AKC Rally and OB question - Page 2

I am as well doing Schutzhund and Rally Ob with my dogs. Rally is a great thing to do as it is more looser than the somewhat stiff direct Obedience. I can see that the dogs get a bit confused about the handler in the Obedience ring, but in Rally you can bring  in as much dynamic as you wish. I think it even helps to take the pressure off the obedience portion of SCH, as it is again not as boring. With my male I constantly get points off for him being in contact with my leg, but oh well :) we usual come in 4th place, I call him my 4th place dog....LOL My girl has a better AKC heeling, for SCH its a bit too aloof, but AKC it brings better points. Came in twice second at the last show, at this one they were competing against each other, now my male moved one class up. Be aware that the rings are rather small and between the stations with the signs is often not much room for a long GSD with a waggy tail. And for every sign that tail is wagging over there will be points deducted, but the spectators love to see a happy wagging dog with a lot of entusiasm (sp?)!

I do both SchH and AKC obedience/rally and while they may not ding you for "moving out" like you do in Schutzhund heeling, you are going to run into trouble due to ring size.  There is just not the room to heel at a very brisk pace effectively in an AKC event.  I would set up an AKC ring (you can use electric fencing posts and rope if you do not have ring gating) and practice heeling in it to make sure your pace is not going to mess you up once you start competing.  Also remember in rally there is not a lot of room between the signs so you will not have those 10-20 paces like you have in some of the SchH exercises.

Renofan2, "she was running out of the ring wth the dumbell and prancing around showing everyone that she had it and then running back into sit in front of me."  TO FUNNY.
I love seeing them prance when they are so proud of themselves, I also enjoy when you see thier faces light up, because they know they are going to do something they really love to do.

1doggie2:  Yes, I have to laugh as she certainly was having a good time.  At least all the judges compliment on how she looks like she loves to work, lol.  Not to mention her leash fetish.  First time in Rally Advanced, I handed off my leash at the start and proudly said fuss, and took a few steps to the first sign - and noticed I had no dog with me.  Molly was still in the sit position craning her neck to see where that darn guy was going with her leash.  I finally got her to come to me, but every exercise was finished with her in a position to look for that guy who had the audacity to take her leash.  I could tell you countless times that she has humbled me in training and or in compeition with her leash/leather fetish.  I have a picture somewhere of her pulling her leash into her crate after a training session.  Two weeks ago while teaching her articles, I rewarded her with treats when she platzed and was giving her the ok - good girl.  She grabbed the leather article so fast and took off running with it to her crate.  My friends and I were laughing so hard.  I know I should have stopped her but she is just too cute. 

I would also like to "warn" you that unlike SchH, in AKC obedience the JUDGE gives you directionals (forward, halt, right turn, left turn, about turn), so if you're off at too quick a pace, you're going to flip out the judge.

#1 rule of AKC obedience...don't make the judge think

I was at a match once and because the judge was SO used to seeing slow methodical GSDs, she was COMPLETELY blown away by the heeling of my dog.  She got her own directionals mixed up and actually had us start over for HER!

Xeph,
LOL, Thanks!  Too funny.

Wow, you guys are great!  Thanks for all of the FANTASTIC help.  I just filled out my entry form for the Groves show.  Hope to see some of you there!   To all else, thanks for giving me the support to want to go.

Happy Holidays!!! 

Regards,
Windy

Good luck!  BTW, your name always makes me so happy.

I get "Windy" by The Association stuck in my head.  Even better, I remember this scene from the Drew Carey Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdqkOtoc4U8

That is TO FUNNY.  My parents were hippies and named me after that SONG! 
Everyone knows its Windy


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