Flyball is a dog sport that involves a team of four dogs racing against other teams. No, it is not a matter of speed alone. It involves perfect synchronization between four handlers and four dogs. The dogs jump over hurdles to reach a box that releases a ball to be caught when the dog presses a spring-loaded pad. The dog then races back over the hurdles to the handler carrying the ball.
The sport traces its origins to California in the late 1960s. As popularity grew and people got involved in the sport, competition crept in. The first Flyball tournament began in 1983 in the Continental United States and has now expanded into South Africa, Australia and Europe. National tournaments in Europe led to the holding of European championships that are the largest events in terms of teams and participation.
Unlike some dog sports, which allow only purebreds and pedigree dogs to compete, Flyball is open to any dog irrespective of age, gender or other considerations. Some breeds like Border Collies that love to put in efforts and expend energy are ideally suited to this sport. The team may consist of four dogs of various sizes and breeds. The height of the hurdles are based on the height of the smallest dog (and the height of the hurdles varies with organizers) in the team and having one small dog and three large dogs offers the team a slight advantage.
The competition involves a team of four dogs and their handlers. Each handler releases the dog that then goes on to jump over four hurdles and presses a spring-loaded pad. On pressing the pad, a tennis ball is released which the dog needs to carry after retracing its journey over the hurdles to its handler. The entire course is 51 foot in length from the start line to the flyball box. The first hurdle is 6-feet from the start line and each subsequent hurdle is 10 feet further down the course. The flyball box is 15-feet from the last hurdle. Like in a relay race, the first dog sets off and sprints across the hurdles and grabs the ball and returns. Only when the first dog carries the ball past the starting line, shall the next dog cross the starting line. Teams practice so that both dogs are nose-to-nose when they reach the start line. The first team to have all dogs successfully complete the course wins the race. The participating dogs earn titles and awards based on the performance of their team.
As the sport spreads and more people and dogs enter the fray, new innovative scientific methods of training have been developed. However, the objective of the sport remains unchanged – allowing dogs and handlers to enjoy each other’s company and a way to keep fit.