Rally questions

Herd4fun

Forums Enthusiast
Okay, so I'm considering working with Nickle on Rally titles so I'm planning on entering him at a rally trial during the Adirondack Spa 5 days of shows next month but I've got some questions.

I've looked at the AKC's website and not once do they list what the dogs are expected to do in Novice B. All I get is that they do alot of heeling and sit. Plus I've looked at some of the signs and they seem a bit confusing For example

Call
Front
Finish left
Forward.

The dog is on leash so why am I calling him? Front ok, I get that, you want him to sit in front, finish left I get that, send them to the heel position, then forward, ok, so I move forward, that and all the screwy arrows, why do they need 3 arrows on a sign? Shouldnt there only be one to point to the next direction? I don't see information on this anywhere. . . .
 
Of course shortly after I post this, I find sign descriptions.

New question instead

Which ones are used in Novice. . . some of these look like things that should be restricted to advanced or higher levels. Such as Spiral or Call Front–1, 2 and 3 Steps Backward, Left About Turn, or am I to understand you can keep giving your dog commands during all this?
 
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Signs 1-31 can be used in all classes. #32-45 in Advanced and Excellent #46-50 in excellent only.

Another way to tell is in the upper right hand corner of the sign is the number followed by letters. The letters tell you the class the sign can be used in N= Novice, A-Advanced X=Excellent.

You can give as many commands you need to give to get the behavior. You get to retry the sign once if the dog or you does the wrong behavior. Not moving on a command is not doing it wrong. Diva once at the halt,sit, down, sit sign. Did the halt, sit, down fine. After the down , I asked her to sit and she laid flat on her side playing dead, second sit command she rolled on her back and onto the other side, third sit she sat. She did the station right because she didn't move from the down position before she finally sat. However, for example she would have stood up before sitting she would not have done it right and I would get one retry. Before getting an IP.-10 points.
 
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I love RallyJudge's videos- she also has an ebook for purchase with lots of great info. someday I'll even get through it and know lots more than I do now.
 
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