Classes with Tracy

At K9 Bondz, LLC, our Rally and Competitive Obedience classes are crafted to be engaging, challenging, and deeply rewarding for both you and your dog. With personalized instruction and hands‑on guidance, our experienced trainer helps every team build confidence, strengthen communication, and develop the skills needed to excel in the ring and beyond.

Join Us for an Exciting Class Experience!

TRACY'S MESSAGE

I first became interested in dog sports after getting my dog, Indy (2007-2020).  After Indy and I learned the basics, I heard there were other things we could do together, such as agility or rally; Indy loved learning all of the new dog sports with me. Indy liked agility the best, but she did APDT Rally and achieved an ARCH-X.  Fast-forward to the 2020’s, and my current dogs, Cosmo, Quid and Apricus (Appy), do Rally, Agility, Scent Work, Herding and Obedience, as well as Trick Dog, Canine Good Citizen and Fit Dog.  My Rally training, for the most part, is home schooled in the evening, or on morning walks.  I picked up tips and studied the rules as I competed, so I could help my dogs achieve success.  Cosmo was my first dog to score a perfect 100 in AKC Rally Master.  Quid was my first dog to get an AKC Rally Championship (RACH).  Appy was my fastest dog to progress through the AKC Rally levels to get a RACH. They are all smart and amazing dogs, who learn differently, so my training considers their different personalities. From 2022-2023, I had all 3 dogs competing in AKC Rally simultaneously, so I would run between about 8 and 18 runs during a 2-trial day.  It was a whirlwind of runs and learning nuances, with a different approach for each dog.  My dedication to bringing out the best of their different personalities resulted in: Quid getting his RACH in May 2023; Cosmo getting his RACH in June 2023; and Appy getting her RACH in July 2023.

Welcome to Rally.  We hope that you will find Rally to be a happy and rewarding way to learn and partner with your dog.  In Rally, you can have fun with, talk to, and cheer for, your dog, and you will both work together, as a team, to master the Rally level signs.   

What are Rally Classes?

"Think of an AKC Rally event as any team sport: You and your dog navigate a course, side-by-side, as you steer him through a course of 10-20 different signs. Each of these signs provides instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. The dog and handler move continuously throughout the course with the dog under control at the handler’s left side. There is a clear sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during and between the numbered signs. Although each performance is timed, having a good race time is not the goal; it’s all about working as a team while performing the skills, with the dog under control.

As one of the world’s most famous basketball players, Michael Jordan, once said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” When you participate in an AKC Rally event, you get to show off both: Your dog’s talents and the teamwork between you.

Started in 2005, AKC Rally is a fun family sport and participation increases each year. All dogs are welcome to participate in AKC Rally, whether purebred or mixed breed. It’s a perfect starting point for those who are new to canine sports, as AKC Rally provides a challenging introduction to all AKC Companion Events for dogs and handlers to strengthen their skills."

Source:https://www.akc.org/sports/rally

Class Dates are: July 28, Aug. 4-11-18-25 and Sept. 1, 2026

Time: 10.00 am

Competitive Obedience Beginner Novice to Open

Competitive obedience levels are structured to test a dog's ability to perform precise commands under the direction of their handler. Here are the main levels in competitive obedience:

  • Novice: Dogs demonstrate good companion skills, such as coming when called, standing for an examination, staying in both a “sit” and “down” position with a group of other dogs, and heeling both on- and off-leash. 

  • Open: Dogs perform all of the above exercises off-leash, in addition to some exercises performed in Novice, such as retrieving and jumping exercises.

Time: 12.30 am

Rally 2 Hybrid Rally Class from Novice to Excellent

🐾 Hybrid Rally Class (Novice–Excellent)
Our Hybrid Rally Class supports teams from Novice through Excellent, blending skill work with real course practice. Each team trains at their level while building confidence, precision, and teamwork.

Novice Skills — heeling, communication, clean sign execution

Intermediate/Advanced Work — tighter turns, transitions, off‑leash focus

Excellent Challenges — advanced stations and sustained attention

Course Strategy — walking courses, planning paths, handling tricky combos

Ring Readiness — confidence and consistency in a trial‑like setup

Time: 1.30 pm

Rally 3 (Master/Choice)  

🐾 Master / Choice Rally Class


The Master/Choice Rally Class is for teams working at the highest levels of Rally who want to sharpen precision, strengthen teamwork, and prepare for advanced competition.

This class focuses on Master‑level skills, and the technical stations required for top‑tier performance.

Teams work through:

Master‑level skills — advanced heeling, transitions, and attention

Technical stations — pivots, backing, moving stands, position changes

Trial readiness — confidence and consistency in the ring

 

Time: 11.15 am

NEW !! Handler Discrimination Class HD

In this class, your dog won't be searching for birch, anise, clove, or cypress. Instead, they'll learn to recognize and locate the scent that matters most—yours.

Handler Discrimination is one of the most rewarding divisions of AKC Scent Work.
It showcases your dog's incredible ability to identify your unique scent among identical articles while strengthening the communication and trust between handler and dog.

Using only your scented articles, we'll develop the skills needed for AKC Handler Discrimination through a variety of engaging searches, including containers, interior and exterior searches, elevated hides, multiple article discrimination, and competition-style search challenges.
By focusing on one target scent throughout the course, dogs gain confidence, handlers learn clean scent handling techniques, and teams build a solid foundation for future AKC Handler Discrimination competition.
Whether your goal is earning AKC titles or simply exploring a fascinating new scent challenge with your dog, this class will deepen your partnership and reveal just how remarkable your dog's nose truly is.

Please bring the following to class:

Scent Items

1 clean white cotton glove (washed without scented detergent or fabric softener, if possible)

1 pair of clean white cotton socks (washed the same way)

Dog on a flat buckle collar or properly fitted harness

6 ft leash

Plenty of high-value treats (soft, pea-sized pieces)
Treat pouch or easy-access treat bag