FLYBALL

FLYBALL RACING – THE ULTIMATE DRAG RACING SPORT FOR DOGS

Back in the 1970’s, Herbert Wagner appeared on the Johnny Carson show with his dog and a “dog fetching machine.” It was an apparatus that, when triggered, popped a tennis ball in the air. The dog was trained to get the ball while it was flying in the air. This triggered many in the dog world to take this simple trick and turn it into one of the most unique dog sports existing today. By modifying the dog fetching machine, adding jumps and dogs to form a team, flyball was invented. The first flyball tournament sanctioned by the newly formed North American Flyball Association (NAFA) was in 1986.

Flyball has grown by leaps and bounds as there have been hundreds of new clubs formed and thousands of flyball tournaments held in North America since the mid 1980’s. The 1990’s saw flyball grow beyond the borders of the United States and Canada. Today, one can see flyball tournaments held all throughout Europe, Australia and Japan.

The game is simple. It involves 2 teams running against one another in a race. Each race consists of 3 to 5 heats. The teams are spaced approximately 15 feet to the right and left of each other. Each team is comprised of 4 dogs. When the judge checks to see that both teams are ready, a light tree, similar to what you would see in drag racing events, will light up. The person handling the first dog will watch as the lights go in sequence. The “start dog” is then released by the handler at a precise time to retrieve their ball by first going over 4 jumps, spaced 10 feet apart. Once the dog has cleared the 4

By Mike Smith, Dog Gone

Fun Agility

DogGoneFunAgility.com

jumps, they are trained to hit the “dog fetching machine”, now simply referred to as the “flyball box.” Once the dog has caught the ball, they return back over the same 4 jumps as the second dog on the team is released to do the same thing. This is followed by the 3rd, then 4th dog on the team. The first team to have all 4 dogs complete this run without error wins the heat.

It is a fast and exciting sport for all types of dogs. Both large and small dogs participate in flyball. Purebreds as well as mixed breed dogs are allowed to participate. In fact, thousands of rescue dogs participate in the sport today. Besides beating the opposing team, dogs and their handlers can earn points in each heat to earn flyball titles throughout the dog’s flyball career.

As of April 2023, Dog Gone Fun Agility has opened up to the sport of flyball by offering classes to anyone interested in getting involved in this fast-paced and exciting sport. In September 2023, DGF will be hosting its first ever flyball tournament to be ran on turf. Many teams are looking forward to this competition and are busy getting their teams prepared!

To register, dogs must have a Barn Hunt number and complete the registration online prior to the event. For information regarding eligibility, visit AKC.org/sports/title-recognition-program/barn-hunt. Registration not accepted at event. Entry fees vary depending on class type.

Dogs and their handlers work as a team to locate and mark rats (which are safely held in aerated tubes) hidden in a maze of straw or hay bales. This sport demonstrates a dog’s vermin hunting ability, as if they were in a barn, using hay bales to introduce climbing and tunneling obstacles in the dog’s path. Participants are tested on agility, hunt drive, speed, scenting ability, and attention to directions given by their handler.

Barn Hunt events include a pass/fail instinct class for owners who want to familiarize their dog with the test. Courses are made increasingly difficult by adding more obstacles, additional diversions and more rats to find. There are several types of Barn Hunt titles dogs can earn.

Basic Rules

The sport has levels of difficulty, titles, and championships. At the Instinct level,