Flyball?

I originally had wanted to eventually do agility with Cali, but the nearest club is over an hour away and I highly doubt my mom or dad would be willing to drive that far just for agility. However, Mo's groomer does have a flyball team, and I was considering that.

I was just wondering if there are any Papillons in flyball and how they do. I, personally, think Cali would be awesome at it once she knew what she was doing.. just because she's super fast, loves balls, and is pretty agile, even at five months.

Where in Canada do you live? If you want to do agility (many people do both, though if you want to do both DON'T do flyball first, I know quite a few dogs who can't do agility because they did flyball first) there may be places close to you that you don't know about.

Many of the people I take lessons from don't advertise, so if you aren't in the agility community you would never know.

I live in lower NB. My parents probably wouldn't be willing to drive much more than thirty minutes for agility though.

I'm curious -- what problems do you run into if you do flyball first?

Curious as well.

There are a few teams in NB. Are you near Fredericton?

I'm about an hour or so away, down near Maine.

In Flyball we train our dogs to jump low, in agility you train dogs to arch their jump. Also we ask for a measured stride, in agility you often want the dogs to stop short and turn on a dime without a measured stride.

I train flyball competitively and work for a primarily agility training facility and we have several who trained flyball first. I would however not suggest cross training in the beginning, it can be difficult on the dog and their learning curve.

I also don't recommend cross training any two sports at all actually at the same time in the beginning. Each sport should be given devotion for the foundation time, especially if you have any intension of competing.

Oh and yes! Paps do wonderfully in flyball!! I highly recommend checking the sport out. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to help you out!

Actually I think one should cross train many dog sports. Obed and agility work much better trained concurrently vs one first.

I have seen quite a few dogs who started with flyball who then are too worked up to settle in other venues. There was one I didn't even know well at an obed trial. Fantastic little dog, whilst on leash. As soon as the leash came off for the off leash portion the dog was barking and spinning like a maniac. Off leash with other dogs meant flyball.

There have been many more that I have known that just couldn't make the switch to competative agility because the dog learnt that dog shows = flyball. Now this is only likely a risk in very drivey dogs. And I am sure as most of these dogs run under 4.8 that they are quite happy with flyball.

Odd, I train in the most competitive region for flyball and sub 4.0 dogs are common place. In fact the team I train with has broken the flyball team record over and again and currently maintain it. That said we have a TON of dogs that are cross trained in lure, dock dogs, obed, agility, herding, rally, and schutzhund.

It's an old school idea that training obed and control will squelch drive.

I like my dogs to have a firm grasp on one thing before I add in more, like training schutzhund and agility has confused my malinois in the A-frame. I ask for very different tasks with each frame so I have decided to hold off on agility until we get a 1.

However we cross train with schutzhund, flyball, and obedience. We do not cross train competition obedience beyond basic level because again, it can confuse the dog needlessly. That is not to say I don't plan to get every title I can but prioritizing what I expect my dog to be the best at is only rational.

Rally has shown for some to allow for sloppy handling which will cost you in schutzhund when it becomes habit. This is another I plan to start, time and energy allowing, but I will be asking people to keep a stern ear and eye to my handling. The last obed show I was at the judges all reminded everyone about this not being rally and talking to your dog will have you DQ'd beyond the alloted 2 command rule.

In flyball, when training a turn, we've found dogs trained for SV/EV have more trouble getting horizontal because they've been ingrained to reach up. This has totally shown to be an issue with Sloan and we're working on training a better bending of the body to compensate her reach.

I have found the issues with cross training during foundation work for my competition dogs are minute things however they all amount to greater issues if you're not keen to their happenings.

However, once a dog has a firm grasp on what is being asked I'm all for title whoring and variety. I wouldn't be as involved as I am in so many sports if I felt else-wise!

Definitely. I have yet to compete in obedience with Logan because I'm stiull trying to train MYSELF to STFU and not accidentally give duplicate commands (my default is to use a verbal command and body/hand signal together). Doing obedience first would have made everything much easier. It's easier to get into dog sports with Rally, but beyond your first competition dog, I would start elsewhere and come to rally later.

I would encourage you at this point to not have your heart set on what is close but rather what you both will be excited to do and interested in learning. Much of this stuff with a little bit of work and materials can be started at home but your dog in the beginning needs to have a solid foundation with you. Start her with clicker work, work on your handling, and remember to have fun with your puppy.

The worst thing you can do with a papillon is be all business or push before they are ready. They want to have a great time, they want to be with you, and they are brilliant learners but as soft as nerf balls. This can be a double edged sword if you're too serious, pushy, or demanding.

Also keep in mind that with the wide variations within the papillon breed that some dogs will not take to some activities as well or as easily as others. I think only one of my four would do really well in Flyball, the rest could probably do it with time and training but I don't think they would excel at it or have the intense drive for it.

I'm definitely not planning on being too serious or pushy or demanding. This would just be for fun, assuming she'd enjoy it. This post was basically just me getting some insight on the sport because, once she's physically mature enough, I want to find an engaging sport for her that she enjoys. But yes, for now, we're just working on clicker training, manners and having fun/bonding.

And thanks to everyone for all the information

Well, until you find a team or learn more, flyball is a game of recalls. The sport requires the strongest recall you can get and races are won and lost in the recall. Start there, have a friend restrain (that is one thing your dog also will need to get used to) Cali and then tease her with a toy and run away, once you say "here" or your command for come the friend should release Cali and she should come bolting to you. Make it a huge game and exciting. Keep these recall sessions very short and sweet, they can be exhausting for the dog.

Also, one of the worst things you can do in flyball is have a ball obsessed dog, but they can play too. What you want is a dog that will pick up a ball and return and trade it for a tug. You can use treats too but tugs tend to be more effective in rallying up a recall.

So homework before you start: Start building that recall, work on Cali's ability to retrieve a ball and "trade" it for a tug. The rest will come in a team aspect, many teams train the jumps, passes, box, and starts differently so I'll let your team train you that part.

you sports folks all get "for srs." about your sports.
WOW.

I think I am going to do nose work for Ophie and I *might* enroll Luke into a nose work class, OR, I may do rally with him.

And I may NEVER compete with either one of my dogs. In fact, I doubt I ever will. But I like being involved in classes.

Good luck finding a flyball team/thingy!!!
The sport sounds fun!

Flyball looks like a BLAST!

But . . . nothing around here

And I doubt I'd ever trust Tallulah not to get excited and turn it into her version of an Irish bar brawl Excitement is her ON switch. Shame, too, because I think she could probably be a helluva contender.

We have started to work on our recall more, and surprisingly, she's catching on relatively quickly depending on the setting. (but that will come in time, I hope) My one big problem is the whole "trading" thing. Usually she has a problem with giving the balls back, which is usually why we play fetch with two balls. Plus, she isn't too interested in tugs, unless she's in a chewing mood. Is there any way to get her more excited about tugs?

I wouldn't tug until her adult teeth are in if she's 5 months old now. Start with a soft tug (like a stuffed animal) or rags after that.

Yeah, that's what we're using right now, just her favourite stuffed animals and a soft tug rope that's made for teething puppies. It shouldn't be too long until all her adult teeth are in though.

Read this link:
How to create a motivating toy

It can take a while to grow tug drive in your dog, but keep at it (especially with a dog as young as yours). It'll pay off in the long run.