The Reading Room • Sport Guides
Obedience’s friendlier sibling. You and your dog heel through a course of stations, performing the exercise on each sign — and unlike formal obedience, you’re allowed to talk to your dog. Here’s how it works and what each title takes.
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What rally actually is
A course of numbered stations, each with a sign describing an exercise: sit, down, turns, spirals, jumps, recalls. You heel your dog from station to station and perform each one. Before the class, handlers walk the course without their dogs to learn it.
Scoring starts at 100 and deducts for errors. Score at or above the qualifying threshold (typically 70 — verify with the official rules) and you’ve earned a leg toward the title.
The title ladder
Rally titles
RM (Rally Master) — 10 qualifying scores in Master, under at least two different judges.
RAE (Rally Advanced Excellent) — 10 double Qs: qualifying in both Advanced B and Excellent B at the same trial, ten times. RAE2 needs 20 double Qs, and so on.
RACH: Rally Champion (prefix title)
300 championship points earned in Advanced B, Excellent B, and Master — with at least 150 from Master — plus 20 triple Qs (qualifying in all three of those classes at the same trial, twenty times).
It goes before your dog’s name. It takes years. That’s the point.
Your first trial: what to expect
Everyone starts in Novice. Novice is on leash, the exercises are basic, and the judge expects beginners.
Learn the signs before you go. The station signs are standardized — study them at home so the walk-through is review, not revelation.
Walk the course twice. Once to learn the pattern, once to plan your handling: where you’ll pause, where the tight turns are, where your dog might get distracted.
Keep it cheerful. Rally rewards a happy working team. If you’re stressed, your dog knows. Breathe, smile, talk to your dog — that’s literally the sport.
Glossary
- Leg — One qualifying score toward a title.
- Double Q — Qualifying in two classes (Advanced B + Excellent B) at the same trial.
- Triple Q — Qualifying in Advanced B, Excellent B, and Master at the same trial.
- Walk-through — Handlers preview the course without their dogs.
Sources: AKC Rally, AKC Titles & Abbreviations. Verify current rules with the official rulebook.
Frequently asked questions
How many qualifying scores does a Rally Novice (RN) title take?
Three qualifying scores in the Novice class.
What is the difference between Rally and Obedience?
Rally is station-based and you may talk to, praise, and encourage your dog throughout. Formal obedience is silent heeling with stricter precision.
Can I talk to my dog in Rally?
Yes — that’s the defining feature of the sport. Praise and encouragement are allowed and expected.
What is a double Q in Rally?
Qualifying in both Advanced B and Excellent B at the same trial. Ten double Qs earn the RAE title.
What does the RACH require?
300 championship points from Advanced B, Excellent B, and Master (at least 150 from Master), plus 20 triple Qs — qualifying in all three classes at the same trial, twenty times.
Do I have to start in Novice?
Yes. Every Rally team starts in Novice and climbs the ladder from there.
What score qualifies in Rally?
You start at 100 and lose points for errors; the qualifying threshold is typically 70 — verify with the current official rules.
Track your progress on ThePetAdvisor
Log every qualifying run, track the climb from RN to RACH, and plan your rally weekends.