Dec19Sat
AKC Rally Trial
Novice through Master, plus RAE and RACH legs. A fun match runs the evening before.
Entries openWhereRing 2Entries open
Rally
A course of 10–20 signs, each one an obedience move, done as a team. Every dog and every age. A great first sport and a great cross-trainer.
Player stats
Energy2
Speed2
Brain work4
Joint impact1
Ring 2What is rally?
The game, explained
Rally is a course of 10 to 20 numbered signs. Each sign tells you an exercise: sit, down, a 270° turn, a call to front, a figure eight around cones. You and your dog move from sign to sign at your own pace, and you can talk to your dog and praise the whole way around.
It is the friendliest way into dog sports, and it makes everyday manners sharper. Many of our agility and flyball dogs cross-train in rally to tighten up focus and heeling before trial season.
- Youngest start
- 6 months
- Good for seniors?
- Yes, one of the best sports for seniors
- Best for
- Every dog and every age. A great first sport and a great cross-trainer.
- We host
- AKC Rally trials
How a run works
Four steps to a Q
Here is what happens from the moment you walk into the ring.
Read the map
Walk the course with the judge's sign map before you bring your dog in.
Heel sign to sign
Your dog moves at your side, on or off leash depending on the class.
Do each station
Sits, downs, turns, pivots, jumps and recalls, in the order posted.
Score 70 or better
Everyone starts with 100 points. A score of 70+ qualifies.
Your path
Rally, Level 1 to 4
Six-week sessions for Levels 1–3. Level 4 is ongoing team training by coach invite.
1Level 1 · 6 weeks
Foundations
Heeling basics, sit, down and stand, and the first 15 Novice signs.
2Level 2 · 6 weeks · repeat
Skills
Intermediate and Advanced signs, the rally jump and off-leash heeling.
3Level 3 · 6 weeks · repeat
Trial Prep
Excellent and Master courses, ring manners and full mock trials.
4Level 4 · Ongoing · invite
Competition Team
Team training toward the RACH (Rally Champion) title.
Scoreboard
Rally classes this week
Session starts November 9. Members book from their dashboard; everyone else can register online.
Rally · weekly
Spots left this session · Full = join the waitlistRegister for a class →
Your coach
Led by Mei-Lin
Rally Lead
Mei-Lin Zhou
With Maple, Golden Retriever · RACH (AKC Rally Champion)
A former middle-school teacher who still brings a lesson plan to every class. Mei-Lin put a Rally Champion title on Maple and has coached more than 140 teams to their first rally qualifying score.
All coachesWhat to bring
- Flat collar and a 6-ft leash
- Treats in a pouch (no food in the ring at trials)
- Comfortable, quiet shoes
Quick questions
My dog's heeling is not perfect. Can we still do rally?
Yes. Rally is where heeling gets good. Level 1 starts with a few steps at a time, and you can talk to your dog the whole way around the course.
Can I talk to my dog in the ring?
Yes, as much as you like. Encouragement, praise and repeated cues are all allowed in rally, which is part of why it's so beginner-friendly.
On the calendar
Rally trials & events
Mar27–28Sat–Sun
AKC Rally Trial + Fun Match
Saturday fun match for first-timers, Sunday trial for every level.
Entries open Feb 20WhereRing 2Entries open Feb 20
Apr10–11Sat–Sun
The All-Star Games
Our member field day: seven sports, team colors, a relay in every ring and a cookout on the fields.
Members only · FreeWhereWhole campusMembers only · Free
Not sure it'srally?
Take the quiz to see how rally ranks for your dog, or try the next sport in the lineup: Nose Work.