-front, that's not a problem. At this point, with AKC not saying exactly how to do it, at an AKC match/trial they probably would not be wrong if they did it either way. If you do go to a match or a trial and Rally is offered and you see any of your former students there and want to be positive, ask the judge. (S)He will tell you how (s)he interprets the regs or wants it done. Then you can get a quick practice in with your students before they go in the ring. According to a Rally judge (who shall remain nameless pending her verification!) and a highly esteemed trainer the dog sits in a stay while the handler moves, and then is called to front position. I am half safe though. This morning, I thought one class the exercise with the dog STAYING and the second class with the dog MOVING with the handler. Batting .500. However, considering I am entered in a Rally trial next month. I need to find out which is correct. According to the AKC rules on their web site, and the intention of the Advisory Committee, the dog moves with the handler. "Stay" was never intended to be a part of this exercise. It reinforces the front position and is best performed when the dog is moving with the handler, who can then use body movements to get the dog straight. With the dog "staying" the handler has less control with the dog coming in to front and they can end up as crooked as ever. In any case, the AKC rules read: The dog moves forward and resumes a sit in the front position each time the handler halts 27. Moving Down - then Forward. While moving with the dog in heel position, the handler commands the dog to drop into a down position. Once the dog is in the down position, the handler moves forward commanding the dog to heel. (Stationary) While heeling and without sitting the dog, you tell the dog to "down". As he does, you stop next to him and as soon as he's completely down, you resume heeling. This is NOT like the moving down or moving stand in Obedience. It IS the Moving Down, as we teach it in our Obedience class which is Novice, which is the level after Basic. And there they call it the "Moving Down" because the handlers down the dogs while performing the heeling pattern. The only other time we ask the dogs to down is next to us for the group exercises, until we get to Open. Moving Drop sets the dog up for the Drop On Recall later. It does not mention that the drop has to be fast, or straight, or without putting the butt down first on the way. Keep in mind that this exercise is actually not named properly. In this exercise, the dog downs and we HALT next to them, then continue, otherwise we'd have to "call" the dog to catch up with us. A true "moving down" would be performed as a Moving Stand in Utility, where the handler NEVER STOPS, but the DOG does! So this exercise is actually just having the dog do a down instead of a sit when you halt. Halt just long enough to make sure the elbows are down and the judge can tell it (as best as possible with hairy dogs) and then take off with the dog heeling. It's a pause rather than a full fledged 10- or 15-second halt. All you need is about 2 seconds, unless your dog does it in slow motion. Two exercises which bear close attention are the Moving Down and the Moving Stand. The Moving Down is not a true "moving" exercise as such, but that's still the easiest way to describe it in limited terms. In the Moving Down, the dog and handler are heeling and the dog is commanded to down. As the dog drops, the handler pauses in heel position with the dog. Once the dog is completely down the team continue on to the next station. Ideally, the dog should drop from a standing or "moving" position, and should not sit first. The Moving Stand portion of this information is behind that exercise (No. 48). Is it permissible for the handler to turn in front of the dog to give the down signal and then , pivot back to heel and continue forward? In some ways this is similar to the handler, stepping back in the finish. It is extra body language to do the exercise. Ideally, the handler should tell the dog to down and stop beside the dog when he does. The exercise calls for a Moving Down, not for the handler to stop the dog by turning in front, which is additional footwork, and then to step back to heel position. Per Roger Ayers: The dog will lose points for sitting before lying down. The handler will lose points for turning in front of the dog to get the down. 28. HALT - Fast Forward from Sit. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler commands the dog to heel and immediately moves forward at a fast pace. (Stationary) I believe that verbiage will be added to this sign, as well as fast and slow, that indicates that it should be followed by "normal," or used as the last exercise 29. Left About Turn. While moving with the dog in the heel position, the handler makes an about turn to the left while at the same time the dog must move around the handler's right and into the heel position. The dog does not sit before moving forward in heel position with the handler.. This exercise, while I find it interesting and fun, seems so foreign to new people as to create anxiety. Also, I find that exhibitors new to the sport confuse this one with the "Left U Turn" sign. A left about has the handler going left while the dog continues around to the right. For working dog people this is the same as the "schutzhund about" turn. In schutzhund, there are no right abouts--all about turns have the handler turning left and dog going right. This does mean you must switch hands on the lead briefly if the dog is on lead. If some of you are still having a problem with the "picture" this should present, try this: The handler does a left 180 degree turn in place, and then moves forward in a straight line, there is no pause in the handler's motion at all. Meanwhile, the dog moves in a 180 degree turn to the right going around the handler during this time, meeting up with the handler's left side as the handler starts forward again. If done on lead, the handler will have to pass the lead as they would when doing an around (right) finish. Does that help? 30. HALT and Walk Around Dog. With dog sitting in the heel position, the handler puts the dog on a sit-stay and proceeds to the left around the dog returning to the heel position. (Stationary Since the Halt, Sit, Walk Around, and Halt, Sit, Down, Walk Around will be used in the Rally Novice Class, the leash should be held and not dropped. I probably would not penalize someone for that, since they will undoubtedly lose time by dropping and picking up the leash, so the "penalty" would be in slower time which would count for placements. 31. Halt, Down - Walk Around Dog. With dog sitting in the heel position, the handler puts the dog on a down. Handler proceeds to the left around the dog returning to the heel position. (Stationary) As I have seen this exercise performed, and as I understand it, the handler pauses in the heel position, then continues forward. Since it does mention that the handler returns to the heel position, I would say that a slight pause is indicated. If the dog stays until the handler is all the way back in heel position, I would probably not be too worried about halting in heel position. I recommended at least a hesitation, if not a short pause. First, because the regs to say that the handler must "return to the heel position". Secondly, because most dogs take a couple of seconds to get up from a down and start moving, they could lose a point if they move forward to quickly, leaving the dog behind, causing an out-of-heel position THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES MAY BE USED IN ADVANCED AND EXCELLENT CLASSES ONLY 32. Halt - About Turn Right and Forward. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler pivots 180º in place to the right and immediately moves forward without again first halting. (Stationary) 33. Halt - About Turn Left and Forward. . With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler pivots 180º in place to the left and immediately moves forward without again first halting. (Stationary) The principal parts of the two exercises above are to turn IN PLACE (the handler) after the dog sits, and then move forward before the dog can sit after the turn. 34. Send Over Jumps - Handler Runs By. While moving with the dog in heel position, the handler directs the dog to take the jump(s). When the dog has completed the jump(s), it is called to the heel position and the team continues to the next exercise. There is one jump in Advanced, and two jumps in Excellent, and they may be any of the Obedience jumps, except that they may be different colors, and they may be 4 foot wide jumps. Jumps are based roughly on 3/4 the height of the dog. Jumps in Rally can be any jump used in Obedience, or combination thereof. So you can use high jump, broad jump, or bar jump, and any combination of those. You can ALSO use 4 foot jumps instead of 5 foot jumps. I felt that was important, since the dog only has to do a run-by in Rally, and it will make life much simpler for Clubs with limited resources. You may also decorate the jumps to match your signs, club logo, etc., for Rally. Any of those jumps may be used. In Advanced, only one jump will be used, but in Excellent, there will be two, so it could be any combination. Also, both 4 foot and 5 foot jumps are legal for Rally. I learned that "sending over the jump" was supposed to be done from about 20 feet away...more like a classic utility exercise. Maybe I am still unclear about that. Initially this exercise called for the handler to remain at least 6 ft to the side of the jumps. The description no longer calls for that - so the handler can no run beside the jumps? Actually, the AKC description reads: "Send Over Jumps -- Handler Runs By: While moving with the dog in heel position, the handler directs the dog to take the jump. When the dog has completed the jump, it is called to the heel position and the team continues to the next exercise." Thus, the dog is not "sent away", but more directed over the jump while the handler runs next to it. If the course is tight and the dog goes out in front of the handler after the jump, but responds immediately to the heel command, he will lose points. There are to be NO sequential jumps (one jump immediately after another). There must be other exercises between the two jumps in Excellent. The second jump can be either a separate jump in another part of the ring or the same jump taken on another path coming back. An exhibitor can jump the dog higher than the height suggested in the Regulations but no higher than 16" The exhibitor should just put the jump height on the entry form (when it is a Regular class) or give the desired height to the steward. This means that 4 boards will NEVER be used in the Broad Jump. Handler or dog will lose points for knocking over the jump. Watch out for those open vests if you run close to the jump. 35. HALT - Turn Right One Step - Call to Heel. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler pivots to the right and takes one step in that direction. At the same time, he/she calls the dog to the heel position. (Stationary) After the dog sits at halt, the handler turns right in place (pivot), and takes one step forward while calling the dog to heel. To my mind (any other opinions welcome) the 'halt' happens when BOTH feet have stopped. You have not halted if one foot is still in motion, even if it's not FORWARD motion. Now, that being said, I think it's a fine line between the two, and with "rushing" exercises for speed, I don't know that I would split hairs enough to penalize someone for calling the dog to heel as the handler's foot is being brought up. After all, the dog will probably just be starting to move about the time that last foot is brought up to even for the halt, even if commanded to "heel" before then. Any other opinions from Judges on the list? At a trial yesterday I was told that I incorrectly performed the Halt-pivot right, take one step, call to heel by another competitor. Since the judge doesn't mark which one was wrong all I had to go by were other competitors comments. They said that the dog is supposed to move with you when you pivot and take the step. I had Kali sit and wait as I pivoted and stepped then called to heel just as the AKC rules say. You were correct. This is the one exercise where the dog has to wait where you left him, and find the new heel position. That's why it says "call to heel." You would not have to "call" the dog to heel if he was moving with you when you turned. It's a different exercise, and it's intended to be. The differences usually seen in this exercise are in the footwork by the exhibitor. Some turn and step with one foot, bringing the other foot to meet it. Some pivot in place, then take one step and bring the other foot even. I like the later, because I feel it looks cleaner, but I have no problem with either, since they both produce the desired result -- a handler that turns 90 degrees to the right and moves one step in that direction before calling the dog to sit in the new heel position. This exercise was discussed at some length at the Rally Seminar, and it was made clear that the dog is to WAIT while the handler moves. I'm now creating my courses using, not only the signs on the course and a list of the exercises next to it, but the AKC description of each exercise on the back of the course for reference. I'm afraid since some of the Rally exercises have been modified and some changed with different registries, that handlers might not know which "variation" to perform 36. HALT - Stand Dog - Walk Around. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler will stand the dog, leave and walk around the dog, returning to the heel position. In this exercise, the handler may touch the dog and move forward to stand the dog. (Stationary) AKC does not have a *stand for exam* exercise but this stand exercise does specify that you may touch the dog. Bud's regulations say you can position the dog - i.e. *touch* the dog to position it just as you can in Novice obedience. Bud's description is: ......handler then cues the dog to stand or places the dog in the stand position as in the traditional obedience stand-for-examination exercise. I have a question about the performance of exercise 36, the Halt-Stand-Walk around dog. When my Shelly does her stand, she invariably stands at a 45 degree angle, with her head and shoulders cutting across my front. When we were getting our CD, it was no problem - I just pivoted into heel position, gave the stay command and left her. I am and have been working on getting her to stand in heel position, but given her age (9), and nervous temperament, I think it's unlikely she will be dependable in the ring. So what do I do? Tell her to stay and walk around as if she were in heel position? And then just heel onward after the walk around? Thanks for the advice. May I suggest, since on that particular sign you can move forward a bit and even touch the dog to stand it, that you turn slightly toward the dog so that YOU take the 45 degree angle, then YOU can straighten up before you start the exercise. Won't fix the problem for Excellent, but will give you time to work on it. After looking back at my original email on how to perform this exercise, I realized I never actually asked the question I wanted to...I just sort of rambled. So let me give it another shot! If the dog stands at a 45 degree to the handler, and the handler walks around the dog and then heels off to the next station, is that any points off, assuming the dog doesn't move during the "walk around"? Or will you loose points just as you would for a crooked sit in some of the other exercises? Also, the way I read the exercise, there is no sit before heeling off to the next station - correct? It will depend on the Judge. If the angle is enough that it would be a point in Obedience there may be a deduction, but I would guess in most cases there would not be a deduction. Other Judges -- any input here? Still, with the rules for that sign you are allowed to stand your dog and even move forward to stand the dog, so you could legitimately turn your body enough so that the dog would end up straight, then get back in heel position to start the exercise. We'll just have to see how this one "plays out." I think that the stand would be the principal part of the exercise and I can't imagine why I would want to dock someone for a crooked stand. …, in Rally, for a 45 degree stand, I don't think I'd take off. If it were more, I might be tempted to take a point. As Deb said, there is no reason the handler can't turn their body to help get the dog straight (or at least close), then move back to the side of the dog facing the same direction before walking around. That's one of the nice things about Rally - you are able to help the dogs much more. If you know it's a problem, figure out how to compensate for it - it's allowed. Okay, I've listed this as a "hot topic" because I think it will be, so here goes! In the description of sign number 36, Halt, Stand, Walk Around Dog, the description mentions that "In this exercise the handler may touch the dog and move forward to stand the dog." This sign is in the Advanced Level, which may also be used for the Excellent Level. Now, my question is, if it's used in the Excellent Level, could you still touch the dog or move forward to stand the dog? Remember that the Excellent Level specifically lists that the handler may not touch the dog at all, and at this level I don't think we should NEED to touch the dog, personally. Opinions? I believe that you may not touch the dog at any level, EXCEPT for this exercise. In Novice Level traditional obedience you may physically place the dog in the stand for the stand for exam exercise. Now, personally - I TEACH my dogs the stand command - even for the breed ring so they can self-stack. But I don't believe you can hold a Rally Excellent exhibitor to a higher standard then a Novice Obedience or Conformation exhibitor. A Utility dog must stand without being touched - but both are from a heeling, standing position to a stand stay. Even there the dog doesn't have to change position - just stand still. I teach my dogs a stand signal - and they can do it mixed in with the Utility signals - but it sure isn't required for a title. I think for good TRAINING purposes we should teach them to do it without our help. But, in a competition the exercise description stays the same. Even UD dogs don't have to heel to a higher standard than a Novice dog - most do, because of all the practice and years of training by the time they get to Utility. And because the potential for losing points on EVERYTHING else in Utility leaves you very little to spare for poor heeling. But the EXERCISE stays the same. JMO :-))) The exercise stays the same, but by changing levels, different requirements are imposed. There is no reason the handler couldn't still step forward to stand the dog, but I think the handler should follow the rules of the LEVEL of Rally being performed, and not touch the dog to stand it. However, since this issue has not been addressed as yet and is not defined in the description or the rules, we'll have to see how things "shake out." I would have to say that you would follow the guidelines of the class in which you are exhibiting in. In this case, while the description of the exercise says you can touch the dog I think the description of the class (no touching) would have to override the description of the exercise. Just my thoughts on the hot topic: Exercise 36 Halt, Stand, Walk Around in the Rally Excellent class. The exercise says you may touch the dog. If it stays the same....you may touch the dog. At any level. We will have to see how it goes - but unless they make a new exercise for a new level (same as the drop on recall for Open vs. Recall for Novice). Not trying to be negative - just the way I see it. The description IS the criteria for performing the exercise, and the description doesn't change. But a wise trainer/handler would teach the dog to do it with out being "helped"...even for the advanced level - because it will save time during a run. I am curious where is says that you can touch the dog at any level of Rally, other than that one exercise. The AKC web site: Rally as a Non-Regular Class Introduction section states that..... handlers may not touch their dog or make physical corrections. My thinking is that applies to ALL levels and all exercises EXCEPT for the one instance where the exercise description permits it. And I always thought that the purpose behind it was to prepare for Novice Obedience competition "stand-for-exam", which basically allows you to place, stack, and help the dog into position. For some reason I can not access the web site for descriptions of exercises tonight, but the most recent copy I printed off did not say you could touch the dog, except for Halt, Stand Dog, Walk Around. True, we cannot touch the dog in any level of Rally, except for that one exercise. However, once we get to the Excellent level we shouldn't need to touch the dog to get him to stand, and indeed it might confuse some dogs since all of the stand exercises in Excellent specifically mention that you may not tough the dog to get him to stand. If all of the Excellent exercises require NO physical contact -- these exercises are patterned after Utility exercises, then I see no reason that the handler should need to touch the dog to get him to stand on that one. The handler can still move forward, as is allowed by the rules, but again, but that level I don't think they should need to do that. In any case, I'm fine with whatever way it gets decided. I just think that Excellent level competitors should be expected to offer a little more "polished" performance, considering the level of competition. Maybe we should try a couple of Excellent level courses using both sign 36 and one or two of the Excellent stand exercises and see how it works for the EXHIBITOR before we decide what's best for the sport. JMHO To me, that makes it clear that the EXERCISE description overrides the "general" rule of no touching - regardless of class level. But, I still suggest teaching the dog to stand on its own. In fact, in my class I usually forget to mention that you can touch the dog on this exercise - if they don't read the description, they most likely won't know they can, 'cause I just have a habit of teaching the stand-for-exam the other way. Besides....that stand is so handy when they come in with muddy paws - you can just stop them on the entry mat and wipe them off - without getting muddy yourself! Exercise 36 (a stand exercise) is in the Advanced Level of exercises. Okay - so far so good. Of course, that doesn't quite answer the question. I still hold with my original on that one. It says that you can't touch the dog at the Excellent level so I would expect people not to touch their dog at that level. The Non-Regular class regs state in the intro that handlers may not touch their dogs. At the Novice and Advanced levels, nothing is mentioned about not touching the dogs, but at the Excellent level, it again reiterates that handlers may not touch their dogs. So do we take the best 2 out of 3? However, if it doesn't get clarified, if I were to judge Rally, I most likely would not put that exercise in at the Excellent level in an effort to eliminate the kind of confusion/opinion variations that are occurring here. I still think AKC could change that very easily if it's possible before it becomes a titling event. It's an easy fix - just insert the word "not" in the exercise description. I wonder if it was a booboo from the git-go and the word "not" was inadvertently left out. Anyone consider that? In Obedience, and Rally is not Obedience but I'm using the example anyway, heeling differs by class. In Novice and Open you may use hand signals or commands for heeling, but when you get to Utility you can only use hand signals. That's an example of the exercise being defined by the class. The heeling portion of the exercise is otherwise scored exactly the same -- even to the point that it would be points off for a verbal command/additional command in Utility, as would be an extra command in Open or Novice. Again, since there's no clear definition of which way to "call" it, we'll have to see how things get decided, but for now, I just wanted everyone to be aware of the issue in case you use the exercise in an Excellent Class. Ahh, but it is NOT a heeling exercise in Utility. It is a SIGNAL exercise. The actual heeling, down, sit, come and finish are judged as any other class for deducting points, but the essential part of the exercise is the response to the signals - no "extra' commands allowed there (SIGH...it sure would be easier, if they were!). Heeling is judged the same, including points off for a verbal, rather than a NQ, because it is a Signal "test" - the heeling portion really doesn't change from the Novice Heel Free. And it is called the SIGNAL EXERCISE...it is a different exercise, with a different name and description. IF it were Rally, it would have a different sign. Novice has a heel free, figure 8, and heel on leash, Open only a heel free and figure 8. But each exercise has a different name (and would have a different "sign") Very much like the call dog front, finish left forward vs. Call dog front, finish left halt. very similar, different sign, different description. Do you allow your Rally students in the lower levels to touch their dogs, to help them into a sit? How about a down? I think we even discussed points off, if you had to touch them to untangle the leash after a down? In fact, it is one of the most common errors when I judge - people reaching down and guiding the dog - they just can't stand not to "help". But I really thought you couldn't touch them, except for the one exercise that specifically mentions it. I just think Rally was designed to prepare people for traditional obedience - and you can touch your dog in Novice for the stand. In fact, you can pretty much "stack" him up, same as the breed ring. (not that I advocate that....I figure dog trainers can teach them to stand. Heck, these are OBEDIENCE dogs - they are smart!) I learned at the AKC Judges seminar I attended last year, that you do not have to "sit" your dog, prior to "standing" him for the stand for exam exercise. The judge only says "stand your dog and leave when ready" - you don't have to sit him first! The exercise does not "start" until you tell him to stay and you "leave". I did not know that before! I tried it this year - no questions asked. Don't know if I could re-train myself to do it that way, though! LOL! We do put the Advanced sign in a course with the Excellent level stand signs - the biggest confusion has been when to halt (sit), then walk around vs. the moving stand (no halt) walk around, which is patterned after the Utility exercises. If you mistake when to halt - you will lose 10 points for incorrectly performed exercises. And I managed to mess up on that - on a course I Designed! Duh! I was really concentrating, since my dog is working in Utility, and I wanted to get my handling/timing just right! And did the wrong one! (It was very pretty....just not what the sign said! LOL!) Which really points up that Rally requires the handler to think - making it more of a challenge in some ways (at least for some of us!) then traditional obedience or what a first glance would indicate! Look at it this way--Rally (all of it so far, as so defined by AKC) is intended to be a precursor to Novice Obedience. In Novice Obedience you may "stack" your dog just as in the breed ring. The exercise definition allows touching. And actually, in Obedience you can touch your dog between exercises, so there's no blanket "no touch" rule. "Praise and petting are allowed between and after exercises"--Ch. 2, Sec. 22. I agree that we need to get a ruling from AKC on this. Anyone going to a seminar soon? 37. HALT - 90 Pivot Right - HALT. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the team pivots 90? to the right in place, halts, and then moves forward. (Stationary) 38. HALT - 90 Pivot Left - HALT. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the team pivots 90? to the left in place, halts, and then moves forward. (Stationary) The pivot is done dog going with the handler as they turn. Rolling in the grass would just be points off, in between stations. If it happened at a station, I would mark it as a retry of the required exercise with a 3 pt deduction, providing you got the dog up & did the station :-). 39. Off-Set Figure 8. This exercise requires two loosely covered containers with tempting dog treats and/or toys. Entry may be between the end bowl and the center bowl on either side.. Off Set figure 8 in AKC is performed around the cones as a normal figure 8 in Obedience -- cones could be people. The food bowls/toys are just placed as distractions to work past. I read it as food dishes being the off set. Posts (self explanatory), people, cones are like a normal Novice figure eight to be gone around. Gees, is that even a sentence? LOL There are 2 cones placed 10 feet apart. These cones are what the actual "figure 8" are done around, just like half the traditional obedience figure 8. The team must circle both cones, once with a dog on the inside and once with the dog on the outside. As distractions, there are also either 2 bowls with food in them, or 2 toys. These are placed 5 feet apart, placed centered between, and perpendicular to, the 2 cones. The team must pass between these two distractions at least twice to complete a single "figure 8". I like the idea of using Tupperware with holes drilled in the lid. Makes it nearly impossible for a dog that might have food allergies to accidentally get the "bait." Don't get mad, get GLAD. You've seen the TV commercials 5 for the price of 1 Tupperware. I have the bowls from the Rally set that J&J sells. Question on spiral entrances and exits...in the AKC description...it shows only perpendicular entrances. I am assuming you can do a "straight on entrance"? Also, the AKC diagram shows only one type of exit for the left spiral and two for the right spiral. Is it allowed to have the dog/handler team continue through around the cone on the left spiral and resume heeling in the same direction as they started? Yes, the diagrams show that more than one performance is possible. In fact, we use these exercises, since the entrance or exit can go in many directions, to take the team on the diagonal sometimes. Keep in mind that, the path should be clear and when leaving these exercises the team should continue in the "general" direction where they exit the exercise. There are no "traps" in Rally, and we don't want to confuse the team, so make sure that everything is clear, which may just mean turning or angling the exercise to accommodate where you want them to exit. The distractions used in Dallas for the Offset Figure 8 were stuffed animal Dobermans about 2 feet high. Until I read that post I had never even noticed the words "and/or toys." But picky me, I would say that the way this is worded those stuffed Dobes should have been in "two loosely covered, but secure containers"! I actually asked about this, and was told that the loosely covered referred only to the food. 40. HALT - Side-Step Right - HALT. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the team moves one step directly to the right and the handler calls the dog to heel. (Stationary) These exercises teach the dog to reposition in heel position. It is the basis of getting the dog to sit straight next to you. It should be performed as the dog stands up and moves sideways, or turning to the left or right to reposition in a straight sit next to the handler. Useful to teach straightening up a crooked sit, or pivots for the glove exercise in Utility. 41. HALT - Call Dog Front - Finish Right. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler calls the dog to the front. Dog then moves to the right of the handler and sits in heel position. (Stationary) 42. HALT - Call Dog Front - Finish Right. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler calls the dog to the front. Dog then moves to the right of the handler and sits in heel position. (Stationary) Dog and handler comes to a halt. Handler does not move his feet, but calls the dog into a front with a sit in front. Handler then gives the right- finish command and then heels out (with a heel command) before the dog sits. Dog and handler come to a halt. Handler does not move his feet, but calls the dog into a front with a sit in front. Handler then gives the (left) finish command and the dog SITS in heel position. Dog and handler then heel forward. In these two exercises, the first word gives you the hint - Halt. Dog and handler come to halt and dog sits. Handler does not move but tells the dog to front. Handler then tells dog to finish right or left and they move forward after the dog sits in the heel position. 43. HALT - 180 Pivot Right - HALT. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler pivots 180? in place to the right. The dog moves with the handler and sits in the heel position. The team then moves forward. (Stationary) 44. HALT - 180 Pivot Left - HALT. With the dog sitting in the heel position, the handler pivots 180? in place to the left. The dog moves with the handler and sits in the heel position. The team then moves forward. (Stationary) These two exercises teach the dog to reposition in heel position. They are the basis of getting the dog to sit straight next to you. They should be performed as the dog stands up and moves sideways, or turning to the left or right to reposition in a straight sit next to the handler. Useful to teach straightening up a crooked sit, or pivots for the glove exercise in Utility. 45. HALT - Down - Sit. With dog sitting in the heel position, the handler puts the dog on a down, then a sit. (Stationary) This is pretty self-explanatory. Team comes to a halt and the dog sits. Handler then tells the dog to down. Once dog is down, handler then tells/signals dog to sit. The handler just needs to be sure that the dog's elbows are all the way on the floor before having it pop back up again or they could lose points. THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES MAY BE USED IN EXCELLENT CLASSES ONLY 46. HALT - Stand - Down. With dog sitting in the heel position, the handler puts the dog on a stand, then a down without touching the dog. (Stationary) 47. HALT - Stand - Sit. With the dog sitting in heel position, the handler puts the dog on a stand, then a sit without touching the dog. (Stationary) With exercises 45, 46 and 47 we gain control and keep the dog interested. I can't tell you how dull it gets in Utility, for me AND my dogs, doing stand, down, sit over and over. Sometimes I wish the order of signals was random order too, and this is just what we get in Rally. Again, the exercises are intended to keep the dog guessing and interested in what will happen next and, to accomplish this, the two of you must work as a team. The dog cannot just perform a routine that has been "patterned." They have to listen and respond to the commands appropriately. Being next to the dog gives us more control teaches a basic understanding of the exercises they will eventually have to perform with you away from them. Another win/win situation, as I see it. Whenever there is a "halt" symbol, there is an automatic sit in heel position. All of the exercises above begin with a halt and the dog sitting in heel position, and then the next command is given. May the handler take a step to stand the dog as in the Novice Obed. Stand exercise? Or must the Handler stay still while standing the dog?????? The handler may not move feet (any time movement of the feet is allowed, it's specified in the description of the exercise.) The handler and dog halt and the dog sits, then the dog is commanded and/or signaled to stand, then to down. The dog should move forward from the down to resume heeling to the next station. The only exercise that allows movement of the feet to "stand" the dog, is exercise number 36 -- Halt, stand, walk around dog. This exercise also allows the handler to touch the dog to stand him, but I believe it will be specified that touching will only be allowed at the Advanced level, not the Excellent level. 48. Moving Stand - Walk Around Dog. With no hesitation, the handler will stand the dog, leave and walk around, returning to the heel position. (Stationary) This exercise is done as in the Moving stand in Utility, but without the examination. It's a control exercise, and the dog has to stop and stay while you walk around them. This will really cement the stand and stay for the dog in training, they can't creep forward if you're cutting in front of them to walk around them, and it keeps the exercise interesting and fresh. Add to that the ability to give additional commands to help the dog hold the position and you end up with a very reliable dog on the Stand for Exam exercise. Plus - you have a head start on that Utility training! In the Moving Stand, the exercise is performed similar to the Moving stand in Utility, except that the handler does not continue 10 to 12 feet beyond the dog, but circles the dog instead. When teaching this exercise, I find it easier to use a tab or light line, I use my right hand to give a stay signal and also use a verbal "stay," while at the same time gently apply pressure to the leash straight backwards with the left hand. Most dogs will just naturally stop in place from the start. At first, you will pause after the stay command and signal to make sure the dog is steady, but eventually the dog will "get it" and the stop will be rock solid. The Moving down simulates the Drop On Recall in Open, and the Moving stand simulates the Moving Stand in Utility. This is great rudimentary training for both exercises. On this exercise, can you (and the dog) step forward into the stand? This is an Excellent Level Exercise. Basically, unless footwork is ALLOWED in the description, it's NOT allowed. We only score handlers on footwork and touching the dog, so I think this issue is important and not negotiable. You can twist your body, use hand and voice, but you can't move your feet. Is this from a sit, or is the team heeling when the dog is told to stand? When I hear moving stand, I think of the utility exercise, when the dog is told to stand while the team is moving. Yes, it's exactly as in the Utility Moving Stand exercise. I recommend that the handler take two steps forward before walking around the dog to make sure the dog is stationary and not bump into him, and I think moving straight out makes it easier for the dog to get the concept. If the handler starts the circle from heel position, I think some dogs think it's a Figure 8 exercise and want to follow the handler. 49. Backup 3 Steps. While heeling, the handler backs up 3 steps, and then continues heeling. Dog maintains position through the exercise without sitting. A dog that understands back up can "restore" heel position from a forge. They can back into a pivot, as for the Glove in Utility, or for articles as I do with my Cavalier. The exercise teaches the dog to control their hind end and makes them aware of what's going on back there. Backing is commonly used in Freestyle, and it's fun to use in many applications. More than most other exercises, when my dog backs up with me I feel like we're a real team, working together. I definitely believe it's worth the time and trouble to teach this exercise, and I can't wait to see it in application. Okay listers, so we've talked about how to train for the exercise "Back Up 3 Steps" in Excellent. How do you envision the footwork? To me, I would like to see the handler stop motion on one foot with the weight on that foot, but they don't have to bring the other foot even with it, which might cue the dog to sit. I see it as sort of a "rock back" move as far as foot work. Let's start with the right foot, purely to choose a starting point -- which foot wouldn't matter. Handler lands on the right foot and weight is transferred there, left foot is lifted slightly, and then put back down in the same place as step one, right foot takes a step back, left foot takes a step back, and weight is transferred to it, then the right foot comes slightly up and is put down again to start heeling forward. The first and last steps are more a transfer of weight than anything. Now, if someone wanted to bring feet together and THEN walk backward 3 steps, I would have no problem with that, but I think it would be MUCH tougher to keep a fast working dog from sitting when the feet come together during the exercise. It also helps to move your shoulder back, since many dogs learn to "follow" your shoulder. The movement helps cue the change of direction, and its additional help to let the dog know not to sit. Opinions? Other views of performing the exercise? I don't bring either foot even with the other. As we're heeling forward, my left foot is the last foot I use, I lean my body back just a tad as my right foot immediately goes back, we do the 3 steps back. I end up on my right foot and my body then rocks forward as I immediately move my left foot forward. Basically, when I start the heel back, my right foot is already in the back position but off the ground. The same thing happens when I go forward. My left foot is already forward but I take it off the ground and then put it back down as the first step heeling forward. NOW - thinking about this (thank you for making me *think* That's exactly as I was envisioning it should be performed. However, if someone trained it the other way, I would not have a problem with that. This is one exercise that we've not had the chance to practice much, since Excellent is offered so seldom. We should do some "research" while we have time, on performance of Excellent Exercises. Talking about three steps back, my girl does a good job IF we are by a wall. Now she understands go back, but if we are not close to a wall her butt gets out to the left and she ends up looking and being crooked. What to do? PS can I keep holding my hand over her head without touching her? She seems to feel this is a sign to back up. You can hold your hand - just don't touch her. And keep working next to a wall. Some parts of dog training are developing a "habit" of doing something a certain way. That takes time. That is because of habit - build one in your dog. A HABIT is a powerful thing! Just keep working next to that wall, and the required movement will become a habit. Don't get in a hurry to move away from the wall. Every time the dog does it incorrectly, you are "practicing" it wrong (and practice makes perfect, you know. Don't want to be "perfectly wrong"! LOL!) Just develop the correct habit! 50. Honor. Dog and handler will enter through the finish gate and the handler will proceed to the honor station and perform a sit or down as designated by the judge. In the Honor exercise, the judge tells you how to perform it, and it's for the entire time of the next run, which should be less than two minutes. And, again, it is on-lead, so there should not be any problems. The Honor Exercise is to be done with the handler next to the dog. It will not at all resemble the Honor Exercise in UKC Obedience. For those of you who object that this is not a Stay, don't think of it as a Stay--think of it as the dog sitting quietly at your side for 2 minutes. I have not yet judged Excellent as we have only had Novice and Advanced in our area. I will be judging excellent this month. I guess I fail to understand why the last dog can not honor the first dog in the ring, wouldn't that way all dogs would of honored each other instead of bringing in volunteer dogs.. If you understand what I am saying here. At our trial in September, we had only one entry in Excellent....so the only option was for a volunteer dog and handler. It happened to be one of the club's instructors (advanced competition) who had entered in Novice... and decided not to also run that Novice course (her choice). My problem was to identify someone who knew or was a fast study for the Excellent exercise signs, AND had a dog that could basically do all of them, albeit on lead, and would have no problem with the honor. If you have a small class, that would work. However, once things get moving, and you have classes of 30 or 40, it would be very unfair for the first and last dogs to have their two times in the ring separated by an hour or more. I think that's why they ask for a volunteer dog. I've entered the Excellent class once (only time it was offered that I wasn't judging). I was the only entry in Excellent, so there was a volunteer dog (a handler with an OTCH Pembroke offered). One time I judged, there was only one entry that showed (the other 2 were absent), so I had to get a volunteer dog. The other 2 times, there were only two entries, so I did have one honor for the other. I think that's ok for very small entries, but would prefer a volunteer dog for larger classes. That's the way it's worded in UKC, if I'm not mistaken, for the Honor exercise. I think it works better this way for several reasons. One is that one or two people who may not be entered get to TRY Rally, (or some who are will get a second run through, and they love that) and the other is that, if it were a big class it would not be fun to have to be the first AND the last dog in a class. Actually, it doesn't really matter if they can do all the exercises -- they just need to run the course since they're not being scored. You WOULD want to make sure the Honor Dog could really stay, so it wouldn't affect the working dog that is being scored. I've found situations like this useful to "introduce" Obedience people who think Rally has nothing to offer them, to the challenges of the sport. Gives some of the upper level Obedience competitors a whole new look at Rally to get in there and try something that they think is "too easy" for them! Miscellaneous I've taught my students not to hesitate when they walk around their dogs and then begin heeling. I believe I have been totally wrong - but darned if I remember where I got the idea. So I decided to bring this up and indicate all the exercises where there could be a question: 30. Halt and Walk Around Dog 31. Halt, Down - Walk Around Dog 36. Halt - Stand Dog - Walk Around 48. Moving Stand, Walk Around Dog, Forward In every one of these exercises, the description merely says that the handler returns to the heel position. Does this mean that the handler stops, the dog stays in whatever position it is in, then they take off heeling? Or, can the handler immediately move out without hesitation? My take is that the handler stops because nothing says otherwise. I would say that for exercises 30, 31 and 36, the handler should hesitate when they return to heel position. It gives the handler a chance to give the "heel" command. However, on 48, the Moving Stand, I think the handler should continue moving. It's an Excellent level exercise, and by then the team should be able to do this. I love the look of the handler continuing to move throughout the exercise. I thought that too and we don't have many Excellent Classes around here to "work on it." But the Rules indicate a "return to heel" as in the other exercises. When I demonstrated this exercise at our seminar with Roger, I did *not* stop in heel position when I returned. He didn't say anything about it being wrong. In my opinion, "return to heel" means stop in heel position. If the dog were to "return to heel" he'd have to stop and sit. I think it's only appropriate for the handler to stop briefly in heel position so the Judge can see that you DID return to heel position. A "pause" is fine, but I don't want to see someone heel out of this exercise. On each one of those exercises, the handler should at least pause in heel position. The Judge is supposed to be able to tell if the handler DID, indeed, return to heel position. It's a HALT for the dog, but then they have to sit. For the handler, "return to heel" means just the same thing, but for the handler instead of the dog. I mean, honestly trainers, how can the Judge even tell if you know where to return to heel position, if you don't? Ah, but if the handler stops behind the dog because they know the dog will break the stay, they have not returned to heel position to complete the exercise. If they don't pause at all, the dog has to "charge" out of the stay, and it's the Judge's call as to whether they competed the stay or not. Either way, I'd call it 10 points. I, personally, feel that it's important from a training perspective for the handler to pause in heel position. The pause gives "closure" of sorts to the stay -- any stay, and makes for a more reliable dog. How many dogs in Novice Obedience groups are going to be "solid" if they are charged up to get to their next Rally station with their handler as soon as the handler comes around to return to the dog? Whether we realize it or not, we're training skills into the dogs with every detail. If we want Rally folks to continue on to Obedience, we need to give them every advantage, and charging out of stays without so much as a pause in heel position won't be doing them any favors. (That's JMHO.) I can tell you that nothing but a simple plan to have the handler return to heel position next to the dog and at least pause there was ever considered. I'm not sure we even thought it might be construed in any other way. Also, consider that, while going through the exercises, each exercise was examined individually, not necessarily in the context of running a course. All of these points, of course, are just "my take" on the subject and open for speculation or change the next time Rally is "re-vamped." All right, I'm going to play devil's advocate here. If you look at it from the perspective that Rally is a KISS (Keep It Simple, Silly) sport, "return to heel position" simply means that you don't, as in the Call Front 1, 2, 3 Steps, just move forward and have the dog move into heel position. So it simply requires you to move around the dog so that the dog can resume heeling with you. I can't, frankly, believe that it was designed to demonstrate that the handler knows where heel is. It could be that the intention is to show that the dog will not sit when you return, in which case a pause makes sense? Whatever the intention, I agree that we should know from the description of the exercise what exactly is required. Okey dokey! Never heard it called that. The other signs do not direct you purposefully because the heel position is not being judged......what is being asked for is. Standing the dog and then you moving around it (while it continues to stand still) and back into heel position is what's being judged....that's why the direction is more explicit. It sure is simple! Remember exact heel position is not needed in Rally (although it's certainly wise to start learning how to get it) and it's not going to fail you that you or your dog do not know it.......but it might loose you points. That's all that's being judged, is that you know where to go to and we are not asking for any huge count to twenty-five pause, just a brief interlude. I would think that as you return around the dog, put one foot firmly next to his front legs, then pull the other one up and stand squarely........then take off.....that should be enough. Again, simple! Also from the standpoint of "Devil's Advocate" (something I know a lot about I do not think that I would take off for a crooked stand......unless the handler and dog was so crooked that they then got lost on the course. Makes sense to me. A return to heel is just that and what people may be getting confused with are the signs that give more direction and have a stop signal at the end.........such as finish dog left, stop vs. finish dog left and forward. Since there's no stop sign there, they want to go on........but I think that this is one area where you have to follow the general ob rules and that is for the return to heel to show a brief pause and that you (at least maybe not your dog) know where heel position is. I think that it's worth mentioning that Rally is not just for the sake of doing Rally but to hopefully peak in many an interest in furthering their dog's training career and continuing onward into traditional obedience or agility. I think that many would find it worth their while to read the ob/ag regs to see how things might be judged in traditional obedience and how some of these things that you are working on now are going toward! It's actually not that complicated. A lot of Rally is based on Obedience exercises, and in ANY Obedience ring "return to heel position" means just that -- return to heel position and stop there. No where in Obedience would you find the handler go by and "pick up" the dog without stopping in heel position. While Rally will be "its own sport" with its own rules, some things will translate over. Many things should, since it's hoped that new Rally folk will continue on to Obedience, so having some sense of continuity between the two sports would be nice. If a Judge gives you direction, go with that, otherwise I would expect "return to heel" to mean that the handler must find heel position next to their dog and at least pause there so the Judge can see you know where heel position is. I know everyone has the timing issue in mind, and personally I don't care if the handler only stops long enough to say "one" to himself/herself. Any other Judges care to kick in an opinion on this? If part of the exercise requires the handler to return to heel position, how would you know that they did if they didn't stop where they think heel position is? I agree. Return to heel implies the handler stops in heel position briefly before the team proceeds to the next sign. Thanks, and going over the other signs that direct the handler to "return to heel," all of them suggest that the handler stops in heel position. I don't think this exercise was intended to be any different. The "HALT" symbol is specifically used when the dog is required to SIT in the heel position, and never indicates the handler's position, so I don't think it would be appropriate. Since the description does not indicate that the handler would walk around the dog and have the dog "resume heeling" as the handler goes past, I feel the momentary pause is appropriate. Also, consider from a training aspect, that if we teach the dog to stand while we walk around, and then teach them to "charge out of the stand" with us, we may be defeating the purpose of the exercise. The moving stand in Utility (which some of our Rally folk might use one day) requires the dog to STOP and not move until called from a front position. I guess we all have preconceived notions based on Utility work, but the wording in the description is very specific. Either way, the Judge is going to specify how the exercise should be performed in the walk through, but the rules had better "back us up"! There will be a lot of Obedience handlers in Rally at first, and they're not shy about grabbing a rule book and asking the Judge to "show them"! I have even asked for "clarification" on a rule from my Judge on occasion. ".....In the Moving Stand exercise in Utility, the handler would never return to the dog, so the Obedience requirements would not apply." While the above is true, the signal exercise in Utility does include a stand. And heel position IS judged on that one, and there is a pause before the judge says "leave your dog" I don't think points would be lost in Rally unless you were "out of Position" by Rally standards (exact heel position NOT required) But for teaching and training purposes, with an eye towards the future obedience classes that all the Rally people are gonna be just soooo good at - I would strive to find that spot and for the dog to hold position until is it obtained. I know we are being timed - but, sometimes a clear, precise body language (return, brief pause) can really convey to the dog what he is supposed to do. A clean run IS faster, as there is no wasted communication or mis-signal. Otherwise, in our rush we become "muddled humans". I don't think I would take off 10 points.......it's not that big of deal in Obedience so see no reason to shoot the handler In the exercise you are describing Moving Stand. I would stand the dog, walk around, bring my feet and body back into heel position and stay long enough to whisper "good dog" and "let's go" and off we would go. I haven't timed it but I'm guessing the pause, while definite, would be about 1 second or less. If you don't mark the correct behavior - stay until I tell you to move - then you are going to set-up the dog for failure on the Stand-for-exam in Competition OB as they will start moving sooner and sooner and sooner. Other option is that you have an exact foot placement that means move with me and an exact foot placement that means don't move. If I was judging I would like to see the human move both feet together and pause for just a heartbeat - JMHO While I agree with you, and I might not either, we're talking about proper performance of an exercise. I'm sure that some Judges would consider it incorrect performance and hit them for 10 points, especially if they address the issue during the walk through and the handler performs the exercise differently. Honestly, I think most of us are agreed that a pause or stop is appropriate, and the only recourse is to address the issue at the next Rally Seminar. Before I head to my first Rally Excellent try--I want to make sure I understand what is allowable communication with your dog. The description in the proposed regs sounds like you can use verbal and/or traditional hand signals, but nothing like patting legs, etc. And I seem to remember this from earlier discussions. Is that correct? I'm having a difficult time with getting Laddie to front without the backwards steps and hoped to be able to point in front of me, or pat the front of my legs. Is that allowable? You are correct - you may talk all you want, and give unlimited commands and/or hand signals. As long as what you do with your hands is considered a signal, it is allowed in Excellent. For example, using you hands to direct the dog from heel position to a front could be considered a signal, but tapping your legs would not be allowed. You are correct. In Excellent you may no longer pat your legs or clap hands, snap fingers, etc. You MAY, however, still gesture and use hand signals and verbal commands. Pointing to the front position is allowed, but patting the front of your legs is not. The only exercises where you need to get them to the front position without stepping backward are #41 & 42. After the initial halt with the dog in heel position, I find it useful to bend my knees and point way out in front to "draw" the dog out in front of me, and then direct them back to the sit in front, pointing in front of my body. Hope that helps! Does it have to be an AKC Obedience signal? [AKC's definition: " . . . a single gesture with one arm and hand only, and the arm must immediately be returned to a natural position."] Or could the handler use both hands and arms to direct the dog and wind up with pointer fingers indicating the correct position as the dog comes in? (As I have seen.) Since Rally is not Obedience and pretty much everything is allowed at the first two levels, and since the only restriction for Excellent is no Clapping, Patting type help, I would say that any guiding with one or both hands and arms should be acceptable. Rally exercise descriptions only refer to foot work. I always tell handlers that, basically, the handler in Rally is scored from the knees down. that would make any gestures, pointing, guiding (without touching, of course) acceptable and not to be scored.  
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