RA290 Get Ready to Rally - Advancing to Rally Excellent!
Are you passionate about Rally and eager to level up your skills? Would you like to follow easy, step-by-step lectures so you know exactly how to train the more advanced skills combined with personalized instruction?
Course Details
Once you've mastered the Novice level, it's only natural to crave the challenge of Advanced and Excellent courses. This is your chance to stay ahead of the curve with a class specifically designed to prepare you for the next stages in your Rally journey.
Imagine entering the Rally ring, confident and fully prepared, knowing you can handle any Advanced or Excellent sign with ease. In this course, we’ll focus on AKC signs, but we’re also flexible—if you’re competing in another venue, just let us know, and we’ll tailor the content to meet your needs. Each week, you'll dive into sign introductions, hone your skills, and learn how to execute each sign flawlessly. Our lectures and video examples will guide you every step of the way, covering not just the basics, but also advanced strategies like transitioning to off-leash, staying connected with your dog, reducing reinforcement, and handling the unexpected.
Don’t wait until you’re in the ring to realize you’re not ready. Enroll in the class now and step into the Advanced or Excellent rings with the confidence of a seasoned pro!
Here’s a video of an Excellent run in AKC Rally. This is one of my students with her Chessie.
Here is the trailer for this class!
Teaching Approach
Lectures will be released weekly on the first day of each week. There is one lecture for each Advanced and Excellent Rally sign, which includes a description of the sign, several demo videos, a written explanation of how to teach the skills needed for the sign, several short videos showing the training steps for the sign, and tips for performing the sign correctly to minimize point losses. In addition, there are several written concept lectures. Videos do not include captions or voiceovers. Rally is a physical sport which requires walking but accommodations can be made for those with mobility issues. I have coached students in wheelchairs and with canes and people using mobility devices can have successful rally experiences. This class would work best with students that prefer written out instructions with video examples of each step who prefer a systematic approach to rally training. I will provide written feedback with video examples if necessary.
This class will have a Teacher's Assistant (TA) available in the Facebook study group to help the Bronze and Silver students! Directions for joining will be in the classroom after you register.
Syllabus
Week 1
1.1 Halt Down Sit
1.2 Halt Stand
1.3 Halt Stand Down
1.4 Halt Stand Sit
1.5 Transitioning to Off-Leash
Week 2
2.1 Send Over Jump Handler Passes By
2.2 Halt Call Front Finish Right
2.3 Halt Call Front Finish Left
2.4 Halt Step in Front Finish Right Forward
2.5 Halt Step in Front Finish Left Forward
2.6 Send to Jump
2.7 Halt Dog Circles Right Sit
2.8 Supplemental Lecture on Broad Jump
2.9 Removing Reinforcers
Week 3
3.1 Halt About Turn Right Forward
3.2 Halt About U Turn Forward
3.3 Halt Turn Right One Step Call to Heel Halt
3.4 Halt 90 Degree Pivot Right Halt
3.5 Halt 90 Degree Pivot Left Halt
3.6 Halt Sidestep Right Halt
3.7 Halt 180 Degree Pivot Right Halt
3.8 Halt 180 Degree Pivot Left Halt
3.9 Staying Connected to Your Dog
Week 4
4.1 Halt Pivot Right Forward
4.2 Halt Pivot Left Forward
4.3 Right Turn Dog Circles Right Forward
4.4 Left Turn Dog Circles Right Forward
4.5 2 Side Steps Right Forward
4.6 Stand Right Turn Forward
4.7 Stand Left Turn Forward
4.8 Tips for Not Getting Lost on the Rally Course
Week 5
5.1 Offset Figure 8
5.2 Backup 3 Steps
5.3 Double Left About Turn
5.4 About Turn Right About U Turn
5.5 About U Turn About Turn Right
5.6 What To Do When it All Goes Wrong!
Week 6
6.1 Halt Stand Walk Around
6.2 Halt Leave 2 Steps Call to Heel Forward
6.3 Moving Stand Walk Around
6.4 Moving Down Walk Around
6.5 Down While Heeling Call to Finish Sit
6.6 Stand While Heeling Call to Finish Sit
6.7 Stand Leave Sit Call Front Finish
6.8 Stand Leave Down Call Front Finish Sit
6.9 Sit Stay
Prerequisites & Supplies
Sample Lecture
RA290 Get Ready to Rally - Advancing to Rally Excellent!
Skill: Sit at Heel, 180 degree About Turns from a Halt
Sign: Halt About Turn Right Forward
AKC
Description
While heeling, the handler halts and the dog sits. The dog and handler turn 180° to the right and heel forward. (Stationary)
Video demos
Here is Strive demonstrating what this sign should look like.
AKC Demo
Training the Skills
Your dog should have all the skills needed to perform this sign. If you are struggling with any part of the exercise, remember to break it down. The skills needed are the sit at heel and going from a halt directly to an about right turn.
I like to break down the turn from the halt. Here’s a video of me working on that with Excel. Note that I am going through these steps fairly quickly since he has the foundations that we practiced in RA260 on the about turn.
Once I make sure my dog can comfortably go from a halt to an about turn, then I’ll work on helping him come out of the about turn straight. Many dogs will flare out their rear ends when they are coming around the turn, so one way we can help them keep their bodies straight and under control is to do a sidestep directly after the about turn.
I use the hand touches to keep his head up and to add a bit of energy to the heeling.
Notice that when I work on these turns, I start slow and will add speed as my dog gains confidence and understands the movement.
Tips
Be sure that you are not taking a step forward after your halt and before you start your turn. Your first step should start your about turn.
If your dog tends to lag on about turns, do not wait or slow down! You looking back at the dog and dropping your left shoulder will cause the dog to fall further back. Instead, break down the turn so your dog understands how to drive around. You can use hand touches to help your dog. You can also use placement of reward to your advantage, by either rewarding high or rewarding forward.
Homework
Show me this sign! If your dog struggles, we can break it down and help the dog out. Video what you’re struggling with and show me so we can work through it together.
Instructor
Nicole Wiebusch
Faculty
Nicole Wiebusch CPDT-KA (she/her) has been active in dog sports for over 25 years. What began with 4-H quickly grew into a lifelong passion for dog sports. (Click here for full bio and to view Nicole's upcoming courses)...