December 5, 2018
AKC Rally Champion (RACH) Title
The Rally Champion title (RACH) was established on November 1, 2017. After approximately one year in the titling progression, the title requirements were revised effective 2/1/19 and the new title requirements will be grandfathered back to November 1, 2017.
With the requirements changing while the RACH title was in its infancy, it was the right thing to do to backdate the title requirements to the beginning of the titling program. However, AKC will recognize those that have been working so hard to achieve the title as it was originally established.
In February 2019, all dog’s records will be recalculated using the new title requirements. Prior to recalculating the records, AKC will publish a list of dogs who have achieved the RACH title from November 1, 2017 through and including January 31, 2019. The list will include the dog’s name, breed, owner’s name with their state, and the date they earned the RACH title under the original requirements.
Any dog that earned the RACH title under the original requirements will receive a title certificate acknowledging their achievement. Once the records have been recalculated a new title certificate will be generated for any dogs that have achieved the title under the new RACH title requirements.
AKC Rally event results processing normally takes 3-4 weeks from the date of the trial; and the trials are processed in date order. All event results are normally completed by the 15th of each month from the month prior. This means that in the middle to the third week of February 2019, the RACH title holders list will be published on the AKC website and then all dog’s records will be recalculated for the new RACH requirements. New title certificates will be mailed to any dog that achieves the RACH title under the new requirements.
November 16, 2018
Rules Applying to Dog Shows definition of “Immediate Family” – Effective 12/1/2018
At the October 2018 AKC Board meeting, the Board of Directors approved a change to the language in the Rules Applying to Dog Shows for the definition of “Immediate Family” which becomes effective on December 1, 2018.
As a result of that change, at the November Board meeting, the AKC Board of Directors approved the same definition of immediate family in the Obedience Regulations, Rally Regulations, Tracking Regulations and Regulations for Agility Trials and Agility Course Test (ACT) to be consistent, as all four sports reference the definition of “Immediate Family” based on what is written in the Rules Applying to Dog Shows. This change to these Regulations becomes effective December 1, 2018.
AKC Rally Regulations – Chapter 1 will be amended as follows:
General Regulations
Section 11. Immediate Family. As used in these regulations, “immediate family” means one’s spouse, domestic partner, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, daughters-in-law, and sons-in-law; adopted, half, and step members are also included in immediate family.
October 17, 2018
AKC Rally – Enhancements to the Rally Champion Title – Effective 02/01/2019
The AKC Board of Directors approved modifications to the requirements to earn the Rally Champion title (RACH). The following changes were approved: (1) earn RACH points from the Advanced B class, (2) amend the Point Schedule to award a greater number of points by score, (3) calculate points toward the RACH title after a dog earns the Rally Excellent (RE) title, and (4) reduce the minimum number of RACH points that must be earned from the Master class.
These changes will be effective February 1, 2019 and on/after that date, AKC will recalculate the RACH points on all dogs’ records using the new point schedule. The recalculation of the records will be backdated to the inception of the RACH title, which was November 1, 2017.
AKC Rally Regulations – Chapter 4 will be amended as follows:
| Regulation Language: | Comments: | |||||||||||||||
| Section 1. Dogs That May Compete. Rally Championship points and triple qualifying scores will be recorded for dogs after they have earned the Rally Excellent (RE) title. When a dog earns the Rally Champion (RACH) title, it may continue to compete and earn points. | Calculate the points toward the RACH title after a dog earns the Rally Excellent title to bring the title more in line with the other Companion Events championship titles. | |||||||||||||||
| Section 2. Championship Points. Rally Championship points will be recorded for dogs earning a score of 91 or better in the Rally Advanced B, Rally Excellent B and Rally Master classes. A dog must earn a total of 300 points, with a minimum of 150 points from the Master class. Additionally, the dog must receive qualifying scores in Advance B, Excellent B and the Master class, on the same day at the same trial at 20 separate licensed or member rally trials. | Points will be added for the Advanced B class, since the class is required to achieve the title as part of the 20 triple qualifying scores.
Reduce the minimum number of Championship points required from the Master class from 200 to 150 points. |
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Section 3. Point Schedule.
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Increase the Championship point values on the Point Schedule. Add the Advanced B class to the Point Schedule since it is a required class to achieve the title. | |||||||||||||||
| Section 4. Rally Champion Title. | No changes to Section 4. |
April 9, 2018
Revisions to the AKC Rally Intermediate Class Eligibility:
The AKC Board of Directors passed a recommendation to change the eligibility requirements for the Rally Intermediate class to allow dogs that have earned a qualifying score in the Advanced class to enter the Intermediate class. Once a dog has earned the Advanced level title, it is no longer eligible to participate in the Intermediate class unless entries have closed. The purpose is to remove eligibility barriers to exhibitors competing in the optional Rally Intermediate class.
This recommendation is a change to Regulations (see below) and becomes effective for trials held on or after August 1, 2018.
Revisions to the AKC Rally Regulations Effective August 1, 2018
Issued as a supplement to the AKC Rally Regulations amended to November 1, 2017
Chapter 1. General Regulations
Section 16. Entry Eligibility, Change of Entry.
- After a dog earns a title from an “A” class, it may continue showing in that “A” class for 60 days. After 60 days, it may compete in that level “B” class.
- A dog may continue to compete in Novice B until it receives a qualifying score in the Rally Advanced class.
- A dog may compete in the Novice B and Intermediate class at the same trial.
- A dog may compete in the Intermediate and Advanced class at the same trial.
- After a dog earns a qualifying score in Advanced, they are no longer eligible for the Novice class.
- Once a dog earns a qualifying score in Advanced, the dog may be shown in the Novice class at trials for which entries have closed; if entries have not closed they must be changed.
- After a dog earns the Rally Advanced (RA) title it is no longer eligible for the Rally Intermediate class.
- Once a dog earns the Rally Advanced title, the dog may be shown in the Rally Intermediate class at trials for which entries have closed; if entries have not closed they must be changed.
Chapter 3. Classes and Titles.
Section 5. Rally Intermediate Class. To be eligible for entry in this class dogs must have won the Rally Novice (RN) title but may not have won the Rally Advanced (RA) title prior to the close of entries.
All dogs are judged on leash. Rally Intermediate must have 12 to 17 signs (Start and Finish not included) with a minimum of three and a maximum of seven stationary signs. Intermediate courses will have a minimum of three advanced level signs. There are no jumps in this class.
A “Green Insert” will be added to the regulation books
Issued: April 18, 2018
ROR001 (12/17) (Lime Green Book)
August 14, 2017
AKC Rally Videos on You Tube
The AKC Rally Videos, effective November 1, 2017, are available on the AKC Obedience & Rally You Tube Channel here
DISCLAIMER: The AKC Rally videos on this You Tube channel demonstrate correctly performed rally signs as of November 1, 2017. Although the principal parts of the rally signs are properly demonstrated, please note that these videos are for purposes of illustration only and should not be considered the only correct way to execute the signs. The principal parts are not bold or underlined on this media.