Exciting Activities For Canines And Their Owners
One perfect Arizona afternoon after having thrown a Kong toy across my neighborhood park about a billion times, a thought crossed my mind. "Too bad there isn’t an activity Dotty (my Black Lab/Italian Greyhound mix) and I could participate in where she could put her endless energy to good use." Little did I know there are several contests perfect for dogs like mine. A few months later a fellow dog trainer told me about a new flyball team she was recently asked to organize. I had no idea what flyball was, but I figured if it was for canines and had something to do with balls, Dotty would love it. That was several months ago and now Dotty and I have a blast every week with the PetsMart Fearless Flyers flyball team.
Since joining the Fearless Flyers I’ve been fortunate enough to attend several canine related events. I enjoy going to our demonstrations and spending time with my dog and other dog owners so much, I thought it would be a good idea to help others who have canines like Dotty learn more about the great sport of flyball. So for this month's "Something to Chew On" I will be telling you all about the fast, high energy sport of flyball racing.
First, for those of you who have no earthly idea what flyball racing is, let me explain. Flyball is a relay race for dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds, including mixed breeds. Herbert Wagner of California invented it in the 1970’s. Since then flyball teams have sprouted up in most states in the U.S.A , Canada, Australia, and all over Europe. Currently, the North American Flyball Association (NAFA) and the British Flyball Association are the two main governing bodies for the sport of flyball. This lightning quick team sport consists of four dogs, their handlers, and a box loader. Each competing dog begins at the Start/Finish line. Once they are let go, they must sprint fifty-one feet over four hurdles to a flyball box. The box is spring loaded so once the dog touches it, it will shoot out a tennis ball, which the racer catches in his mouth. The dog quickly returns over all four hurdles and after he crosses the Start/Finish line, the next teammate goes. The contest is over when one team has all four dogs navigate the course, up and back, without error. Tournaments are held all over the world and teams who win and run quickly receive points toward flyball titles. The team holding the current record for fastest time is Total Recall from Ontario, Canada. All four dogs ran the course in an amazing 16.33 seconds. WOW!
Almost any breed of dog can participate in this entertaining sport. Not all breeds are going to give Total Recall a run for their money, but they should be able to compete for fun. Herding breeds, Sighthounds, and Sporting breeds seem to be the best suited for flyball competitions. Border Collies especially excel in flyball racing, in fact, some professional teams are made up of only Border Collies.
Regardless of what kind of pooch you have, there are a few things all good flyball dogs have in common. For instance, a passion for balls and decent retrieving skills. This is a must, however, if your little racing hopeful doesn’t always return promptly with the ball, that’s okay, training is a big part of flyball. A few other abilities which will be beneficial for your dog to possess are, basic obedience commands (i.e. sit, stay, come) and a friendly personality, especially toward other dogs. Potential flyball parents should also be willing to spend lots of time teaching there pup the ins and outs of the sport, as well as, be willing to volunteer many hours attending competitions, demonstrations, meetings and practices.
Finally, if you have time, patience and your canine companion is willing, check into flyball racing. It just might be the exciting activity you both have been looking for. For more information about flyball and lists of teams in your area, contact: NAFA Inc. 1002 E. Samuel Avenue Peoria Heights, IL 61614
Written by Jamie J. DeBenedetto (c) 1995