What is flyball?
Flyball is a fast and fun team sport for dogs, in which teams of four (plus up to two reserves) compete in a relay race over four hurdles to retrieve a ball from a spring loaded box, and return back over the hurdles to the start line. The first team to get all four dogs to retrieve the ball and return without a foul wins that heat. The race is won by the first team to win the best of five heats.
There are strict rules to the race:
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The dogs race each other in lanes set no less than 12 feet and no more than 20 feet apart.
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Dogs need to be well trained so that they focus on their specific job - to go get the ball and return to their handler without any deviations. For many dogs, this also means learning to ignore the dog in the other lane, the dogs in the other team, the dogs in their team, and the many tennis balls around on the ground!
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The dogs must jump over all the jumps on the way out and on the return leg. If a dog “runs out” then it must be run again. Also, if the next dog in the relay crosses the start gate before the previous dog has come out, then they have to re-run that leg.
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If a dog crosses into the opposing team lane, that heat is forfeit and the point is awarded to the opposing team.
Flyball is a very inclusive sport for dogs and humans alike, and we are lucky at Kennet Flyball Club to have many different breeds and sizes of dog in our teams. Flyball is fun and any dog can learn to become a flyball dog!
