In Rally-FrEe and musical freestyle there are four primary positions: Left heel, right heel, standing center and behind facing the handler. While maintaining position, the dog is required to move in any direction. In this course we will work through exercises and handler skills to define, and create precision and accuracy in positions and teach precise execution of pivots, lateral movement (side-passes) and backing. We'll focus on clear and consistent criteria using props and shaping, build value in that criteria and work through the process of placing these skills on verbal cue, preventing dependency on and the removal of props or aids. Don't do freestyle? The processes apply to obedience and Rally or any sport where positions, laterals and backing are valued.
Teaching Approach
Lectures are released weekly and include written and video descriptions of each exercise in a step-by-step approach. Lectures and exercises (both specific weekly exercises and the entire course) start at a foundation level and take you through the process to the more advanced skills. The skills in the first couple of weeks benefit the team’s success in the last few weeks. Supplemental lectures may be provided depending on need.
Each team works at their own pace and at a level where their dog is showing understanding and confidence for the exercises for that week. Each week contains several exercises depending on dog and handler skill level.
Students will be provided with both general and specific written feedback, often including timestamps for clarity. Students will be able to show their work for any previous weeks as well as the current week’s exercises for continued feedback.
The exercises can generally be completed in a small space. The equipment list is very specific to the class exercises so you will want to be sure to check your equipment ahead of time to get the most benefit from the class.
This class will have a Teacher's Assistant (TA) available in the Facebook study group to help the Bronze and Silver students! Directions for joining will be in the classroom after you register.
Julie Flanery (she/her), CPDT-KA has been working professionally with dogs and their handlers since 1993. She focuses on the needs of the dog and helping people form a strong relationship, through clear communication, and positive reinforcement. She has placed Obedience...(Click here for full bio and to view Julie's upcoming courses)
Use of markers or clickers will be prevalent in this course. Handlers should already be using markers in their training and dogs should have understanding of the click/treat relationship.
Handlers should understand the process of "shaping" or marking and rewarding small increments of behavior toward building the end result.
Gold level students will need the ability to video their training sessions and upload thier video to YouTube, then post in the forums for intructor review.
Equipment:
Standing platforms: Your platforms should be large enough for your dog to stand on, but that's about it! Too long is generally fine, but you don't want your platform too short or your dog will not feel comfortable standing. The width should be 1-2 inches wider than your dog's rear feet. The height should be at least 3 inches. You'll need at least 2 standing platforms, 3 would be great, especially when we work cue discrimination. You can purchase online here, or make your own. There are a couple of good YouTube vids that show you how. Heather Lawson has posted a couple and they are available in the alumni FB page links as well as here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/fenzi-dog-sports-academy-alumni-group/links-and-directions-for-building-your-own-platforms-or-other-class-related-equi/434893850035173
Training gates: These can be purchased at www.rallyfree.com/products or can made from wire cube organizer panels (sold online or in-store), secured in lengths of 10 with zip-ties. The ones sold at the RF store have a much nicer connector between panels. One box of 6 cubes will net you two lengths of 10 panels. Very large dogs or dogs that do not respect barriers may use 18”-24" ex-pens. Very small dogs may do better with "critter playpens" for small pets. If you have a small dog, please e mail info@rallyfree.com as they do have some 10" training gates avaialable.
Pivot platforms: Sometimes referred to as "perches" or "disks". These are small platforms, just large enough for the dog's front paws. Just as with your standing platforms, you do not what your pivot platforms to be too much larger than your dog's front paws. Too much space and your dog will move his front feet too much, when the objective is to keep the front feet stationary and the rear feet moving. I use upside down dog food dishes as they come in a variety of sizes. I also like the round shape rather than a square shape. they often have rubber bottom as well. If they don't, gluing a piece of yoga mat or shelf liner can help with grip. You may also want a piece underneath the dish if working on a slick floor.
mat, towel or crate pad
Optional Equipment: ex-pen of an appropriate height for your dog
Please contact me if you have any questions regarding equipment.
In side passes, sometimes referred to as lateral work, the dog and handler are moving in unison, laterally, or “sideways”. In general, this is with the dog in one of the four primary positions of left, right, center or behind. Side passes can also be performed with the dog in an “alternative” position such as in center facing away from the handler (“point”) or the dog with his shoulder at heel facing opposite the handler ("reverse") or the dog across the front of the handler or anywhere the dog maintains their position in relation to the handler’s body.
The side pass in left and right heel, when moving into the handler is simply the dog remaining in left or right heel position as the handler moves sideways, or laterally away from the dog rather than forward or backward. This helps build strong understanding of the position as a constant, no matter the direction. The cues for the side pass where the dog moves into you are the same as your position or left or right heel cues.
The side pass moving away from the handler is an entirely different behavior, with a different cue, as we are then asking the dog to move out away from left or right heel position as we move toward them. I don't teach away side passes until the dog sidep assing into me is fluent.
The behind and front side passes, are the dog maintaining those positions while the handler moves to their left or their right. Again, your cues are the same as your position cues. This week we are only working on left or right heel side passes.
We started this course with position work on a standing platform and introducing the cues for left heel, and right heel.
We then added the pivot platforms creating a better understanding of those verbal cues by adding movement. The dog had to now “seek out” the left and right heel positions, as the handler moved away from the dog.
Once the dog is on the flat, no longer on the pivot platform, we have a wider range of movement we can start to introduce to the dog. The goal is still the same, stay in position in relation to the handler, no matter what direction the handler moves.
This week we are going to introduce side passes in left and right heel, with the dog moving into the handler as the handler moves in a direction away from the dog. The below video shows these two behaviors. My cues are the same as my left and right heel cues, “heel” when Kashi is on my left side and “right” when she is on my right side.
The side pass is really just a pivot (90-degree turn), that has been “flattened”. The pivot is a corner (90 degrees), and the side pass is a straight line (0 degrees). The transition between the two is a curve or arch (45 degrees). To train the side pass you’ll change your footwork and the angle of your turn but keep the same heelwork cue.
It’s important that your dog has a strong pivot on the flat to get the most out of the below exercises and create your side passes. If you are still working on getting pivots on the flat, continue with that. There is no rush to move into side passes. The goal is all the same: building value in being next to you in position.
Side Pass Exercise:
Start with your dog in either left or right heel. Choose your dog’s strongest side. Give your position cue, then perform your 90-degree pivot, just as you would with the pivot platform, leading with the foot closest to the dog. Repeat 2-4 times to ensure criteria. C/T and fast feed each rep.
If successful, on the next rep, lead with your far foot, and step slightly away from the dog, on a curve, as if stepping around a hoop or large bowl, toes in. Be sure you are taking a small step. The biggest mistake handlers make here is taking too big of a step or too many steps. Perform 1 rep, C/T any movement into you, no matter how small. Then move nearer the dog if need be and provide fast food to build value there.
Next rep, lead with the close foot, and perform a 90 degree pivot, C/T the dog moving into heel.
Provide some fast food as needed to continue to build value in staying close to you. Especially if your dog is struggling.
Alternate between your 90-degree pivots and your curved step until your dog is working hard to stay with you on the curve. It’s important to alternate with the easier and better-known pivot to maintain a high level of success and confidence as you make the behavior harder by flattening out the curve. Only as the dog starts to show confidence should you raise your criteria to stepping all the way into you in a straight line (0 degrees).
For several sessions after you get your first side pass, alternate them with pivots, or the curve. Below is a clip of the first time Kashi did a side pass.
Note she starts to lead with her front feet. That is due to a combination of my steps being too big and not alternating enough with the 90-degree pivot. If the dog starts to lead with their front feet on the lateral (0 degrees) side pass, do a 90-degree pivot on the next rep and C/T the rear end shift.
Here is another more recent vid showing just the footwork as well as with the dog:
You want to have strong pivots on the flat before working your side pass exercise with your dog. But you can practice your footwork anytime!
A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...
I loved this class. This is the third class I have taken from Julie, and all of them have been rewarding and fun. She has an eye for detail and precision and has great suggestions about how to get there. We are really starting to get it. My dog loves the training and runs inside the training gates when I put them up eagerly wanting to begin. Julie is very encouraging, upbeat and positive with a lovely manner. Sandy H
The Rally FrEe positions class was new this session. I had been hoping something like this would be offered and this class certainly was exactly what I had hoped for and more. RallyFrEe has many positions needed to compete. Most instructors are not familiar with all the positions required. With Julie being the "founder" no one better to work with! Thank you FDSA for adding her to the academy Connie L
This is an awesome course as a thorough understanding of the Rally FrEe positions is invaluable. Julie provides extensive information through lectures and videos and then follows that up with fantastic advice & guidance. Melita R
I can't say enough good things about the Rally Free/Musical Freestyle classes and Fenzi Academy. It has opened a whole new world to me and my fur babies. Pat K
For students in most of the world, RallyFree courses are not available in person locally. However, not to worry! You can take RallyFree classes from the founder of the RallyFree venue, here at FDSA. It is a great opportunity that we are so lucky to have! Holly K.
Wow ! I am so impressed with the Fenzi “classroom” approach. The combination of a top-notch instructor with amazing observation skills / feedback and video are unbeatable. This level of instruction, much less in my field of interest, is not available for me within a days drive. I’m also now hooked on video and will be videoing my own practice sessions. Katherine S.
I love that Julie is so thorough with the foundation behaviors. This is only going to make us that much stronger as we progress. She always provides a road map for each individual team so we know how to continue training a behavior even after class ends. Very valuable! Stacey M.
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Instructor: Julie Flanery
