D fastest sport in town - Flyball

Flyball 101
Sport invented 4 speed junkies who luv 2 hurtle over jumps 2 catch a ball popping out from a wooden box contraption. Run over a distance of 102' in relay teams of 4 dogs n is pretty much over in 20 - 30 secs. Current world record is less den 16 secs which works out 2 bout 4 secs per dog, bloody fast!

Hurdles r set at 4" below d withers of ur shortest team member subject 2 a minimum of 8". So shorties n pocket dynamites r more den welcomed in any team.



'0 - 60 in 6 secs ... '

Most challenging elements:

Single step jump: constant leaping motion over hurdles without taking additional steps ... very much like a bouncing kangaroo.

'Oi, u mind letting go of d ball ...'

Swimmer's turn: angled leap onto flyball box 2 catch ball + 180 turn + push off d box ... all executed in 1 sweeping motion.

Return: with ball in mouth, need 2 maintain d same speed n momentum during return over d hurdles.

Changeover: perfectly timed 'passing of baton' ie. ven d returning dog's nose n d next runner's nose crossover at d start/finish line at d same time.

Owners hv got it easy coz dey just hv 2 stand at d start line n cheer like mad. Can get pretty noisy ven 2 teams r racing against each other n owners r yelling demselves hoarse.

Flyball sessions
'Jojo on d go!'

' Jojo going, going, gone ...'

Nov 2005 - Russell n Jojo invited me over 4 d 1st session with deir spanking new flyball box made by deir resourceful humans. Possibly d 1st ever flyball box n practice run in M’sia, cool. Since I was really fond of catching tennis balls, took 2 d sport like fish 2 water n pretty much figured out dat d ball was going 2 pop out from d hole in d box. Just hd 2 stamp ur paws on d release panel n its flyball time!

'Flyball rule no.1 & 2: Dun look behind u n dun drop d ball.'

Jojo went a step further n figured out dat d ball cld also b retrieved from behind d box, where all d spare balls r kept … wat did I say bout mongrels being smarter den other breeds. Great fun n speed involved but need 2 work on my return sequence over d hurdles, coz seem 2 slow down somewat whenever I hv a ball in mouth. Loose balls phobia, perhaps. Click on video sites on d right of dis page if u wish 2 c 3 mutts attempting flyball on amateur nite.

'Do not disturb, I'm in full concentration mode ...'

Due to several demos, doggie events n agility trials, flyball practice hs bn infrequent. But v r back 2 speed again n even managed to showcase d sport on a couple of occasions including Dogathon 2006. Still running a 3 dog relay team n need 2 work on ball catching skills n swift returns. Henna n Piper look like good bets 4 joining our flyball team, both being certified ball addicts as well. V hope 2 hv a complete demo team n decent runs come d PetnU Dog Carnival in Nov. Watch out 4 flying dogs n flyballs den.

Hope 2 get enuf mates to form 2 relay teams, den v cn hv a real race! But v’ll also b needing 2 flyball boxes den … ok, 1 step at a time. Am scouting around 4 more greyhound aspirants, so paws up any1?

Just 4 d record, our current runs r timed at 6.5 - 8.5 secs per dog.