Rally obedience, or "Rally-O," combines characteristics of sports car racing, dog agility, and traditional obedience, thus creating a new and fun sport. You and your dog work as a team to navigate a course with numbered signs indicating different exercises to perform. Any dog can participate--no pedigree required! Numbered signs with descriptions and directional arrows of exercises are placed at each station. The signs instruct teams to go fast or slow, to halt (dog must sit at heel), to make turns and circles, to reverse direction, to do a sit-stay-recall, or to follow other basic obedience exercises. When an exercise is completed, the team moves to the next station. The handlers are guided by the signs alone. Novice, the first level of the three levels, is for those just getting started in the competition. All Novice exercises are performed with the dog on leash. There is a requirement of 10-15 stations to complete; no more than 5 may be stationary exercises. These demonstrate the dog's understanding of basic commands such as sit, stay, down, and come, and of heel position. Handlers may not use treats or toys in the ring, but they may do anything else to encourage their dogs at the novice level except physically touch them or make corrections with the leash. At this level they may clap their hands, talk to the dog, and pat their legs through the course. This journal is intended to help make training as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. The first page for each week is designed to cover the class itself. There is a place to record the goals for that training, what was done or learned during the class, and what you are to work on for the following week. The remaining six days allow you to determine what your goal is for that day's practice, what you actually achieve, and any questions or concerns you may wish to bring up at the next class. Also included is a course planner where you can list the information about each class: date, time, location, and so forth. There is a checklist where you can make notes on what you need to get and what to take to classes.
About the Author: Mary Jean Simpson has been fascinated by the beauty and magic of words, music, and the arts as long as she can remember. Her varied careers as a professional musician, a university professor--first in music and later teaching Professional Writing, and a writer and editor, have provided wonderful opportunities to utilize these fully. Living in a variety of places and interacting with many people has been an invaluable experience. Her many years of being owned by dogs and cats has allowed her to not only enjoy their unconditional love, but to participate in various dog sports. She has been very fortunate in having wonderful mentors and trainers to help with all these dog-related things. Life truly is grand!