When it comes to teaching Rally behaviors, props can make a huge difference in both how quickly your dog learns and how cleanly they perform the skills. Whether you're introducing something new or polishing an existing behavior, the right prop provides clarity, precision, and support for both dog and handler.
Enter your text here ...Props like platforms, cones, gates, and bowls help define the space and expectations for your dog. Rather than guessing where they should be, your dog has a physical reference point to guide them into the correct position. This is especially helpful for teaching fronts, finishes, and sidesteps—positions that can easily become crooked or inconsistent without clear feedback.
Another big benefit? Props help prevent your dog from repeating mistakes. Without a boundary or target, your dog might sit wide, crooked, or off-center—and if it keeps happening, it becomes habit. With a prop in place, those incorrect options are gently blocked or discouraged, so your dog builds strong habits from the beginning.
Using props also reduces the need for constant handler micromanagement. Instead of relying on lures, hands, or body movement to guide your dog, you can step back and let the prop do the teaching. That not only makes your cues cleaner, but it builds your dog's confidence and independence.
As your dog becomes more skilled, you can gradually fade the props and shift to verbal or signal cues. By that point, the foundation is strong, and your dog understands what's expected—making the transition much smoother.
Let's look at a few specific props and how they help teach Rally behaviors.
The Pivot Bowl: Building Beautiful Heelwork
The pivot bowl—sometimes called a pivot platform or perch—is one of my favorite tools for teaching heel position. It's especially useful for dogs just starting out or those who need to fine-tune their positioning.
When your dog places their front feet on the bowl, they learn how to move their hind end independently. This rear-end awareness is key to maintaining an accurate heel position, especially during turns and pivots.
The bowl also provides consistency. Your dog always knows where their front feet belong, which frees you up to focus on shaping their movement and alignment. You can move slightly around the bowl and your dog learns to adjust their back end to stay in position. It simplifies the process and makes teaching heelwork more precise and efficient.
Once your dog understands how to stay aligned using the bowl, it's easy to transition to movement. The skills built on the pivot bowl transfer beautifully to formal heeling, helping you create a dog that moves with confidence and control.
Here's an example of using the pivot bowl in heel position.
Sit Platforms: Precision for Fronts and Finishes
Sit platforms are incredibly versatile and can be used for teaching multiple Rally skills, including straight fronts, tidy finishes, and sits in heel.
When working on front position, the platform gives your dog a clearly defined place to sit. If it's sized properly—just wide enough for your dog's body—it naturally guides them into a straight, centered sit. Practicing this way builds muscle memory, so even when the platform disappears, the dog still offers that clean front on their own.
Using a platform also reduces crooked or wide fronts, since the dog has fewer options to land in the wrong spot. And because they're targeting a defined space, you don't have to rely on excessive luring or body movement. That gives your dog more independence and clarity, especially when you start adding motion like recalls or call fronts from heel.
Sit platforms also shine when teaching finishes. The platform acts like a target, helping your dog swing their rear end into just the right spot next to your left leg. Because the size and shape of the platform gently guide your dog's movement, you're more likely to get a straight, tight sit without the need to constantly adjust them.
Finishes can be tricky for dogs who aren't aware of their rear end, but the platform makes it easier for them to learn what to do with their body. You're able to build that movement cleanly, and once the dog understands how to land correctly, you can start fading the platform without losing the precision.
This video will show some find heel games with the sit platform, but using this prop for finishes works the same way. Simply put the dog in front to start.
Props aren't about shortcuts—they're about setting our dogs up for success. They help clarify expectations, prevent mistakes, and build solid behaviors we can rely on in training and in the ring. Whether you're working on a beautiful front, a clean finish, or tight heeling, the right prop can make the process smoother and more enjoyable for both you and your dog.
Props make the picture clearer, the learning smoother, and the results better. Let them work for you.