#rally-o

[pawsitivevibe]

Baby Arthur's first rally-o fun match!

I was not looking for correct behaviours or perfect sign performance. This was his very first time in the rally ring, and in this building. We've only done heelwork at home and on walks. He's never even seen a rally sign before! I was looking for a happy wagging tail, engagement, some decent heeling, and confidence in a brand new environment. We played around with much enthusiasm and praise. Yes he came out of heel repeatedly. He's not actually ready for a rally course because we're still working on maintaining heel with distractions. But he re-engaged with me so nicely! Goodest little boy. He's going to be so awesome at this.

I do like to expose my dogs to fun matches and trial environments early and often. They need to be super comfortable and able to perform in that atmosphere.

[basskier]

on a totally unrelated sidenote I competed with my border collie for her very first time saturday (in rally obedience), and we won both courses. she is a very good girl.

[theadventurek9]

@fausthound For some reason it won’t let me reblog so I made a new post!

Well I think a lot of that starts with what goals you have. High level titles? Championships? Just having fun? Just getting into the sports with your first dog and trying things out? Do you want a really flashy heel or just something functional?

For example Aayla is my first sport dog. So we are learning a lot together and I’m trying to not put too much stress on what our goals are. I’d like to get her Rally Masters and at least Obedience Open titles through AKC. I’m not looking for perfect scores, but instead am aiming for a happy engaged dog. I’m very happy with just getting our Qs. Perfect score goals can come with time, or even another dog. We also compete in agility and we would both rather focus on that anyways. 

@shepherdnerd had some great points about where to start. I really agree that the hardest part is the foundation of engagement. Engagement in very distracting environments is the hard part, then the rest of the behaviors can fall into place after that.

I’m kind of a trash trainer that plays a lot by trial and error and my own gut instinct. I’d love to be able to pay for lots of classes with FDSA and join an obedience club. Frankly I don’t have the resources, money or time. I’ve heard a lot good things about the Fenzi classes though. I’d also suggest looking for ‘Obedience Clubs’, normally they have trainers and classes available to get you on track. Its easier to look for those in major cities than ‘obedience training’.

I watch a lot of youtube videos too. Videos of people competing, training and so on. I add little things I like to my bag of training tricks. I’ll try them out and keep what I like and toss what I don’t.

I’d also suggest platform training. I wish I would have used it more with Aayla’s obedience foundations. Sometimes I consider going back to those basics with her. Its really helpful for pivots, tuck sits/down/stand cues, fronts and positioning for the heel.

I’m trying to not write too much so I’ll stop there, but let me know if anything is not clear or if you have questions on anything. I can also video and demo with Aayla if you need help with things!

[adventurek9]

Masters rally signs

Have you guys looked at those yet?! Holy shit those signs make no sense looking at them. Some of the things are odd too. I'm going to post a few signs. But hell its going to give us a nice challenge. (If I ever stop being lazy and get Aayla in some more events)

[snoots-and-wiskers]

What leash length do you obedience people recommend? My 6 foot is WAY too long and bulky by I've trying to decide if a 4 foot would be too long as well? Idk what do you guys think

[pawsitivevibe]

Hmm my crowning achievement rally sign. whomst cares about stays and pivots when you can do this? 

[pawsitivevibe]

So would any agility people be interested in, like, weekly or even monthly challenges? Basically I could (or we could alternate who!!) post a mini course or exercise and everyone post their video. Just for a fun, interesting training challenge?? We could limit it to like jumps and tunnels if that's all people have access to rn ... Focus on certain skills perhaps?

I would totally also be up for a similar thing for rally-O!! Mini sequences maybe?

I feel like I just need some goals to aim for in training rn.

[pawsitivevibe]

My rally trainer is doing a virtual rally fun match. I don't have a printer set up in the new house yet, so I used my great artistic skills (haha) to improvise some signs.

It's all novice though sooo might replace some of the signs when I do it with Haley. Probably just add distractions to the weave cones, make the turns into pivots, make the Down and Stop a Moving Down, and add a sit stay for leashing. Bree will do the novice though because she's still a heeling newbie.