How It Works
What is the Rally and Obedience Levels System?
The Rally and Obedience Levels System is a program designed to help you and your dog incrementally gain proficiency in all the skills you both will need to successfully compete in Rally and Obedience. While this class focuses on AKC/MBDCA and APDT Rally and AKC/MBDCA Obedience, these skills are transferable to any other venue. And even if you never want to compete, you can work through all the skills and teach your dog some amazing things while creating a great working partnership together.
The program is divided into a series of levels. The first three levels provide the foundation for the skills needed for both Rally and Obedience competitions. Levels four through six focus on preparing the dog and handler team for Rally competition while continuing work on Obedience foundation skills. The final three levels - seven through nine - work to tighten up ring performances and prepare the team for Obedience competitions. Students and their dogs must pass tests for all the skills in a given level before they can progress to the next level.
But my dog and I only just completed a Beginning Obedience class. How can we be in a class where everyone else is so much more advanced?
Not everyone in the class is advanced - we have new students and new dogs beginning all the time! There are students and dogs working at a wide variety of skill levels, all the way from dogs who are still learning what "sit" and "down" mean to dogs who have actually competed at Rally and Obedience competitions and earned titles. Everyone in class works at the level appropriate for their dog, and everyone works to help everyone else to succeed.
How does testing work?
Testing, from the very beginning of the program, is designed to give the dog and student/handler experience and confidence performing their skills in front of someone who will be evaluating their performance, as a judge would be in a ring during a competition/trial. Not all of the skills being tested are for the dog - some skills are for the student/handler alone! When the dog and handler team pass all the tests in a given level, the team will be awarded a colored bandana that the dog wears to class - an easy way of letting everyone else in class know how far you and your dog have progressed in the program.
Where and when tests will be administered depends on the level. The Level 1 test can usually be done during or right after class, so long as this has been prearranged. For the other levels, testing will take place on special test days which are generally different from class days and times.
How do classes work?
The classes are on a drop-in and pay-as-you-go basis. Come when you can and as often as you want! If you can't make it one particular week, you won't have to worry about losing out on money you've already paid since you just pay whenever you come to class.
Sometimes classes will be held indoors in the training building and sometimes they will be held outdoors in a nearby park, depending on the time of year, weather, etc. When you arrive for class at the training building, come in without your dog, set up your crate/x-pen, and sign in and pay. Then, bring in your dog in and settle him/her in the crate/x-pen.
Class content will follow this monthly schedule:
- 1st and 3rd weeks: Run-throughs of a rally course and/or obedience exercises
- 2nd and 4th weeks: Skill building exercises
- 5th week (when there is one): Game night
What do I need to bring to class?
You will need:
- Yourself
- Your hungry dog
- Lots of treats your dog loves
- A collar (flat buckle, martingale, or limited slip)
- A leash (6-feet is a good, general purpose length)
- A clicker (if you use one)
- A crate or exercise pen (x-pen)
If you don't have a crate or x-pen for your dog, we do have a couple at the training building you can borrow until you are able to get one of your own. We also have additional clickers (regular and quiet) available for purchase should you need one.
Braveheart Dog Training's philosophy is to teach the dog what you want him/her to do and to help him/her get it right through positive, reward-based methods. To that end, we do not allow choke (slip) collars, prong collars, or electric collars in any of our classes. If you are having trouble controlling your dog's leash pulling without one of these devices, talk to us about alternatives (such as no-pull harnesses) which we welcome in our classes.
How much does the class cost?
Classes are $10 each. Just sign in and pay when you arrive for a class.
When and where does the class meet?
Classes meet on Monday nights from 6:30 - 7:15, excluding major holidays. The class usually goes on vacation for about a month around the Christmas and New Year's holidays as well.
Where classes meet varies with the seasons and the weather. Generally, through the winter classes will be held in the training building at 2123 Marina Blvd in San Leandro. In the summer when the days are longer, classes may meet outdoors at a local park - usually at Marina Park (just down the street from the training building) or Washington Manor Park (one exit south of Marina Blvd on 880).
Class changes (no-class dates and location changes) will be announced in class for several weeks before they change and also on the BraveheartRallyO Yahoo group (or via email for those not yet eligible for the Yahoo group).
When can I join the BraveheartRallyO Yahoo group?
Students are eligible to join the BraveheartRallyO Yahoo group after they have attended 3 classes. To maintain membership in the group, students must attend at least one class every 3 months.
How long will my dog and I spend at each level?
How long it takes each individual dog and handler to get through a Level from scratch will depend on many things - the skill and experience of the handler/trainer, the amount of time spent daily or weekly (or even monthly) in actual training, whether time must be spent overcoming problems such as a lack of interest in food or previous training that the dog may have. Having said that, the average dog and handler usually averages out to about a Level every two to three months, but usually less for Level 1.
What skills will my dog and I learn and why are they important?
- Attention in Motion: Teaches the dog to watch the handler while heeling under increasingly distracting conditions. Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
- Attention in Place: Teaches the dog to watch the handler for longer periods of time and from farther away under increasingly distracting conditions. Useful anywhere, but especially any time the dog is left in a "Stay" and the handler walks a distance away (such as right before a recall). Also teaches the dog to change positions (stand to down to sit) in place from a distance. Used in APDT Rally (Level 3) and Obedience (Utility).
- Back Up: Teaches the dog to walk backwards both in front of the handler and at the handler's side. A great way to help dogs learn that they have back feet. Used in Rally (Excellent / Level 3).
- Distance (Go Around): Teaches the dog to go around an object at a distance from the handler. Eventually the object becomes a jump standard as the dog takes a jump while going around it. Used in APDT Rally (Level 3) and Obedience (Utility).
- Down in Motion: Teaches the dog to quickly drop all the way into a down while both coming towards the handler and while heeling at the handler's side, even if the handler keeps moving. Used in Rally (Novice, Excellent, Level 2, Level 3) and Obedience (Open).
- Down in Place: Teaches the dog to lay down without moving from the place where s/he is sitting, usually at the handler's side. Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
- Down Stay: Teaches the dog to stay in the down position where s/he was left, even if the handler walks all over the place or goes out of sight. Used in Rally (Novice, Excellent, Level 1) and Obedience (Novice, Open).
- Finish: Teaches the dog to move from sitting in front of the handler to sit at the handler's left side by going both to the handler's right and the handler's left. Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
- Front: Teaches the dog to sit squarely in front of the handler, even when approaching the handler from odd angles. Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
- Heel: Teaches the dog to seek out and stay at the handler's left side and to follow and adjust to the handler's movements (including going faster or slower, turning, and stopping). Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
- Homework: Questions to get the student/handler thinking about and applying his/her understanding of training methodologies, especially as they relate to his/her own dog.
- Jumping: Teaches the dog to safely go over the three main types of jumps seen in Rally and Obedience: the solid panel (high), the bar, and the broad (low and long). Has the added benefit of helping dogs learn that they have rear feet. Used in Rally (Advanced, Excellent, Level 2, Level 3) and Obedience (Open, Utility).
- Marking: Teaches the dog to stare intently at an object until directed to retrieve it. Useful to show the dog which one of several objects you want. Used in APDT Rally (Level 3) and Obedience (Utility).
- Pace Changes: Teaches the dog to adjust to the handler's speed, slowing down when the handler goes slowly and speeding up when the handler goes fast. Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
- Recall: Teaches the dog to remain in one place until called by the handler to come and sit in front of him/her. Used in all levels of APDT Rally and Obedience.
- Relaxation: Teaches the dog to hang out calmly in a crate, x-pen, or similar set up, allowing the handler to go about his/her business at a trial knowing the dog is ok. Used any time the student/handler takes the dog to a trial situation.
- Retrieve: Teaches the dog to leave the handler's side when cued to go out to, pick up, and return to sit in front of the handler with an object (usually a dumbbell). Less formally, has innumerable handy applications around the home. Used in APDT Rally (Level 3) and Obedience (Open, Utility).
- Ring Procedures: Teaches the student/handler and dog what to expect and how to behave when they enter a ring in a trial or match. Necessary any time the student/handler goes to a trial situation.
- Rules Knowledge: Teaches the student/handler the rules of the venue s/he wishes to compete and earn titles in. Often neglected, but oh so necessary any time the student/handler enters a trial!
- Scenting: Teaches the dog to use his/her nose to find and retrieve an object that smells the most like the handler. Always fun and impressive! Used in Obedience (Utility).
- Side Step: Teaches the dog to move his/her rear to the right or the left in order to stay straight at the handler's side or in front of the handler. Another skill that helps teach dogs that they have rear feet. Used in Rally (Novice, Advanced, Level 1, Level 2).
- Sit in Motion: Teaches the dog to turn around and sit facing the handler on cue out of motion. Used in Obedience (Utility).
- Sit in Place: Teaches the dog to sit squarely at the handler's side, both while changing positions (to down or stand and back) and while coming to a stop during heeling. Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
- Sit Stay: Teaches the dog to stay in a sit where s/he was left, even if the handler walks all over the place or goes out of sight. Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
- Stand in Motion: Teaches the dog to stop and stay standing while heeling at the handler's side, even if the handler keeps moving. Used in Rally (Excellent, Level 3) and Obedience (Utility).
- Stand in Place: Teaches the dog to stand from a sit at the handler's side and to remain in place through various position changes (sit to stand to down, etc.). Used in Rally (Advanced, Excellent, Level 1, Level 2) and Obedience (Novice).
- Stand Stay: Teaches the dog to stay in a stand where s/he was left, even if the handler walks all over the place or if the dog is physically "examined" by a judge. Used in Rally (Advanced, Level 2) and Obedience (Novice, Utility).
- Target: Teaches the dog to approach and/or follow an object and then touch it with his/her nose or paw. A foundation skill used to teach many other behaviors. Indispensable for teaching Utility level "go-outs" for Obedience.
- Turn/Pivot Right/Left: Teaches the dog to properly turn while heeling, which involves speeding up on right turns and slowing down while moving the rear to the left on left turns. Used in all levels of Rally and Obedience.
The First Level Skills
These are the tests the student/handler and dog must complete to pass the first level. As you can see, not all of the skills listed above will be tested in the first level, and there are even some items for the student/handler to do without the dog! The dog's behaviors have more details that can be viewed by clicking the box on the right side of the behavior line. Or, to expand the details for all behaviors at once, click the "Show all details" link to the right below. Both of these detail-viewing methods work on the main level/skill page as well.
| 2. |
Attention in Place |
| Behavior | Dog sitting and facing the handler finds the handler's face and holds eye contact. |
|---|
| Number of Cues | 2 voice cues |
|---|
| Duration | 10 seconds |
|---|
| Distance | None |
|---|
| Distractions | 1 visible treat held out to the handler's side |
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| Treats | At end of behavior only |
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| Number of Reps | 1 |
|---|
| Additional Criteria | No touching or body language other than looking at the dog is permitted. |
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|
| 6. |
Down in Place |
| Behavior | Dog Downs from a Sit. |
|---|
| Number of Cues | 2 |
|---|
| Duration | None |
|---|
| Distance | None |
|---|
| Distractions | None |
|---|
| Treats | At end of behavior only |
|---|
| Number of Reps | 1 |
|---|
| Additional Criteria | It is not necessary for the dog to stay in the Down position, simply to lie down. |
|---|
|
| 10. |
Heel |
| Behavior | Dog will seek out heel position while the handler walks briskly in a straight line or counter-clockwise circle. The dog must immediately seek heel position, at which point the handler will give the dog a treat, pivot 180° to the left, and walk briskly away (maintaining a straight line or counter-clockwise circle). |
|---|
| Number of Cues | None besides walking briskly |
|---|
| Duration | None |
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| Distance | None |
|---|
| Distractions | None |
|---|
| Treats | 1 for each repetition |
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| Number of Reps | 3 correct in 5 tries |
|---|
| Additional Criteria | The handler may hold food in his/her left hand in a such a way that it is hidden from the dog's view so long as s/he is not using that hand to lure the dog. The dog must immediately turn and seek heel position again as soon as the handler turns. |
|---|
Handler must demonstrate what the dog in exact heel position looks like with the dog sitting, standing, and in motion (use mirrors to practice this). The handler may use food or anything else to lure and keep the dog in position. The handler must also locate an appropriate and safe training environment to practice heeling and bring in pictures of the location (digital are fine) for review. (This is a handler-only skill.) |
| 11. |
Homework |
Handler can define Premack's Principle and can give 3 examples of using it with his/her dog. Handler can also name 3 high value rewards for the dog, only one of which can be a food reward, and only one of which can be a toy. (This is a handler-only skill.) |
| 23. |
Sit in Place |
| Behavior | Dog Sits from a Stand. |
|---|
| Number of Cues | 1 |
|---|
| Duration | None |
|---|
| Distance | None |
|---|
| Distractions | None |
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| Treats | At end of behavior only |
|---|
| Number of Reps | 1 |
|---|
| Additional Criteria | The handler may use the dog's name to get his attention before starting. |
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|
| 28. |
Target |
| Behavior | Dog must deliberately touch the handler's hand with nose. |
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| Number of Cues | 1 verbal cue (hand in position is a second, allowable cue) |
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| Duration | Dog must take at least 3 steps in pursuit of the hand. |
|---|
| Distance | None |
|---|
| Distractions | None |
|---|
| Treats | After each hand touch only |
|---|
| Number of Reps | 1 or more |
|---|
| Additional Criteria | Dog must demonstrate the ability to change direction 180° by making a tight turn while following the hand. |
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Handler must bring in for review an appropriate object that can be used as a target stick. (This is a handler-only skill.) |
| 29. |
Turn/Pivot Right/Left |
Handler must bring in for review 2 objects, preferably round, that the dog can comfortable keep his/her front feet on while standing. The size of the object will be determined by the size of the dog, but one should be about half the height as the dog's front legs while standing and the other should be about half the height of the first. The dog should not be able to accidentally tip the objects over by standing near their edges. (This is a handler-only skill.) |