|
It's a relay race between two teams of four dogs each.The dogs race over hurdles to a box, trigger the box and catch the released ball.
Then they race back over the hurdles, all to the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd.
It's hard to tell which group loves this sport more--the dogs or the people!Here's How Flyball Works
Picture two racing lanes side-by-side. Each lane has a row of four low jumps leading to a spring-loaded flyball box which shoots out a tennis ball.
Each of the two teams consists of four excited dogs waiting their turn.
The first dog on each team races down his row of jumps and hits the flyball box.
He grabs the tennis ball that's ejected, and races back across the start/finish line.
As the first dog crosses the line, the next dog on each team takes off, passing at full speed.
The first team to have all four dogs run the course without errors wins the heat.
Each race consists of three to five heats.
The height of the hurdles is determined by the smallest dog on the team, called the "height dog."
Jump heights are set 5 inches shorter than the shoulder height of this littlest guy.
The minimum jump height is 7 inches and the maximum height is 14 inches.
That's why teams always include a short-legged dog.
He makes the jumps easier for the rest of the team.
Competing teams race against teams with similar times.
This allows the races to be closer and much more exciting.
It also gives each team a chance at winning an individual race.
That's why your Golden Retriever doesn't have to be lightning-fast in order to help his team win.
He just has to have fun!
It's Flyball Tournament Time!
Competitions are usually hosted by a local club but under the sanction of a national governing body.
Most competitions are two-day weekend events.
They might be held outdoors on grass or indoors on mats.
They can be organized in either a double elimination or round robin format.
The overall winner is the team with the most wins.
Success is measured in seconds and the action is fast and furious!
At a flyball tournament, electronic sensors and timing devices are used to capture the results, down to the thousandth of a second.
Many teams run all four dogs through the course in less than 20 seconds.
Flyball Is Open To All Dogs
A big part of this activity's popularity stems from the fact that it is one of the few dog sports available to mixed breed dogs.
This allows dogs rescued from animal shelters and non-pedigree dogs to shine alongside their purebred canine friends.
The most popular dog breeds tend to be from the herding group (like the Border Collie), terriers (especially the Jack Russell Terrier) and the sporting dogs (mainly the Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever).
No previous experience is required, but it helps if your dog likes to run and play with tennis balls.
Competitors need to be at least one year old.
Your dog also needs to like other dogs and people, as he'll be around lots of both during races.
History of Flyball For Dogs
This dog sport was invented in California in the late 70's. Legend has it that Herbert Wagner first demonstrated it on the Johnny Carson Show to millions of Americans.
Soon afterwards, dog trainers and dog clubs began getting involved.
At the start, a few small competitions were held in conjunction with dog shows.
The first official tournament was held in 1983.
The North American Flyball Association (NAFA) was established in 1984 to guide the development of the sport in North America.
Today, with over 900 active clubs and 10,000 competing dogs, NAFA is recognized as the world's leading authority on this sport. It sets flyball rules and sanctions tournaments (over 300 a year across North America).
It also keeps track of all the awards and titles earned by the dogs, based on points earned by their teams in racing. It is not affiliated with the American Kennel Club (AKC).
While this is one of the fastest growing dog sports in the United States and Canada, it is also played in Australia, Japan, England and other countries around the world.
Flyball Means Fun For All!
Flyball is one of the most exciting, dog-oriented team sports that you can include on your list of family activities.That's especially true if you have a tennis ball-crazy dog with lots of energy!
You'll be helping your dog burn up some energy and enjoy time with other dogs, too.
It's also a great way to meet other dog owners.
Whether you're in it for the competition or just for the good times, there's a place for you and your furry friend in this fast, fun activity.
Search here for more information on Golden Retrievers
or anything else you want to know:
Return from Flyball to Dog Breed Activities
Return from Flyball
to Lovable Golden Retriever Home Page
