My dog is small. Does that help or hinder?
It helps enormously. Hurdle height for the whole team is set by the smallest dog, so a small, fast dog is a highly sought-after asset.
Discs, balls and retrieving
Flyball
The only genuine team sport in the dog world: four dogs in relay, four hurdles, a box that fires out a ball. Loud, extremely fast, with an atmosphere unlike anything else.
About the discipline
What flyball is
Flyball is run as a relay between two teams of four dogs, on parallel lanes. Each dog clears four hurdles, reaches a box with a pedal, presses it, catches the launched ball and returns over the same hurdles.
The next dog leaves exactly as the previous one crosses the start line. Good teams cut that changeover to hundredths of a second.
Hurdle height is set by the smallest dog in the team. That is why teams are always looking for a small, fast dog, affectionately nicknamed the height dog.
How it works in practice
How a race works
- two teams of four dogs, on parallel lanes
- four hurdles to clear, out and back
- a box with a pedal that launches the ball
- changeovers at the start line, electronically timed
- hurdle height set by the smallest dog
- the team that finishes first without faults wins
Which dogs it suits
- fast dogs that adore a ball
- dogs that cope well around other excited dogs
- teams looking for a social, club-based sport
The atmosphere is extremely loud. A noise-sensitive or dog-reactive dog will not enjoy it.
What you need
- a flyball box and adjustable hurdles
- balls of a suitable size
- membership of a club team
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Flyball
Is it suitable for a reactive dog?
Rarely. You work on parallel lanes, with other dogs running metres away, amid considerable noise. There is a lot of social pressure.
How fast is it?
Top teams finish the relay in under 16 seconds, changeovers included. It is the fastest team sport in the dog world.
From the same category
Related sports
Treibball
The dog drives large balls towards a goal.
Pushball
Controlled pushing of a large ball towards a target.
Dock Diving
Jumping from a dock into water after a toy.
Air Retrieve
The dog leaps to grab an object suspended over water.
We do not run Flyball
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.