Rally & Competition Obedience Training

Expert Dog Grooming & Obedience Training in Coalhurst & Lethbridge

Trusted Dog Grooming & Training Since 1997

Trusted Dog Grooming & Training Since 1997

Train for Fun or Titles — It’s About the Connection

Whether you're looking to enhance your dog's obedience in a fun, team-focused way or you're preparing for serious competition, Perfect Pooches Dog Training & Grooming offers both Rally Obedience and Competitive Obedience classes to suit your goals.



Led by experienced trainer Evelyn Sera, our programs are open to all breeds and backgrounds, and focus on building communication, teamwork, and technical skill. Classes are designed to be supportive, engaging, and geared toward progress — whether you're brand new to the sport or working toward advanced titles.

What is Rally Obedience?

Rally Obedience is a structured, yet fun approach to obedience training. Dog and handler teams follow a sequence of stations, each with a posted sign that describes an obedience exercise — such as sit-stay, heeling turns, or figure-eights.

Unlike traditional obedience, Rally encourages ongoing communication between dog and handler. You're allowed — and encouraged — to talk to, praise, and guide your dog throughout the course.

Rally is great for:

• Strengthening loose-leash walking
• Improving attention and teamwork
• Building confidence in new environments
• Keeping obedience fun and active
• Introducing dogs to the world of canine competition

Best of all, Rally is open to all dogs, regardless of age, breed, or pedigree.

Levels of Rally Obedience

There are five progressive levels in Rally Obedience. Each level increases in complexity, requiring greater obedience precision and focus:

1. Novice – On-leash
2. Intermediate – On-leash, more complex stations
3. Advanced – Off-leash
4. Excellent – Off-leash with added challenges
5. Masters – Advanced off-leash performance and technical difficulty
   

Trial Participation:

For teams interested in earning titles, you must earn three qualifying scores of at least 70 out of 100 points at each level to move forward.

But competition is entirely optional — many clients join Rally just for the fun, mental stimulation, and improved obedience in a new format.

What is Competition Obedience?

Competition Obedience is a more formal training path for dog-handler teams interested in precision, consistency, and achieving recognized obedience titles such as:

• CD (Companion Dog)
• CDX (Companion Dog Excellent)
• UD (Utility Dog)
• MOTCH (Master Obedience Trial Champion)
  

This discipline builds on basic obedience and introduces more advanced skills such as:

• Off-leash heeling with perfect positioning
• Dumbbell retrieves
• Long-distance recalls
• Signal responses
• Scent discrimination exercises
  

These skills are taught and practiced with an emphasis on focus, accuracy, and the dog’s willingness to work joyfully with their handler.

Why Train in Rally or Competition Obedience?

Whether you're competing or not, both Rally and traditional obedience training offer powerful benefits for dogs and owners alike:

• Improves leash manners and responsiveness
• Builds clear, consistent communication
• Mentally challenges your dog
• Deepens your working relationship
• Offers a rewarding structure for goal-setting and progress
  

Even if you never step into a ring, the discipline and connection developed through this training carry over into everyday life.

Who Can Join?

Our Rally and Competition Obedience classes are open to:

We welcome students from Coalhurst, Lethbridge, and across Southern Alberta — some traveling 60+ miles to train at our private facility.

Frequently asked questions

Ready to Train Together?

If you're looking for a new challenge or want to explore the world of dog sports, Rally and Competition Obedience training at Perfect Pooches is the perfect place to start.

Join a supportive community, deepen your bond with your dog, and experience the satisfaction of teamwork in motion.

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