What is flyball?
Flyball is a growing-popular sport for dogs that includes fun and teamwork. The object of the game is to get every dog (about four dogs) on tw
o teams to jump over a series of hurdles, jump onto a spring-release board that releases a tennis ball, grab the ball, and jump back over the hurdles. Whichever team's dogs go through this ordeal firs
t, win the game.
Putting together the course:
The hurdle size depends on the smallest dog's height. For this reason, most teams like to have at least one small dog, such as a Jack Russell Terrier, to compete. This will make the hurdles low for all the other dogs, but unfortunately, terriers often have trouble springing the tennis ball from the board, and often have to jump hard onto the spring board with all four feet before the ball is released.
The course contains four hurdles that are set 10 feet apart. The starting line is six feet from the first hurdle, and the last hurdle is fifteen feet from the spring box, making a total of a 51 foot course. The rule is that all four hurdles must be four inches below the withers of the smallest dog, with a limit of no less than seven inches and no more than fourteen inches. Therefore, a Chihuahua cannot compete.
Penalties are given to t
eams if the ball is dropped or if the next dog is released into the relay too early. In flyball, you must play it smart and play it fast in o
rder to win.
History:
Flyball was started by some trainers in the 1960's and 1970's who set some hurdles up as a scent-exercise, with a tennis ball at the other end, with the object being that the dog bring back the tennis ball when he got it. A spring board was then added, and soon, the sport of flyball became a recognized sport.
Other Facts:
Flyball is so popular because it is allowed to any breed of dog, whether he be purebred or mutt. Any size is allowed. A Great Dane could compete alongside a Jack Russell Terrier if wished.
Flyball can either be played as a simple, fun game, or as a competition in which every second counts. Currently, the time record is 15.210 seconds, and was set by Touch N Go Flyball Team.
This has been Featured Sports. Please join us again for more fun sports stories.
Flyball is a growing-popular sport for dogs that includes fun and teamwork. The object of the game is to get every dog (about four dogs) on tw
o teams to jump over a series of hurdles, jump onto a spring-release board that releases a tennis ball, grab the ball, and jump back over the hurdles. Whichever team's dogs go through this ordeal firs
t, win the game.Putting together the course:
The hurdle size depends on the smallest dog's height. For this reason, most teams like to have at least one small dog, such as a Jack Russell Terrier, to compete. This will make the hurdles low for all the other dogs, but unfortunately, terriers often have trouble springing the tennis ball from the board, and often have to jump hard onto the spring board with all four feet before the ball is released.
The course contains four hurdles that are set 10 feet apart. The starting line is six feet from the first hurdle, and the last hurdle is fifteen feet from the spring box, making a total of a 51 foot course. The rule is that all four hurdles must be four inches below the withers of the smallest dog, with a limit of no less than seven inches and no more than fourteen inches. Therefore, a Chihuahua cannot compete.
Penalties are given to t
eams if the ball is dropped or if the next dog is released into the relay too early. In flyball, you must play it smart and play it fast in o
rder to win.History:
Flyball was started by some trainers in the 1960's and 1970's who set some hurdles up as a scent-exercise, with a tennis ball at the other end, with the object being that the dog bring back the tennis ball when he got it. A spring board was then added, and soon, the sport of flyball became a recognized sport.
Other Facts:
Flyball is so popular because it is allowed to any breed of dog, whether he be purebred or mutt. Any size is allowed. A Great Dane could compete alongside a Jack Russell Terrier if wished.
Flyball can either be played as a simple, fun game, or as a competition in which every second counts. Currently, the time record is 15.210 seconds, and was set by Touch N Go Flyball Team.
This has been Featured Sports. Please join us again for more fun sports stories.
