What the Heck is Flyball?
Take a look at the animated gif below.
To the left, you see dogs passing one another at the start line. Just past the white bar which represents the start line, you see a drawing of the drag racing lights used to help us know when to release our dogs. The start line has a beam which can tell whether a dog has a "hot start" or a "hot pass."
The center of the image has small red lines, which represent flyball hurdles. Then to the right, you see a drawing of the flyball box and the legs of a boxloader. If you watch the gif closely, you'll see the boxloader loading balls!
So that probably all sounds like a bunch of techie speak, right? Well here's the long and short of it.
Flyball racing is done as a "relay," with four dogs on a team. Dogs are released one by one to go down over the four hurdles, hit the box (which contains a spring-loaded tennis ball), grab the ball and return over the four hurdles. In tournaments, there can be six dogs listed on the team. Only four dogs actually race at any given time, but the other two may be subbed in anytime you like.
It sounds deceptively simple...but it isn't. Dogs must be able to do a smooth, safe turn on the box, commonly called a swimmer's turn, for best performance. This means they have to get all four feet on the box and push off hard with their rear end. Getting this performance requires long, slow practice sessions so that the dog does not learn to "crash" straight into the box.
Also (and this is a biggie) dogs must be able to pass nearly nose-to-nose at the start line, both dogs going full speed. Just take a moment and try to imagine your dog seeing another dog coming straight at him, full speed and raring to go. Natural instincts of both dogs would probably say, "he's coming to have some fun!" and untrained dogs would probably smash into one another, or at least slow down to have a wrestle. Long hours of careful, thoughtful practice develop this skill, and it takes many handlers and dogs to truly "proof" a dog on passing. Flyball is a team sport in more ways than one! IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT A YEAR TO DEVELOP A DOG INTO A RELIABLE FLYBALL RACER.
At tournaments, often there are 80+ teams entered, each of which has submitted a SEED TIME. Seed times are what you think your team can consistently run. Teams with similar seed times are placed in separate divisions and race only each other. Right now you might be thinking, hmmm, if a team submits a seed time that is a lot slower than they can run, they could win everything! Wrong. The divisions have a BREAKOUT TIME for each division. Go faster than the breakout time three times in a tournament and you are out of the running for placements. It is challenging to try to figure out a seed time that will accurately reflect what you can truly do. Often the seed times within the divisions are separated by only 1-2 seconds...so teams are usually well-matched and the racing is usually very close.
Tight passes (where the dogs meet almost exactly at the start line) and good starts (where the dog crosses the start line as the timer begins) are crucial in good flyball racing. A bad pass or a bad start can easily cause your team to lose a race.
Races usually involve 5 heats, with 3 out of 5 wins taking the race. Tournament points are scored with each win.
For maximum performance, not only do you need capable dogs and handlers, but also "sideline" helpers that are crucial to peak performance. Boxloaders, pass callers (tell the handlers how wide/tight the passes and starts are) and a coach directing the strategy are all a big part of tournament racing. Without these people, it would be impossible to do really great flyball racing. Everyone has to pull together to fill these roles. See what I mean about this being a team sport?
The dog teams usually consist of at least one "height dog," a shorter dog that will keep the hurdles as low as possible. Hurdle height is determined by the height at the withers of the shortest dog on the team. Top flyball teams usually have three larger dogs, and a fast small dog. Breeds often seen as height dogs are Jack Russell terriers, Border Terriers, Shelties, and mixed-breed dogs that are on the smaller end of things. Some people are even breeding "designer height dogs" specifically for height dogs. Most of the top teams in NAFA flyball racing have one of these mixes. Crosses of Jack Russells and Border Collies, Border Terriers and Border Collies, and now...the newest fad...Staffordshire Terriers and Border Collie mixes, are now a fixture at competitive flyball racing. Who woulda thunk, huh!!! They even have "unofficial" breed names...Border Jacks, Border Borders, Border Staffies.
Tournament Fun!
It is really hard to describe the atmosphere at a tournament, because there are so many facets to the fun you'll have! DJs on the sideline pumping music to the crowd, two lanes of racing, barking dogs everywhere, people running back and forth and yelling to each other...the noise level is probably equal to or greater than a rock concert. Sound-sensitive dogs usually need time to desensitize to the environment.
Beyond the racing, the sport of flyball offers true camaraderie with your team members. Often, teams camp on-site at the tournaments (usually held at hockey arenas or similar buildings). People circle up their tents. During the day, between races, competitors usually relax with their dogs at the tenting area. At night, well...I wouldn't say it's truly "party time," because everyone knows that racing starts early the next day...but it can be so much fun! Teams often bring ingredients for a big barbeque, coolers full of pop (and occasionally other beverages), snacks, etc. A common sight at tournaments is a whole team sitting around in lawn chairs, dogs crated and resting, everyone having a grand old time.
Being Competitive...Good Thing, or Bad Thing?
The simple answer...it can be both.
As long as each member of the team is on the same sheet of music regarding team goals, there is not a problem. Sometimes, however, there is resentment and bad feelings, even outright battles, in the sport of flyball. Coaching decisions, whose dog got to run the most, whose dog got to run the least, etc, can all make for bad feelings. If a team wants to stay together, it is imperative that all goals are clear prior to decisions being made, and that everyone that participates is in agreement with those goals. If those stars align properly, whatta fun ride. If they don't, it can get ugly. It's just a fact of life.
Doggie Facts
The North American Flyball Association (NAFA) allows any breed of dog to participate, from pedigreed dogs to "every-mutts." Size, shape, breed, type...none of that matters in flyball! All you have to do is get a CRN (Competitive Racing Number) from NAFA for about 20 bucks Canadian.
Be aware that because flyball is such an intense sport, dogs should to be absolutely fit before racing. Tournaments can have the dog racing 5 heats, 14 times or more a weekend. That's over 70 full runs in just two days. Only dogs in top shape can consistently perform under those conditions. Overweight or obese dogs have no place at tournaments. It would be like me, a couch potato, suddenly deciding that I am going to run the Boston Marathon tomorrow! Dogs should be kept not only lean, but also have a regular regime of physical exercise that keeps them in top athletic form.
Should your dog have a physical limitation such as elbow dysplasia, hip dysplasia, arthritis, or any other illness, you should consult with your veterinarian and your conscience prior to undertaking serious training for any dog sport.
In Closing...
Most dogs have a great time at flyball, whether they are fast or slow, big or small. Even if you never intend to go to a tournament, flyball is cool. You get to meet other nutty people who think training dogs is nifty. If you travel to tournaments, you usually bring home big ribbons for interior decoration! Most of the time, flyball teams participate in public demonstrations at fairs and parties throughout the year too. Give it a try. You'll probably like it!