RA260 Get Ready to Rally - Foundation Skills

Get Ready to Rally: Foundation Skills is designed to help you build those skills the right way from the start. Whether you're brand new to Rally or looking for a clearer, more effective way to teach the Novice exercises, this class focuses on creating understanding, confidence, and teamwork that lasts far beyond your first title.

Course Details

Rally signs are only part of the picture. It's the skills behind those signs that create confident teams.

Imagine walking into the Rally ring with a dog who's excited to work with you. They stay connected, understand what you're asking, and move confidently from one exercise to the next because they understand how to work with you. Or maybe competition isn't your goal at all. Maybe you simply want a new game to play together that strengthens your communication and gives both of you something fun to learn. That kind of teamwork doesn't happen because you memorized signs. It comes from building the right foundation from the very beginning.

That's exactly what this class is designed to do. You'll learn how to teach each skill in a way your dog can actually understand, breaking every exercise into small, achievable pieces so you always know what to work on next. Instead of wondering why your dog is struggling or what to try next, you'll understand how the pieces fit together and how to build confident, reliable performance that lasts.

Here’s what makes this class different:

Learn how to teach, not just what to teach. Every skill is broken into small, manageable steps so both you and your dog understand exactly what success looks like. You'll always know what to train next instead of wondering if you're moving too fast or skipping an important piece. No guessing, no hoping it comes together, and no feeling like you're falling behind.

Build skills that last beyond Novice. The goal isn't simply to earn a title. The way we teach sits, fronts, finishes, turns, and heeling creates habits that continue paying off as you move into more advanced Rally, obedience, or whatever sport comes next. Whether Rally becomes your competitive sport, your dog's retirement sport, or simply something the two of you enjoy doing together, these are skills you'll use for years.

Build understanding instead of relying on repetition. Rather than drilling patterns over and over, you'll help your dog understand the skills they're learning. Dogs who truly understand their job perform with more confidence, recover from mistakes more easily, and stay engaged even when training gets more challenging.

Know exactly why you're doing each exercise. Every lesson has a purpose. You'll understand how today's simple exercise becomes tomorrow's polished performance, making your training feel organized instead of overwhelming.

Build your confidence as a trainer. You'll leave knowing not only how to teach Rally, but why each exercise works. That means you'll feel more confident making training decisions, solving problems, and continuing to build your dog's skills long after the class ends.

Receive personalized coaching while training on your own schedule. Watch step-by-step video demonstrations, upload your own training sessions when it's convenient for you, receive individualized feedback, and revisit lessons whenever you need them. There's no rushing because the class has moved on. Instead, you and your dog can progress at a pace that builds confidence instead of frustration.

Whether you're completely new to Rally, returning after time away, or looking for a better way to build your dog's skills, this class is designed to be supportive, encouraging, and practical. You'll leave this class with more than a dog who can perform Rally signs. You'll have a clearer training plan, a stronger partnership, and the confidence to step into the ring knowing both you and your dog are ready.

Strong Rally teams aren't built by memorizing signs. They're built one well-taught skill at a time.

Extra support included: A Teacher’s Assistant (TA) will be available to support bronze students.

Teaching Approach

Lectures are released on the first day of each week and include step-by-step written instruction plus short demonstration videos for each skill. Most videos are between 20 seconds and 2 minutes long, making them easy to fit into even a busy schedule. Videos are designed to be understood even without sound. If speaking is important in a video, the lecture will clearly outline what is being said. Homework is included at the end of each lecture so you always know what to practice. Supplemental lectures and videos will be posted as needed. This class is a great fit for students who enjoy clear written instruction paired with short, visual demonstrations.

Here is the trailer for this class.

Syllabus

This information is subject to change:

Week One: Beginning Heel and Positions

1.1 Beginning Heel with Pivot Bowl

1.2 Sit at Heel/Halts

1.3 Downs

1.4 Supplemental Lecture on Positions

Week Two: Fronts and Finishes

2.1 Fronts

2.2 Finishes

2.3 Supplemental Lecture on Chin Rests in Front

2.4 Supplemental Lecture on Sustained Nose Touch for Sit at Heel

Week Three: Turns and Sidesteps

3.1 Left Turns

3.2 Right Turns

3.3 Left About Turn

3.4 Moving Side Step

3.5 180 Degree Pivot Left

Week Four: Short Heeling Segments

4.1 Short Heeling Segments with Weaving

4.2 Short Heeling Segments with Spirals

4.3 Short Heeling Segments Figure 8

4.4 Short Heeling Segments with Off-Set Serpentines

Week Five: Pace Changes and Stands

5.1 Slow Pace

5.2 Fast Pace

5.3 Teaching the Stand

5.4 Send to Cone or Jump

Week Six: Stays

6.1 Sit Stay

6.2 Down Stay

6.3 Call Front Return to Heel

Sample Lecture

RA260 Lecture 2.2: Finishes

Behavior – Finish

AKC signs that require the finish behavior include:

Call Front Finish Right Forward, Call Front Finish Left Forward, Call Front Finish Right Sit, Call Front Finish Left Sit

The term “Finish” refers to the dog moving from a front position to heel position. The dog can either finish to the right or the left. A right finish means the dog moves to your right, wraps around your body, and ends up in heel position on your left side. A left finish means the dog moves to your left and ends in heel position on your left side. Some signs require a sit in heel position at the end, while others flow forward immediately. For this lecture, we’ll end the behavior in a sit. In the next class, we’ll focus on signs and how to move forward without a sit.

Sit Platforms and Pivot Bowls

If your dog has value for a sit platform, this can make teaching the finish much easier. A dog that loves the platform will be magnetized to it, which is helpful when shaping the behavior. If you've practiced any find heel exercises, you can use them here to teach the left finish. Place the platform in heel position with your dog on it. Mark and reward your dog a few times for being in heel, then use your treat chase marker (like “get it”) to toss a treat straight ahead. Let your dog find heel again, ideally without a lot of extra body cues. Keep your body neutral and avoid rotating your shoulders or shifting weight to assist your dog. You can use a pivot bowl instead of a platform; with the pivot bowl, don’t worry if the dog doesn’t sit. I teach my dogs not to sit on the bowl, but I expect a sit on the platform.

Naming the Behavior

Don’t name the behavior too early. I wait until the behavior is smooth and predictable, even if I’m still using props. Once your dog is confidently going to the platform or pivot bowl in heel, you can start using your chosen cue. My cue is “close.” I used to use “get in,” but I found it too similar to “get it.” Other common options include “swing” or “heel.”

Left Finish

When introducing the left finish, I typically start with the dog in front, either already on the platform or lured into that position. I’ll release the dog and use my hands to indicate I want him to go to the platform. You can use a lure if that’s easier. In the video below, I began with a sit platform in front and a pivot bowl at heel, then switched to just a sit platform in heel position.

Finish Left with No Platform

Once the dog has good value for heel, I remove the platform. This also works if you don’t want to use props at all. I begin by luring the dog into position, then fade the lure into a hand signal. Initially, I step back with my left foot to give the dog room to move into heel. Eventually, I fade the footwork and perform the finish with my feet stationary. In the video, you’ll see that I needed to cue Excel to sit. That only lasted one session; he figured it out quickly. Don’t worry about helping your dog in early sessions.

Finish Right with Platform or Pivot Bowl

The right finish can be a bit trickier because we naturally train heel position on our left. I usually introduce this by putting a prop in heel position and luring the dog around my body until they see the prop. I mark and reward when the dog gets into heel. If the dog struggles, you can mark and reward partway through the movement—such as when the dog is behind you—and again in heel.

Finish Right – Adding the Cue and Fading the Prop

Once your dog is consistently finishing right with a lure, begin to fade it into a hand signal. When your dog is confidently performing the finish, add your verbal cue. I use “around,” but feel free to use any cue that works for you. When your dog is solid with both cue and prop, start fading the prop. In this video, I introduced the “around” cue a little too early; Excel was still unsure. I’ll hold off on using the cue again until he’s more confident. At the end of the video, you’ll see me lure Excel into position without using any props.

Key Points Summary

The finish behavior brings the dog from front to heel, either left or right
Sit platforms and pivot bowls can help reinforce position and reduce errors
Start by luring, then quickly fade to hand signals and verbal cues
Don’t name the behavior until it’s predictable and smooth
The left finish is usually easier; right finishes may need more support
Fade props gradually and always reward a correct position generously

Homework

Show me a few reps of your dog practicing finishes—either direction
Use sit platforms, pivot bowls, or no props, depending on where you are in training
Focus on one direction (left or right) if needed
Show how you're rewarding—placement matters!
If you’re adding the cue, let me know which one you’ve chosen

Instructors

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)...

Registration

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