Training Tuesday: Know the Signs for Higher Rally Scores
Don't lose points because of confusion or misunderstanding.
Originally published on the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy blog. Reprinted with permission; adapted for World Cynosport Rally Limited (WCRL).
If I could give you one piece of advice that could earn you a higher rally score, it would be "know the signs!" By far, the biggest reason that points are lost is due to not knowing how to properly do the signs. It seems like such a simple task, but in reality many rally signs are very similar to others, especially as you move up through the levels. It's very easy to get them confused. If you perform a sign incorrectly, you will lose points. Being distracted for a moment trying to figure out what you should do can also cause lost points.
You want to know the signs so well that you can recognize them quickly upon first glance. If you need to read the sign and study where the stop signs are or think about it much, your dog will feel that attention shift and may disconnect or falter.
Make Flashcards
You can make flashcards of all the signs and study them until you can immediately describe the sign. Put a picture of the sign on one side and the description on the other.
- Print the WCRL Rally signs.
- Read descriptions of the signs and related actions in the WCRL Official Rules and Regulations document, beginning on page 19.
- Watch videos of each exercise being performed correctly.
Study the Map
When you get your course map, look through the signs well before the walkthrough. Circle the ones that you are unsure about. Make little notes as necessary to remind you about sits versus no sits and other details that you may have trouble remembering.
Bring the Rule Book
Be sure to have the rule book with you at the trial so you can look up how to perform the sign if necessary.
Visualize!
If you are really struggling with one particular sign, visualize yourself and the dog completing the sign perfectly. When you are feeling comfortable, go practice it with your dog.
Study!
Study, study, study! Make sure you know the differences between the novice signs versus the similar signs in the higher levels. Take some time each day to study a few signs, and it will pay off in points later.
Utilizing these tips will help you to never forget how to perform a sign, which will result in higher rally scores!
About Nicole Wiebusch
Nicole Wiebusch started competing in dog sports as a teenager in the 1990s and quickly became addicted to the sport of obedience. In 2001, she acquired a golden retriever named Tucker who taught her that traditional methods weren’t the best way to a happy confident dog. This realization started her on the journey to positive reinforcement training. In 2008, Nicole started her own dog training business, Golden Paws Dog Training LLC, and teaches both pet owners and dog sports people dog-friendly training methods. She started taking classes with Fenzi Dog Sports Academy in 2013 and actively competes in a variety of performance events with her three golden retrievers. Nicole’s dogs also hold advanced Agility and Rally titles, as well as hunting, dock diving, and TEAM titles. In addition to operating Golden Paws Dog Training, Nicole is a field dog trainer for a service dog organization, a Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog Evaluator, a Professional Member of the APDT, an instructor for the Fenzi Pet Professionals Program, a TEAM judge, and has earned the Obedience/Rally/Freestyle Trainer’s Certificate from FDSA.