Glossary

Rally

A dog sport in which a handler and dog move through a course of numbered signs, each showing an exercise to perform, with talking and encouragement allowed.

Also called: rally obedience, AKC Rally, rally trial, rally-o, rally novice

Rally, often called rally obedience, is a sport in which a handler and dog walk a course of numbered signs. Each sign shows an exercise, such as a turn, a sit, a stay or a figure eight, and the team performs it as they reach the sign. The handler can talk to the dog, give extra commands and clap, unlike in a formal obedience trial.

The dog works on or off leash depending on the level. Judges score accuracy and teamwork, and the course layout changes at every event, so the handler reads the signs as they go. The AKC added Rally as an official sport in 2005, and other groups run it too.

It suits beginners, older dogs and dogs of any breed or mix. It is a friendly bridge between pet manners and competition, and often leads people to dog agility or to obedience.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Obedience trial A formal dog sport that judges how precisely a dog performs set exercises such as heeling, recalls, stays and retrieves, in classes from Novice to Utility. Dog agility A timed sport in which a handler directs a dog over an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and ramps, open to purebred and mixed-breed dogs. Conformation A dog show event in which each purebred dog is judged on how closely its structure and movement match its written breed standard.