Rally is a relatively new sport in the dog world.
It’s a subset of Obedience events, but it allows the handler to talk to the dog throughout the competition. It requires dog-and-handler teamwork plus the performance skills required in formal Obedience trials.
Rally provides an excellent introduction to formal Obedience for new dogs and handlers. It can be a challenging opportunity for competitors to strengthen their skills before entering the Obedience ring. While Rally was designed with the traditional pet owner in mind, 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. One of the things that most competitors like is that scoring is not as rigorous as traditional Obedience. While communication from the handler to the dog is encouraged and perfect heel position is not required, there should be a sense of teamwork and enthusiasm as they go through the course.