Ringside Rally: AKC Edition
The Field Guide
Overview
The Field Guide is a searchable set of plain-language reference articles that summarize the AKC Rally regulations. It covers how scoring works, what the different classes and titles require, what happens on trial day, and the terms used in judging. It is meant for quick reference, including at ringside.
The Field Guide: each card is a single reference topic.
Finding and reading a topic
Each topic appears as a card. Tap a card to open the full article. A search bar above the grid filters the topics as you type, and it matches the title, the summary line, and the full text of every article, so a term that appears only inside an article will still surface it.
- When you open an article from a search result, each occurrence of the search term is highlighted.
An open article, with the search term highlighted when reached from search.
What the Field Guide covers
The Field Guide includes the following topics:
- Scoring & Deductions — how points are calculated and what earns deductions.
- Regular Classes — the six titling classes and their requirements.
- Non-Regular Classes — Rally Pairs, Team, and Junior Showcase.
- Class A or Class B? — choosing the right division when entering.
- Eligibility to Compete — which dogs and handlers may enter.
- What to Expect at a Trial — check-in, walkthrough, your run, and scores.
- Jumps — requirements, heights, and equipment by level.
- NQs, IPs & Excusals — incorrectly performed signs, non-qualifying scores, and excusals.
- Handler Errors — what counts, and when it becomes an NQ.
- Retrying a Sign — when a retry is allowed and when it is not.
- Timing — how runs are timed and how ties are broken.
- Placements — ribbons and tie-breaking in regular and non-regular classes.
- RAE & RACH — earning the Rally Advanced Excellent and Rally Champion titles.
- Virtual Rally — how the AKC Virtual Rally program works.
- Dog Apparel & Equipment — approved collars, leashes, and what a dog may wear in the ring.
- Glossary — key terms used in AKC Rally judging and regulations.
- Disclaimer & Official Resources — the scope of the guide and where to find the official rulebooks.
Free and Pro access
Four topics are open on the free version: Scoring & Deductions, Jumps, Glossary, and Disclaimer & Official Resources. The remaining topics are part of Pro. Locked topics still appear in the grid; tapping one opens the upgrade screen rather than the article.
Four reference topics, including scoring, jumps, the glossary, and official resources.
The complete Field Guide, including classes, eligibility, trial-day procedure, errors, timing, placements, and titles.
The Field Guide is a summary written to be read quickly. It is not the rulebook. For anything that affects a qualifying score or a title, verify against the official AKC Rally regulations, which the Disclaimer & Official Resources topic links to.
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