Flyball

[LilahRoot]

I really want to know more about it. For those of you who do it, how did you get into it? What have your experiences been like?

I saw on the website of the training facility that is closest to me that they have some small dogs that participate. They even say that the height of the jumps are based on the smallest dog on the team, but do those of you that are involved in flyball think that a crestie could do it? I really want to try and it seems inexpensive. I would have to drive about an hour each way to do it, but would it be worth it, I wonder?

So, whatever you can think of to tell me about it would be great. I think that it would be extremely fun.

I'll post more questions as I think of them.

 

[NicoleLJ]

I don't see why a crestie couldn't if it has a drive for balls. Sheena LOVES flyball. I had no idea what it was till I joined a group that did both agility and flyball. I joined to teach her agility. But when I saw flyball I knew Sheena would love it because of her high drive for balls. THe people are very welcoming and it is always a lot of fun. We miss it. The closest flyball team is 3 hours away in Calgary or 2 hours away in Lethbridge. So that sucks.

Word for the wise if you get headaches easily it might not be the sport for you. Also make sure you bring drinks, snacks, chair to relax in, crate for the dog to chill in and so on because there is a lot of hurry up and wait.

 

[elegy]

Oh yes absolutely a Crestie could do it! There are a couple who run in our region, one of which runs on Steve's breeder's team. He's an old man now, but he's still out in the lanes.

I love flyball. It's a bit wild and chaotic and the team thing can be... difficult at times, but mostly it's SO much fun.

Jump height is indeed set by the shortest dog on the team, so small fast dogs are very much in demand.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Flyball is a blast! its noisy, political, hectic and social.

Height dogs are ideal, especially quick ones. If your CC has confidence and drive you'll have a blast.

I started in the sport for my 13 yr old apbt when she was 11. She needed something to burn off some energy but we found her knee is messed up and benched her. I then brought out my 6 yr old slow but happy, dog reactive apbt. I was just training him for something to do and never expected much (and still don't) from him.

After several months we wanted more competition, we wanted A team dogs, and we found ourselves with two Malinois.

After some political issues we chose to leave our last FB team and create our own. It's been hectic but we're getting there, slowly but surely. We hope to debut my male next month if we can tighten up his box turn and our female is still a wait and see, she crosses lanes and bullies her competition.

Good luck with your experience, we love it and it's a very addictive sport!

ETA.. the link in my signature is to our team page and this link is our little explanation of Flyball
Battle Born Dogs, Flyball and sports!

 

[LilahRoot]

Oh wow, that is so reassuring! I was watching some of their demos, and I was a little bummed to see that really the only smaller height dog was a miniature schnauzer and she slowed her team down A LOT. They would be in the lead and then when it was her turn it would all go to crap. The rest of the dogs looked like BCs/BC mixes. I think that Gia would really get into this. She is a crazy little thing that LOVES to jump. Their classes are super doable price wise too. The only thing that had me a little not sure was the distance, but if small dogs are as welcome as you all say, then I think I might give it a go.

She is only like 6 or 7 lbs... I'm still kind of worried that I'll show up for the class and get laughed at. "/

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

lol Naw, really every team is always seeking quick height dogs. We have a small border collie for our height dog but a lot of teams have jack russells and other terrier breeds.

It's a really friendly sport usually (until you get competitive like every venue) and even though my apbt is a slow butt dog with a crappy turn and often forgets he's racing I get a ton of support racing him. I've even had judges tell me he's their favorite dog because he's just so damned happy all the time.

 

[Bailey08]

...our female is still a wait and see, she crosses lanes and bullies her competition.

Maybe it shouldn't, but this made me lol.

Anyway, wouldn't you start in a class situation first, before you were to compete in a team? Why not give it a try?

Flyball is on my to do list for B. I think it looks fun.

 

[elegy]

She is only like 6 or 7 lbs... I'm still kind of worried that I'll show up for the class and get laughed at. "/

nah. our best height dog is a pom x.

sometimes the height dogs do slow a team down... depending on the team they'll care or not care. the team i run with isn't super hard-core competitive. our height dogs aren't very fast. we have a good time anyway.

 

[Laurelin]

I wish I could find a team like that. I was really turned off by the only team in the area. Mia would love it but I would want it to be more fun and less competition oriented. The team is 100% sports bred BCs

 

[LilahRoot]

I do have to take three separate classes per the club requirements here. I definitely won't be going farther than the intro class if I get bad vibes. I just want to have fun.

Laur, I am super anxious about that! They have mostly Border Collies on their teams, soooo I'm wondering what kind of feedback I'm going to get about wanting to do it with a crestie. I have to say though, I think that Gia could give them a run for their money. She's quick as a bunny.

Well, I'm going to call first and see what kind of reaction I get for wanting to join in on the classes with a crestie and go from there.

 

[elegy]

there are some teams that are Win At All Costs, and i wouldn't want that. but at least around here, that's not the norm. a huge part of enjoying flyball is finding a team that has the same goals as you.

 

[Aleron]

We started a few of our dogs in flyball this year. First my youngest Belgian Whimsy and our Corgi Ziggy. Then I decided to start bringing my 9 year old Belgian Jagger out too. The team that is doing the class we go to is pretty open to anyone with a dog who wants to play. In our beginner group there are some really good dogs and some not so good dogs but everyone is given the same time and effort and everyone is encouraged to keep at it. They do have a sports bred mix as a height dog (and another member just got a sport mix puppy) but they have some not so fast dogs running with them too.

I think some of it depends on how much the teams want new members too. If this team is putting on an intro class, it would seem like they want new members. Some of the super competitive teams pretty much say they will only take people and dogs who are experienced with flyball and the dogs must be able to run fast. There are dogs of almost every breed competing in Flyball (or who have), some breeds are known for being better flyball potential than other breeds but just about any dog can play.

Here are some videos of our Flyball class, you can get a feel for how it might go (although I'm told the use of tunnels is unique to the team we train with):

Week 5 and shows the whole class:
YouTube - Flyball Beginer Class YABTC

Just Whimsy and Ziggy Week 4:
YouTube - Flyball Week 4 Whimsy & Ziggy


Whimsy and Ziggy Week 2:
YouTube - Whimsy & Ziggy Flyball Practice Week 2

YouTube - Whimsy & Ziggy Flyball Practice "Get the Ball" Week 2

 

[Taqroy]

I do have to take three separate classes per the club requirements here. I definitely won't be going farther than the intro class if I get bad vibes. I just want to have fun.

Laur, I am super anxious about that! They have mostly Border Collies on their teams, soooo I'm wondering what kind of feedback I'm going to get about wanting to do it with a crestie. I have to say though, I think that Gia could give them a run for their money. She's quick as a bunny.

Well, I'm going to call first and see what kind of reaction I get for wanting to join in on the classes with a crestie and go from there.

If you don't mind me asking, what club are you going to? Is it in Denver? I think Tipper would be outstanding at flyball but....I don't want to drive to Denver for it. Lol.

 

[Laurelin]

there are some teams that are Win At All Costs, and i wouldn't want that. but at least around here, that's not the norm. a huge part of enjoying flyball is finding a team that has the same goals as you.

I wish there were more than one team around here. I guess I just don't live in a big flyball area.

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

Hmm the flyball people around my area are very nice.

Their team is full of jacks, border collies and border jacks (with a few random dogs like a big Yorkie mix) but when I asked them about joining they were very helpful and accepting even though they have never heard of a Papillon doing flyball before.

Definitely give it a try! A lot of people are there just to have fun with their dogs!

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

That tunnel idea seems odd... do you have videos of the dogs finished box turn for examples?

 

[Aleron]

That tunnel idea seems odd... do you have videos of the dogs finished box turn for examples?

It's not being used to teach box turns, just to teach them to run the lane independently. The box is being taught separately and won't be added to the lanes until the dogs are solid on it by itself and with one, two or three jumps.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Interesting... I'm still not grasping what exactly is gained by the tunnel but if its working thats awesome!

 

[Aleron]

Interesting... I'm still not grasping what exactly is gained by the tunnel but if its working thats awesome!

It's funny because this is the only team I have seen train and I just assumed everyone used tunnels to teach the lanes. Then I started uploading these videos and got a lot of questions about it. Some people thought it was a really good idea and others asked "Does this team actually compete in flyball?". How do other teams train dogs to run the lanes?

 

[elegy]

It's funny because this is the only team I have seen train and I just assumed everyone used tunnels to teach the lanes. Then I started uploading these videos and got a lot of questions about it. Some people thought it was a really good idea and others asked "Does this team actually compete in flyball?". How do other teams train dogs to run the lanes?

restrained recalls. with ring gates along the lanes if necessary to guide the dog, then dropping out the gates as the dog "gets it", starting with the ones in the middle.