Where: Normandy Common – Football Ground When: Saturday Mornings
Flyball is a dog sport involving a relay race between two teams of four dogs. The race is run over four hurdles, followed by a spring-loaded box that releases a tennis ball when a dog steps on it and then back to the start/finish line. The race’s objective is for each dog on the team to jump over the hurdles, trigger the box to release the ball, catch the ball, and then return to the start/finish line. The first team to have all four dogs complete the course without any errors wins the race.
Flyball can be a benefit for your furry companion’s fitness and health. Regular exercise through flyball can help your dog maintain a healthy weight, build strong muscles and bones, and boost their cardiovascular health.
Flyball involves problem-solving, learning new skills, and the dog and handler working as a team. This mental stimulation can help prevent boredom and behavioural problems, such as destructive chewing and separation anxiety.
Flyball can provide opportunities for dogs to socialise with other dogs and people. This can help build confidence, reduce anxiety, and improve their overall behaviour.
Flyball can be a great way for owners to bond with their dogs. By working together as a team, owners and dogs can develop a stronger relationship based on trust, communication, and mutual respect.
I got my first dog, Megan, in my late twenties. She was (and still is) quite a handful; as I searched for ways to stimulate my active Border Collie, I discovered flyball. While I had tried agility, I found that I preferred the team aspect of flyball, as well as the excitement of racing against another team. After four years of competing and being very successful as a team, I got another dog and trained him with the knowledge I had gained from my experiences with Megan.
Monty, a Border Collie Huntaway cross, is just as active as my first and equally vocal when racing!
A couple of years after Monty, my partner and I went to Many Tears Rescue to volunteer for the day. It was there that I saw Gemma, another Border Collie. I fostered Gemma, and when she returned after being rehomed for a short while, I decided she would stay. She was a very nervous dog but is now a testament to the transformative effect of a dog sport. Now she gets rather excited at doing a box turn and running with her teammates!
I started working at Many Tears animal rescue in Wales when I was just 13 years old, and I continued working there until I left the area to attend University. I loved being around dogs and horses and taking care of them. I had the opportunity to experience so many different breeds and their unique personalities during my time there.
In 2016, I fostered and adopted my best friend, Jasper, with whom I had an instant connection. On a brief return to Many Tears for their annual show, I met a couple who told me about Flyball and a club near my new University. I decided to give it a try. After attending a taster, I was hooked and have been involved in Flyball ever since.
I also have a Dachshund named Frank, another Flyball star in the making!
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