RA330 Movin' On Up: Skills and Signs for Master Rally

Did you know you can go from novice to the master class in just 9 runs? It happens so fast!

Course Details

Did you know you can go from novice to the master class in just 9 runs? It happens so fast!

Are you a little intimidated by the master signs, with all those spins, sends, and signals? Don’t be! The rally master class is a blast for you and your dog. If you’ve both been enjoying rally so far, jump into master and get ready to have even more fun!

In Movin’ On Up, you’ll learn how to teach your dog all those fun rally moves. There will be detailed lectures with lots of video examples of how to teach every skill you’ll need for master rally. In addition, you will learn how each master sign is to be performed correctly. Learn to avoid common errors as you view lectures with descriptions, videos, troubleshooting tips, and more! Finally, we’ll discuss the rules and challenges particular to the master level of AKC rally.

Rally is quickly gaining popularity and the addition of the master class, plus the championship titles and the national competitions, makes it a great sport for those wanting to compete at higher levels. Join me today to see how fun master rally can be!

Check out this video of me and Strive in a recent rally master class.

We earned a perfect score of 100 and 1st place with this run.

Trailer for RA330:

Teaching Approach

This is a skill-based class. Lectures are released once weekly. Each week there will be a lecture describing the signs that we are covering for the week, in which there will be both written descriptions and video examples. Short skill lectures will also be included each week, which contain step by step instructions that are written out followed by video examples. Most videos are short but some may be up to a couple minutes. The videos do not require the ability to hear them in order to understand what’s going on. For each skill lecture, the suggested homework is listed on the bottom of the lecture. This class will work best for students who enjoy reading text lectures and watching videos that demonstrate the steps detailed in the written portion of the lecture. The steps for teaching each skill are broken down and laid out in a structured way.

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 that Facebook group will be in the classroom after you register.

Syllabus

Syllabus (subject to change)

Week 1: Recalls

1.1 Halt Recall Jump Turn Forward Signs

1.2 Turns After Finishes

1.3 Call Over Jump

1.4 Call Over Jump with Front

1.5 Halt Leave Recall Finishes

1.6 Recalls

Week 2: Side Steps

2.1 Call Front Move 2 Side Steps Finish Forward

2.2 Lateral Movement with Mats

2.3 Lateral Fronts with Props

2.4 Pivots and Lateral Fronts

Week 3: Send Aways

3.1 Halt Send Away Sit Signs

3.2 Teaching the Send

3.3 Teaching the Sit at Distance

Week 4: Backups and Stands

4.1 Backup 3 Steps Turn Backup 1 or 2 Steps

4.2 Teaching the Right Backup

4.3 Teaching the Left Backup

4.4 Backup 3 Steps Stand Leave Call to Finish Forward

4.5 Teaching Back Leave Call to Finish

4.6 Stand Leave 2 Steps Call to Heel

4.7 Teaching Stand Leave Call to Heel

Week 5: Spins

5.1 Dog Spins Right or Left Forward Signs

5.2 Teaching Spins

5.3 Side by Side 360 Circle Signs

5.4 Teaching Side by Side Circles

5.5 Dog Circles Right Around Handler - Handler Circles Left

5.6 Teaching Dog Right Handler Left Circle

Week 6: Short Heeling Segments

6.1 Cloverleaf Sign

6.2 Cloverleaf Tips

6.3 Double Left About Turn Right/Left Turn Signs

6.3 Teaching Double Left About Turns

Prerequisites & Supplies

For gold spots, the handler and dog should be familiar with rally skills through the excellent level. Many of the master skills build on those learned in earlier levels.

Some signs require up to four cones and one jump.

Sample Lecture

RA330 Movin’ On Up: Skills and Signs for Master Rally

Backup 3 Steps Turn Backup 1 or 2 Steps

Backup 3 Steps - Right Backup 1 or 2 Steps – Forward - While heeling, the dog and handler reverse direction walking backwards at least 3 steps, and without stopping, take one or two steps backwards 90° to the right and then heel forward. The dog must move with the handler.

Videos

Excel Demonstrating this Sign

AKC Demo

Tips for Performing the Sign Correctly

It’s okay to pause very briefly after your pivot to allow your dog to straighten up before continuing the back up. After your turn and 1-2 steps of backup, simply heel forward.

Backup 3 Steps - Left Backup 1 or 2 Steps – Forward - While heeling, the dog and handler reverse direction walking backwards at least 3 steps, and without stopping, take one or two steps backwards 90° to the left and then heel forward. The dog must move with the handler.

Videos

Strive Demonstrating this Sign

AKC Demo

Tips for Performing the Sign Correctly

It’s okay to pause very briefly after your pivot to allow your dog to straighten up before continuing the back up. After your turn and 1-2 steps of backup, simply heel forward.

RA330 Movin’ On Up: Skills and Signs for Master Rally

Teaching the Left Backup

This is one of my favorite signs! A dog that can stay in heel through several steps of backing up including a left 90 degree turn shows a great understanding of heel position.

Your dog should have the skills to stay in heel while you back up three steps, from the earlier levels. Also, your dog should understand how to stay in heel position when you complete the various left turns, which will often require the dog to back up. If your dog doesn’t understand these foundational skills, I would recommend going back and working on them. For backing up straight, you can use a gate or wall to help guide the dog, or you can use a rear foot target. Many dogs get through excellent without ever really mastering the backup sign, but if you intend to play in master it’s a good idea to have a good foundation on this skill.

To start training for this sign, I begin with a left 90 degree pivot. Your dog should back up to stay in heel position. When I can see that the dog understands that behavior, I will start doing one step back to a 90 degree pivot. Stopping at the end of the pivot and marking the dog getting into position will reward the dog for the most difficult part of the skill, which is completing that 90 degree turn.

As the dog shows understanding, I will start to add 1-2 steps both before and after the pivot. When you start adding steps after the pivot, be sure you pause until the dog is lined up straight before continuing backward.

This video shows Excel’s first time training this skill. It went fast because he understands left pivots and straight backing up.

Instructors

Nicole Wiebusch

Nicole Wiebusch CPDT-KA (she/her) has been competing in dog sports for over 25 years. Starting in 4-H, Nicole quickly became addicted to the sport of obedience and has been showing in obedience, rally, and agility ever since. (Click here for full bio and to view Nicole's upcoming courses)...

Registration

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