What is Flyball?
Flyball is a team relay race that sees dogs and their parents go head-to-head in the hopes of finishing the race first.
Why would we want to play?
It’s an amazing way to build a strong relationship with your dog, and with aspects of command and agility training forming a core part of the sport, you’ll be working their brain cells and muscles. Whether you participate recreationally or join a team, exercising your dog is a different and exciting way.
How is it played?
Flyball involves two teams of four dogs, and two reserve dogs, racing side by side over jumps with a box at the end which when pressed releases a ball that the dog has to return to the starting position. Once past the finishing line, the next dog will be released. The first team to have all four dogs over the finishing line wins that race. The overall winner of the game is then determined over five legs.
The judging is electronic. The use of lights and sensors are used on both the start and finish line to track accurate timings and to determine a winner when it is not obvious to the naked eye.
In the spirit of competitiveness, divisions are used within tournaments based on the fastest speed of the team in previous competitions.
As well as being a great form of exercise for your dog there are other benefits to Flyball for them such as:
Strengthens the heart. All that running around gets their blood pumping and helps to improve their cardiovascular health.
Better mental stimulation. During a Flyball race, a dog will have to do multiple things in a short space of time. This means they’ll have to activate those brain muscles which will help stimulate them more than going on a walk.
Stronger muscles and bone joints. Like all forms of exercise, having a regular progressive routine that involves running, walking, and playing will help strengthen your dog’s muscles and bone joints, which will reduce the chances of injuries and health issues.
A closer relationship with your dog. Training with your dog, whether it’s command, agility, or another form of training, helps to build a bond between you. This happens because training is a commitment and requires you to spend a lot of time together.
Socialisation with other dogs. It’s important to socialise your dog. If they’re young, it’s especially important as it teaches your pup how to act around other dogs, and helps them get used to new people. It can be easier to socialise in a neutral environment as socialising in their home can lead to them becoming territorial. So somewhere like Flyball practice will provide the perfect place for this.
