How to Participate in Flyball

By Deana Case

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Dog
Training equipment
Ball
Target stick and mat
Training curriculum
Internet or phone
Dog
Flyball equipment
Water and bowl
Leash, treats and other training equipment

Obedience Training

Step 1:
Take your dog through a positive reinforcement obedience training program. Be sure to address paying attention to you and recall. Practice obedience training with distractions.
Step 2:
If your dog did not naturally pick up retrieving as a puppy, train him to do so. If he does not seem to understand, consult a professional trainer or pick up a book on the subject.
Step 3:
Teach your dog to target with his paw. Learning to "touch" is a great foundation behavior for dog sports and tricks.

Step 1:
Be sure your dog is physically sound by taking him for a thorough examination before participating in any dog sport.
Step 2:
Familiarize yourself with the rules of the North American Flyball Association if you are in the United States. There is also a British Flyball Association, a Belgian Flyball Association and an Australian Flyball Association. Find the rules that apply to your area.
Step 3:
Join a flyball association or team if there is one in your area. These groups usually have a trainer or two and they are very helpful to newcomers.
Step 4:
If there are no flyball groups in your area, try to find others who may be interested and start your own. You will need to purchase flyball boxes and hurdles.

Participate in Flyball

Step 1:
Familiarize your dog with what goes on during flyball practices and tournaments. Take him to a meet and just hang out together, play, have fun, and meet other flyball teams. If he seems a little nervous, just let him relax. Reassure him and make the experience fun.
Step 2:
Begin teaching your dog how to run the flyball course by beginning at the finish line. Teach him to release the ball to you there. Make it a very happy and rewarding experience to do so.
Step 3:
Familiarize your dog with the box. Let him sniff it. Toss balls in the air for him to catch near it.
Step 4:
Cue him to target the box so that it will eject a ball. Encourage him to bring you the ball at the finish line. Reward him.
Step 5:
Train your dog to jump one hurdle. Call him over it, reward him, cue him to target the box, call him to the finish line, cue him to release the ball.
Step 6:
Add another hurdle and repeat Step 5. Add the other two hurdles one at a time until all four are in place and your dog can run the course. You will them begin training for faster times.
Step 7:
If you have followed all of these steps you will be participating in flyball.

Tips & Warnings

Flyball is an off leash sport, do not use training that requires leash corrections.
Keep training fun, use playing with the ball as a reward.

Resources

Photo/Video Credit

photo used under license of stockxchange sxc.hu

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