more training for a well-mannered Pit mix?

Mike Schoonbrood said:

Can someone explain Rallying to me? I have seen it mentioned many many times but never got what it was.

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Here is what I read at RallyObedience.com:

Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience.

The team of dog and handler moves continuously at a brisk, but normal, pace with the dog under control at the handler's left side. There should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during the numbered exercises and between the exercise signs; however, perfect "heel position" is not required. Any faults in traditional obedience that would be evaluated and scored as a one-point deduction or more should be scored the same in Rally, unless otherwise mentioned in the Rally Regulations. After the judge's "Forward" order, the team is on its own to complete the entire sequence of numbered signs correctly.

Unlimited communication from the handler to the dog is to be encouraged and not penalized. Unless otherwise specified in these Regulations, handlers are permitted to talk, praise, encourage, clap their hands, pat their legs, or use any verbal means of encouragement. Multiple commands and/or signals using one or both arms and hands are allowed; the handler's arms need not be maintained in any particular position at any time. The handler may not touch the dog or make physical corrections. At any time during the performance, loud or harsh commands or intimidating signals will be penalized.

Rally provides a link from the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) program to obedience or agility competition, both for dogs and handlers. In addition, rally promotes fun and enjoyment for dogs at all levels of competition

It's supposed to be for pure-breds that just have no registration papers for whatever reason; but I have known people who have gotten them on mixes that "looked" enough like whatever to get by. If the dog looks a little "Schnauzer-y" for instance, you groom them up to accentuate the look and you can probably get one as a Schnauzer. They are not exceptionally stringent about it. I plan on getting my little Bug an ILP as an Affen, even though he's twice or three times the size of most Affens, he has enough of the breed characteristics to get by — Here's a pure-bred Affen:



And here is Bug:



Think he'll pass? The underbite is a breed requirement.
Your friends should probably have no trouble with an ILP. Take a bunch of pictures and then compare to Amstaff photos and choose the ones to send in that most express the characteristics.

Connie, I'm thinking about ILPing Zoso since about half the folks in our Schutzhund club do AKC obedience. It would also come in handy if I trial him in Schutzhund waaaay in the future. Our training director thinks he looks close enough, though I really have to select the photo carefully where he's at attention so his ears stand as they should. When he's relaxed, they certainly don't have show quality carriage, probably due to several ear infections he had around 4-6 months of age that I had to treat while the cartilage was still soft. I'm thinking something like this one for the head shot:



and something like this (but better quality and Zoso not quite as wet) for the side shot:



Any opinions?