When I first started Rally with Ella, I found some awesome videos by Ruthann McCaulley. Ms. McCaulley is a rally instructor and judge and has also written an excellent e-book called Doodle by Design. This book is over 400 pages and is packed with pictures and instructions. She goes over each sign and also writes about fundamental cues that the dog must learn. She has innovative ways to teach a straight front and how to help small dogs with heeling. I really believe that this book made our performance better.
Another useful book is called Click Your Way to Rally Obedience by Pam Dennison. This book explains each sign for AKC and ADPT rally and how to encorporate the clicker into your rally training routine.
Of course, if you are going to compete in Rally, then you need to know the rules. For AKC rally, you have to register your dog and you need to read the Obedience Rules and the Rally Rules, since the Rally rules refer back to the Obedience rules. Thankfully, these are both in the same book! You can also find AKC rally events in your area by visiting the AKC website and clicking on events.
APDT rally is very similar to AKC rally except that both pure bred dogs and mixed breed dogs can compete. You are allowed to use food at certain times and in certain places, which you can not do in AKC rally. You have to register your dog to compete in these events, too, and you can find everything you need, including the APDT rules and events, on the APDT website.
Lastly, there is a great Yahoo Group that has free downloads, lots of helpful advice and a great group of people who also compete and judge Rally! You can find the group here.
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