FLYBALL

There are two different types of flyball, British Flyball Association (BFA), which we will be running, and Crufts type, the difference is mainly the type of box that is used.

For flyball your dog must possess a plain well fitting collar or harness (no checks or half checks), be reasonably fit, aged over 12 months and be keen on a tennis ball.

It is essential that your dog is sociable with other dogs and can be held and released by a trainer, and also it really helps if your dog is interested in balls!!

As flyball is a team dog-sport and your dog is in any way not sociable,
please do not attempt flyball!!!.

We have had several successful training days, some dogs take to it straight away, others take a while to get used to the box and having to race away from their owner.

Its very loud, very fast, but best of all very fun!!!
As long as they are fit, this is a sport for any breed large or small.

Click here to read the Flyball Section from laughing dog press

Follow these links to find out more:

TIM OR MICHELLE 01395 263151
or email
honitondogs@hotmail.com

WHAT IS FLYBALL?

Flyball is a team relay race for dogs.
Two teams race each other over identical courses and the first team to get all their dogs back without mistake - wins.

A team consists of between four and six dogs, with any four dogs racing at one time.
Any small dogs racing on a team are called "Height Dogs".
These dogs bring the jump height down for the team, giving the bigger dogs a bit of an advantage as they are able to "run"
over the jumps, rather than hurdling them.

Each dog has to race over four low hurdles, collect a tennis ball from a special box and return over the four hurdles.
Time is saved by the dogs passing at full speed on the start/finish line.

UK FLYBALL HISTORY
Peter Roberts (PODS Flyball Team) has been "in flyball" since before the formation of the British Flyball Association.
His first memories of Flyball are of a demonstration at Crufts in 1990 by a team from the Thames Club.
He remembers it was not a very polished performance
"some of the handlers had to run up to the box with their dogs. But it was flyball."
This was the last Crufts at Earls Court (1990) before the show moved to the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) near Birmingham.

THE ORIGINS OF FLYBALL
Flyball began its life in the USA way back in the late 1970's or early 1980's.
Rather than repeat what has already been done, the link below will take you to the history of flyball.

History of Flyball in the USA.

Breed Restrictions
A breed in flyball is a KC registered breed. However there are exceptions, for example any cross-breed is classified as a single breed and a Border Collie/Working Sheepdog is classified as another single breed

Cleverdogs
Basically a fun event in which a dog has to complete a short course of agility equipment followed by a run up and down the flyball lane.

Mini-Maxi Pairs
Team of two dogs of which one must have a shoulder height of < 16 inches

Mixed Pairs
Team of two dogs which must be of different breeds

Multibreed
a team, which when racing consist of four dogs of different breeds (see Breed Restrictions)

Open Pairs
Team of two dogs which can be of the same breed

This is the organisation in Great Britain which promotes international flyball racing, based on the rules from North America where flyball originated some 15 years ago. As a member you receive the Flyball Record and are entitled to accumulate points at competitions in order for your dog to gain his/her flyball title.

Current Titles Available:

BFA flyball is a fast team sport. Each dog runs in turn over four jumps, triggers the box which releases a ball and then returns over the four jumps carrying the ball. Any dog which makes a mistake should re-run as the last dog. Four dogs participate in any one leg, although one or two extra "spare" dogs are permitted to be swapped in between legs. A race usually consists of three or five legs. Two teams race against each other and it is the fastest "clear" team which wins the leg.

Competition Format
Competitions are usually classed as "open" or "multibreed", although "starters" and other fun classes are also held, together with mixed pairs, mini/maxi pairs, open pairs and singles shoot outs. In most competitions the teams are seeded according to their fastest recent times in competition. If the team has not run in competition during the preceding three months, then a seeded time must be declared by the team captain. This means that racing may be split into divisions according to time. If there are not too many teams competing, a "double elimination" format may be used, where having been beaten twice, a team is then placed in a division for a "round robin" consolation competition. The teams which are "out" first go into the lowest division etc.

Racing Lanes
The dimensions are very important - 6' from the start line to the first jump, 10' between jumps and 15' from the last jump to the front of the box. Additionally markers are placed at various intervals back from the start line to enable the handler to judge the changeovers which are perhaps the most important part of the race.

Box
The BFA flyball box is totally different to the KC flyball box. The dog actually turns using the box which is specially designed to reduce the impact. Shock absorbent padding and the curved front are important safety features. Boxes can have 1, 2 or 3 holes for the ball. The box loader must keep his hands behind his back and stand up during the race (except when loading the balls) but may use verbal encouragement.

Balls
Standard (unpunctured) tennis balls are used, although "mini." and "midi" balls are acceptable for our smaller friends. Balls may not be thrown in competition. Jump Height The jump height is 4" below the shoulder height of the smallest dog running in the leg (such "height" dogs must be measured by the judge), with the proviso that the jumps must be betveen 8" and 16". For safety the top slat is either made of bendy plastic or covered with protective foam. In KC flyball the jump height is fixed at 12".

Changeovers
As speed is of the essence, it is important that the dogs "cross" nose to nose on the start line. It takes a great deal of practice to build up the dog's confidence and for the handler to know when and from what distance to let the dog go. For example, some handlers will release their dogs 50' back from the start line when the preceding dog is jumping the first jump on the return run.

Electronic Starting and Change Over Lights
As BFA flyball is such a fast sport, it is impossible to judge the starts and changeovers by eye. An electronic system has been developed which can judge false starts and early changes, as well as providing a very accurate timing system.

for more info, please contact michelle