Flyball

[Caja's Mom]

Anyone taking a class in it? Trying to find someplace in Buffalo that is giving classes. Only thing I can find right now is an actual team that practices on Sundays. Just looking to try it out and learn about it.

[Riptide]

Maybe you could try contacting the members of the team? They might know where to train - everyone had to start somewhere!

[Caja's Mom]

I did contact the team haven't heard anything back yet. The team website is old dates from 2006 on it, but there was current info about a past tournment. Has anyone ever tried flyball?

[GranvilleGSD]

Look at the NAFA website http://www.flyball.org and/or the U-FLI website http://www.u-fli.com they are the 2 flyball organizations in the US. There you can find local team information. If you can't get in touch with a team close to you contact another nearby team, they could probably point you in the right direction. The thing I have noticed is that everybody in flyball knows one another within their region, no matter where they live!

Flyball is a great sport! It can take a long time to train, so a lot of people get discouraged and quit, but hang in there! Some teams will take you on and teach you at their practices, others will require you to take classes and have your dog consistent before they will let you join.

Neither one of my dogs really cared for tennis balls when we started training, but Chloe has become one of the most consistent dogs on the team, you can't even say the word flyball anywhere around her she starts whining and trying to run to the car because she is so excited, and Izzy is just getting ready to start competition this year.

[Liesje]

I know this is an old thread, but I watched flyball class tonight and want to try with Nikon. Is there a minimum age? He would be 8 months and his hips and elbows prelim'd fine. I saw the jumps they use and they are low, maybe 8 inches max b/c the other dogs were a Keeshond, small mix, and very small Aussie.

[GranvilleGSD]

I believe they have to be a year old to start racing, but you can train before that. I don't worry much about the jumping as when practicing they are jumping really low usually 7-8 inches, and for a bigger dog they are basically walking over the jumps. Make sure that your dog learns the "swimmers turn" as this helps prevent impact injuries to the front end. The turn is hard for bigger dogs, so don't worry if its not perfect, just as long as they have the idea and don't slam into the box.

[Liesje]

We decided to pass on it for now. I don't think there's enough interest for the next session (everyone does agility which is starting up for the spring since our stuff is outdoors). I want to wait until his growth plates are farther closed.

[GranvilleGSD]

Yeah, it is harder to find classes during the summer months, most places just do classes during the winter because they are doing tournaments during the summer.

In fact, I'm sitting in a hotel now resting from an evening of racing! 2 more days of fun!

[Caja's Mom]

Update for my part of the thread, Errow earned his FD title and FDX title in York PA, his first time racing. We are racing with the Buffalo Wings team. Looks like our next race maybe in Ohio 4th of July weekend. WTG Errow.

[GranvilleGSD]

Congrats Errow! Looks like he caught on to flyball really fast! Have fun if you go to Sandusky, I was going to go to that one but the team was full and we didn't have enough dogs for 2 teams.