Rally Obedience
Rally obedience, or rally-o, is catching on as a fun way to work with your dog. It combines the obstacle-course navigation of agility with obedience exercises. Seamus LOOOOVES rally-o class; we're taking it at Deco Dogs with Judy Kay of Prospect Dog Training, and we're having a fabulous time. When he's excited, Seamus says "Rooooooo" -- so when I mention "Rally-rooo" to him, he's always ready and waiting at the door.
Here are some rally-o links to help you get started:
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The BeardieMainiacs Rally Obedience Wiki page (includes Geoff Stern's introduction to rally)
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DOG -- Dog Owner's Guide to Rally-O (thanks again, Gail!)
Are You Ready to Rally?
Here are some places in Maine and NH that offer rally classes:
Pet Positive at Refreshing Paws, Gorham, ME (207) 741-2091: Judy Kay teaches her weekday rally classes here. They offer many other types of classes as well.
Deco Dogs Daycare, Grooming, and More, Dover, NH: (603) 749-PETS. Seamus, Dinah, and I take our rally classes here with Judy Kay on Sundays. Judy also teaches in Gorham on Mondays and Tuesdays, and has both morning an evening classes. Contact Judy if you're interesed in joining her at either location.
Piscataqua Obedience Club, NH: (603) 749-2275 (749-BARK). ME: (207) 363-2574. They offer classes in towns all around the Seacoast. They currently offer rally classes on Monday nights at Ellis Dog Training and Supply in Dover, NH. Call (603) 749-BARK.
Saccarappa Obedience Club, ME: (207) 854-3647. SOC holds puppy kindergarten, beginner, and pre-novice obedience at the Westbrook Armory in Westbrook. They also offer beginning rally and breed handling classes and feature "Super Sunday" obedience run-throughs and other special events.
C&D Obedience, Augusta, ME: (207) 377-3053. Cindy Dunham and Donna Cassista offer private and group obedience training, rally-o, and agility in both Augusta and Manchester, ME.
Tri-County Obedience Club, ME. Tri-County serves Kennebec, Somerset, and Franklin Counties in central and western Maine. They offer training in regular and rally obedience, CGC testing, and occasionally TDI (therapy dog) evaluations.
Renaissance Dogs, Holden, ME: (207) 989-9977. Renaissance offers obedience, rally, and agility (and lots of other classes, too) just outside of Bangor.
Bear Brook Kennels, Brewer, ME: (207) 989-7979. Email: info@bearbrookkennel.com. Instruction in APDT rally.
Peaks Island Dog Club, Peaks Island, ME: (207) 766-2390. Email: voices@maine.rr.com. Jenny Ruth Yasi offers classes at Trott Park in both AKC and APDT rally.
Bo-Gee Agility, Raymond, NH: Yes, they do agility too, but Bo-Gee also offers classes in AKC and APDT rally with Barb Burri. They hold classes behind the Ben Franklin store in Raymond (Exit 5 off Route 101). Contact John and Laura Raymond at bo-gee@juno.com.
Frontier Rally Instruction, NH: (603) 542-2828. Diane Richardson offers rally instruction and seminars, plus she occasionally teaches private and group classes for AKC Rally and regular novice obedience. She's located in Claremont, NH, but is willing to travel a bit to offer her classes and seminars to interested groups.
Carroll County Kennel Club, North Conway and Shelburne, NH and Fryeburg, ME: CCKC offers obedience and CGC classes, rally classes, and conformation handling classes at three locations in NH and ME.