Height dog

Run - did you say there was any running in flyball - that would be the dogs, the humans only need a good set of lungs so they can yell over the barking!

While some people run to get their dog to run faster there is actually no need to move. The level of energy expended is really up to you. At the comps we go to there are lots of very large people, a few in wheelchairs and a guy with calipers. Quite a few people switch from agility to flyball because of injuries. You really just need to be steady and be able to release and catch your dog at the start and end - the rest of the time you spend screaming at your dog 'go go go' or 'over over over'! Okay, probably one other skill - timing your release of the dog.
 
Maybe I shouldn't have said run - but I blew a tendon in my ankle almost three years ago and it wasn't dealt with right at the time. Now it is difficult and extremely painful some days for me to stand for any length of time (especially on concrete or similar hard surface) or to even walk. I know Emma would love flyball - she is such a natural at returning the ball. I never had to teach her the meaning of fetch!
 
Get a chair!! They have some very lightweight portable ones. Also, I'm dsure you aren't acticely engaged 100% of the time. It is probably like many things - hurry up and wait!
 
Lovely said:
Get a chair!! They have some very lightweight portable ones. Also, I'm dsure you aren't acticely engaged 100% of the time. It is probably like many things - hurry up and wait!
Click to expand...

You're right. You are actually only in the ring for four heats with each heat lasting less than 30 seconds. From start to finish takes less than five minutes (counting waiting on the judge etc.)
 
Sorry but sometimes sitting with the foot on the cement is painful. I really did a number on it and the surgeon I saw just fluffed it off. Unfortunately, there are days when I have to have it up as much as possible and I never know when that will happen. Compound that with arthritis suffered for over 40 years and I am a mess.

I really enjoy watching the flyball and know that the height of the jumps depends on the little dog.
 
Although last comp Deska's team was in the ring for 20 min! The other team had so many fouls and cross overs the judge (who was still in training) spent most of the time writing up penalties. Poor other team was all green dogs and it was getting toward the end of the day. Having a small dog is a pain in the back sometimes (from all that bending over), so I parked my butt on the ground and we all sat around and had a natter. Flyball here is very casual.
 
Emmasmom said:
Sorry but sometimes sitting with the foot on the cement is painful. I really did a number on it and the surgeon I saw just fluffed it off. Unfortunately, there are days when I have to have it up as much as possible and I never know when that will happen. Compound that with arthritis suffered for over 40 years and I am a mess.

I really enjoy watching the flyball and know that the height of the jumps depends on the little dog.
Click to expand...

We all know our limits :) It's a sport to enjoy and I don't know how you would enjoy it if you were in pain..

I'll tell ya what I'll do though.. when (if!! hehe) Deja gets to run in a flyball tourney, I'll post a run in your honor!
 
First night and I'm hooked.

It was so cool!!! We brought Abbie and Duncan with us per their request. For some reason, I didn't think they would be doing anything and just sniffing the place out. We watched a fluffy Jack Russell practice - it was her third week and she was fabulous. Her dad has another flyball dog, though, so he really knows how to train her. Then, DH brought out Abbie to get her familiar with the set-up. She had zero ball drive with everything going on at the site. Then, they did recalls through the jumps (which were between a low adjustable fence and a wall, so jumping was really the only choice). She was slow but good at that. Duncan came out and instantly had ball drive and was vocal about not knowing what I wanted. He didn't like the little ramp thing at first, but for a treat, he'll do pretty much anything if he can figure it out. He didn't grab the ball off the velcro, but I think he'll get it eventually. He was amazing at the recall. He can really fly over those hurdles!

Then they did runs with their team. They were down a handler, so I got to do it! He was a good boy and I learned a lot about timing and how the lanes go.

They do practice by giving every dog at least two runs/practice sessions. So Duncan came out next. The team captain (are they called that?) loves him! Duncan is so spunky and is so smart, he is hard not to like. By the end of our ramp work, he was offering my hopping up on it. I've got to connect the ball to the ramp. He was lightning at the recalls. We were alternating Abbie and Dunc with the recalls and once, Duncan took off down the lane right after she had cleared it on his own and came back to me like, "I get it, what next?"

You are all right about the addiction. It kind of sucks because Duncan has more immediate talent for it and I think it will take Abbie much longer to come along. I had to remind us that Duncan has had 9 months of training with me, whereas Abbie has had all of a month of training.

One more thing - the trainer/captain lady had a Papillon! He wasn't her main competitive dog, but he was pretty good. She said that it took her two years to get him to really 'get' it! And now I know why I am waiting until I have one dog trained before I even start with Pierre. I get the feeling that short, fast, consistent dogs are highly valuable to a flyball team. Most of the dogs I saw to night where much bigger. The two little ones were a bit spazzy and not consistent. They were eying Duncan with quite a bit of excitement.
 
Sounds like you will be joining then! Its great the pups were ready to get started straight away - no stage fright then.

Dont worry about ball drive - Deska doesnt really have any either. But he loves to run and bark so loves flyball, the ball is just incidental.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top