Your Guide to Getting Your Dog into Flyball

If you've never heard about flyball, it came into being in around the '70s from some dog trainers in the California area. In essence, it is a relay race with dogs as they jump over four different hurdles, retrieve a tennis ball, and then jump back over the same hurdles. Some questions new people to the sport may have are how do you train your dog for it, can any dog participate, and where can you get the appropriate items for the sport. Have no fear, newcomer, for the answers are here.

Patience is on of the main qualities that you are going to need to train your dog to participate. This is because you will need to slowly teach the dog the course in reverse for best retention. Have them cross the finish line, jump over hurdles, and retrieve a ball. As you are going to need to repeat each step to get the dog accustomed to jump over the multiple hurdles, this can take a month or two. As long as you work with your dog regularly on this, they will be ready to enter competitions quickly.

Before you start training your dog, let's consider if your dog is going to be able to participate. If your dog is social to other dogs and people and used to loud noises, in good physical condition, schooled in obedience, and able to fetch a tennis ball, then it would be able to play flyball. If you're dog is hyperactive and able to jump, then let's get to training. If your dog's daily exercise consists of getting up from his bed and walking to his food bowl and back, then maybe not.

If you want to train your dog, the most cost effective way is to make hurdles yourself and use either a box with tennis balls in them, or a box that has a catapult arm, as this is what is used in league competitions. If you are not good with building things, you can also check out a list of equipment providers here.

Flyball is a fun sport that allows your dog to stay healthy or at least work off some excess energy. If you have patience and determination to teach your dog, and your dog moves more than a few feet in a day, then you have an alternative to the normal exercise like walking the dog.

Sources: flydogs.com, metpet.com, flyballdogs.com