“ The foundation has nothing to do with‘ Come. Sit. Stay. Down,’” he says.“ We need canine manners and self-control.”
Two common canine sports, agility and rally, look different on the surface. Agility sends dogs racing through obstacle courses of jumps, tunnels and weave poles against the clock, demanding speed and accuracy. Rally requires dogs and handlers to move together through a series of numbered obedience tasks, following posted signs that test precision and communication. Despite those differences, both sports depend entirely on the relationship between dog and handler.
Duffy describes that relationship as a partnership rather than a performance.
“ I’ m going to refer to it as the handler-dog relationship,” he says,“ because that’ s the way we view it.”
He often explains the connection using a paired dance analogy.
“ It is an intricate and integrated operation between a pair,” Duffy says.“ We are going to teach you how to lead a tango dance with your dog.”
That same pattern shows up in the ring. Dogs and handlers move through a course together, adjusting to each other’ s position and pace. As teams gain experience, communication becomes quieter and more efficient, relying less on verbal direction and more on movement and timing.
“ The more experienced the dog, the less I need to use both,” Duffy said.
Dr. John Parker has seen that philosophy unfold over time. A long-time competitor in rally and obedience, Parker has trained with Duffy for more than 20 years. He competes with
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We are going to teach you how to lead a tango dance with your dog.
PAGE NO. 24 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE MAR / APR 2026