​​Columbus All-Breed Training Club​

Rally Novice
This is a foundation class designed for those who have not competed in AKC Rally and wish to begin.

You will learn:
  • where to get information on finding and entering AKC Rally events
  • how to enter a trial
  • what to wear at a trial
  • how to behave at a trial
  • how to get the Rally rules and regulations and how to use them
  • how to walk a Rally course
  • how to perform a Rally course
  • what the Novice Rally signs are and how to perform them
  • how you are scored, what deductions are taken for, what is an NQ, what is an IP
  • what titles you may obtain
  • the principal parts of the exercises

This class is limited to 8 participants and is by pre-registration with the instructor. 

Prerequisite:
  • You and your dog must be able to heel with a sit, understand down, stand, and sit and down stays, perform a recall, and have at least one finish. 
  • This course does NOT teach you the obedience exercises.  You must work on your own to teach your dog whatever exercise you need.  
  • You must be able to arrive 10 minutes prior to the class to set up the equipment, and you must participate in putting the equipment away at the end of class.
  • Your dog must be crated, xpenned, or in your car during set up and tear down. 
  • Please be mindful of the weather if you are leaving your dog in your vehicle. You may not miss more than 2 classes in the session.
Rally Advanced
This class is for the student who has already competed in Novice Rally and is either preparing to enter Advanced or is currently competing in Advanced. This class is taught as a run-through class and only teaches how to perform the stations. Any work that is necessary for you to teach your dog how to perform the exercise is to be done on your own. The class is performed off-leash, except for those who begin the class immediately out of the Novice Rally class. These people are encouraged to work out of class to begin preparing for off leash.

Prerequisite:
  • You must be able to arrive 10 minutes prior to the class to set up the equipment, and
  • You must participate in putting the equipment away at the end of class.
  • Your dog must be crated, X-penned, or in your car during set up and tear down.
  • You may not miss more than 2 classes in the session.
Rally Excellent

This third and highest level of AKC Rally is the most challenging.


  • Exercises are performed off-leash except for the honor exercise.
  • There is a requirement of 15-20 stations, with no more than 7 stationary exercises.
  • Handlers are only allowed to encourage their dogs verbally. Physical encouragement is not allowed at this level.


The Excellent-level exercises include backing up three steps, while the dog stays in the heel position and a moving stand, while the handler walks around the dog.


AKC Rally is the new dog sport that is taking the nation by storm, a successful stepping stone from the AKC Canine Good Citizen® program to the world of obedience or agility.  Rally offers both the dogs and handlers an experience that is fun and energizing.  The canine team moves at their own pace, very similar to rally-style auto racing.  Rally was designed with the traditional pet owner in mind, but it can still be very challenging for those who enjoy higher levels of competition.  A rally course includes 10 to 20 stations, depending on the level.  Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience.  Communication between handler and dog is encouraged and perfect heel position is not required, but there should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler.  The main objective of rally is to produce dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs, in a manner that will reflect positively on the sport of rally at all times and under all conditions.

Rally is a dog and handler sport where the team completes a course designed by a judge where the judge gives the command "Are you ready, and Forward" and the team proceeds at their own pace to perform the instructions on each of the signs.  Performance is scored, but not as rigorously as in obedience.  The team must move at a brisk pace, dog under control of the handler at the handler's left side, as in traditional obedience.  The team should be working as a team and perfect heel position is NOT required.  Unlimited communication between dog and handler is encouraged and not penalized.  You can talk, praise, encourage, clap, or pat.  (These actions are expected to decrease from Novice to Excellent).  The handler may NOT touch the dog, but may give multiple commands/signals.  Loud, harsh commands WILL be penalized.  No food is allowed in the ring.  

Rally is intended to be the transition step from the Canine Good Citizen Test into Obedience or Agility competition. 

Any AKC registered dog is eligible to enter and compete in Rally after 6 months of age.

What is Rally?