Looking for a fun sport that puts both you and your dog to the test? Rally could be just the ticket.
Part obedience, part obstacle course, rally involves you and your dog working your way around numbered stations, performing exercises along the way. Sit. Drop. Turn. Change pace. Recall. And just when you think you’ve got everything sorted, along comes a sign that makes you stop and think: Hang on — which way am I supposed to turn?
That’s half the fun. Rally uses many of the skills found in formal obedience, but the atmosphere is more relaxed. Best of all, you can talk to your dog, praise them and encourage them throughout the course.
CLEAR has to admit to a vested interest here: owner Caroline Strainig adores rally. Australia’s most successful rally competitor, she has enjoyed more national, state, royal show and breed-national wins than any other handler in the sport’s Australian history. In the accompanying photo, she’s winning Masters rally at a Border Collie Nationals.
But what keeps her hooked is much simpler: rally is enormous fun.
So how does it work?
Each station has a sign showing the exercise you and your dog must perform. Before competing, handlers walk the course without their dogs to check the sequence and work out what’s required.
At Novice, dogs work on lead and exercises are relatively straightforward. As you progress through Advanced, Excellent and Masters, the lead comes off, courses become longer and exercises more challenging.
That’s when rally really tests the human half of the partnership. You need to remember where you’re going, read the signs correctly and keep your dog working happily alongside you.
Caroline sometimes jokes that her Border Collie Hope has read the signs before she has, because she seems to know what’s coming next.
Serious competition, plenty of laughs
There are titles to earn and championships to win, but rally’s friendly atmosphere is one of its biggest attractions.
Competitors cheer each other on and laugh about their mistakes. Sometimes the dog is brilliant while the handler has a spectacular blonde moment.
Unlike formal obedience, rally allows plenty of verbal encouragement. Caroline has even been known to tell a dog “Love you” as she goes around, much to the amusement of the judge.
And if you make a mistake, all is not lost. You can retry a station at a cost of three points rather than losing all 10 for performing it incorrectly. Of course, that depends on recognising your mistake!
From beginner to champion
You don’t need a highly trained dog to start. If your dog can walk reasonably beside you and has the beginnings of sit, drop, stand and recall, you’ve already got plenty to work with.
Competition progresses through Novice, Advanced, Excellent and Masters, with qualifying passes needed for each title. Beyond that are Rally Champion and the new Rally Grand Champion, introduced in January 2026.
But you certainly don’t need championship ambitions to enjoy rally. Sooner or later, even the most experienced handler stands in front of a sign with their brain temporarily empty while their dog looks up as if to say: Well? I’m ready. What are you doing?
Where to have a go
Caroline offers one-on-one rally coaching in Wynnum, suitable for beginners or experienced competitors who want to fine-tune their skills.
Some dog clubs also offer rally training. Visit the Dogs Queensland website to find a club near you.
