Training to do flyball

[pawprints]

hi everyone, took poppy the other saturday for her first flyball training, she loves it, they are training her backwards, so she has done from the box back to me, she is doing great. she is jumping over all the four jumps with no fences at the side. when you said about taking a toy, i was told to take a toy with me and she is running over the jumps fast then running after me to play tug with her toy.
Fly ball training was cancelled last week due to the snow, so really looking forward to it this week. hope she remembers everything. she should be learning the box this week so i will let you know how we go on.

Any feed back will be great

Thanks H:p

[k9mania]

Make sure you make the tug and you more important than the ball. Ball crazy dogs are not always the best. It is very good that they are using backtraining. Good luck and get some pictures up for us. I will put some up of my dogs.:cool:

[Shelley02]

Yes, absolutely right, if a ball crazy dog knows you have the ball he'll run all over and amuck in a frenzy to make you throw it for him. I would only use it as a reward when the whole exercise s are over and you're out of the ring.

[pawprints]

Hi everyone. just got back for a day at flyball training and it as been great fun today. Poppy is doing so well she loves it, she is jumping over all 4 jumps getting ball and bring in back over the four jump, the woman who is training is so happy with her, she wishies Poppy was older as she is doing so well. sounds like she wanted her to go in the begnner comp in 5 weeks. you were all right i am getting well into and can not wait till next week. dont know who likes it more me or Poppy, he he :p

Thanks Helen:) :D

[Carol]

It will benefit you both so it is allright for you to be excited too!!!
What a wonderful activity for you and your dog to share in.
Congratulations!!. Your dog will be stimulated mentally and be physically fit and socialized fully.

[Sharkbait]

How old does your dog have to b to compete in flyball? i have a
border collie who will b 10 months old in 2 weeks.

[pawprints]

Hi Poppy is only 8 month at mo, but can not enter comps till she is 11 month, there is a beginners comp in about 4 weeks but she will just have to watch, but she will be eager to get there and do it. So hopefully she will be at the next one, we are both looking forward to it. can not wait.

Thank Helen

[k9mania]

:) I think they have to be 1 year to compete in NAFA. You need to be careful jumping them as they are growing. There are 2 organizations U-FLI and NAFA. You can check out their websites and see what the rules are.

[pawprints]

yes they have to be 12 month before you can run in a starter comp, had to wait till she was 12 month and she is loving it now:D

[Casey]

I just went to my first flyball tournament in Vallejo, CA last weekend to watch. What a blast! My little Gidget, a 1 year old Boston Terrier, has had 3 flyball lessons and I can hardly wait till her first tournament. Do the dogs always bark so much? It was insane.

[k9mania]

Wait until you go to an indoor tournament...it is insane. There are quite a few Bostons running. What team are you training with?

[herdingdogs]

Oh I agree with K9Mania--it is insane. The events we go to are very noisy (all are indoors). It turns off some people to the sport. I don't mind the dogs barking when they are playing, but off the lane mine have to be quiet. It does sometimes get to be a bit much especially when there is a dog or two with a really annoying bark. But the game is still loads of fun to play.

Good luck,
Linda

[Casey]

I'm training with Fully Loaded. Gidget's still having the beginning lessons.
She was so cute at practice yesterday. She's going over all four jumps and actually corrected herself to go over instead of around when she got confused. She hasn't got to the part where she triggers the box yet, but she's very enthusiastic.

[herdingdogs]

That's wonderful. Sounds like you are off to a great start with her and she's on her way to becoming a flyball dog! Let us know how it goes.

Linda

[pawprints]

yes i know what you mean by the noise, I run for the Sheffield Speeders, and we do our own indoor comps. we have one in a couple of weeks, and it is so loud when all the dogs are barking and you are in there all day, need to put my ear plugs in ha ha ha.
i am really looking forward to our comp, my dog Poppy will be 18 month old on the 8th so ready for the 12th January when she is running for the first time. it as seamed like i have been waiting forever to run her can not wait. Hope she does well?

I love this sport so much, i got another dog called Ellie and she will be 18 month old in march, so looking forward to her running for the first time too, she as been more hard work than Poppy, think my husband will kill me if i get anymore he he he.

xhx