Flyball was invented at the end of the 1970s. As legend would have it, Herbert Wagner held the first demonstration on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, filmed in California and aired to an audience of millions of Americans. From the beginning of the 1980s, the sport has been very popular and official competitions have been organized throughout North America. In 1984 canine sport professionals founded an organization called the North American Flyball Association (NAFA). It still represents the authority and world reference for Flyball. In Great Britain, the sport has taken longer to develop. The first competition only took place in 1991 and in 1993 the British Flyball Association was founded, based on the model of the NAFA. Its goal, like that of NAFA, is to establish regulations and oversee all official competitions.
Flyball has therefore rapidly developed over the last twenty years in English-speaking countries (United States, Canada, England, Australia). In France, however, the activity is not yet recognized and is generally considered more of a game suggested by canine clubs for dog owners.
The principle of Flyball is simple. It is a relay race in which two teams, each made of up of four or more dogs, compete in identical courses that are placed side by side. To complete the relay, each dog must bring a ball to the handler.
THE COURSE
There are three important elements on the field:
- a line that serves as the starting line and the finish line;
- four identical hurdles, the height of which must be between 10 and 18 inches (depending on the height at the withers for the smallest dog in the group). These hurdles are each placed 10 feet apart. The first hurdle is placed 6 feet from the starting line and the last is 10-15 feet from the box;
- a Flyball box: this contains a device on a spring that allows the dog to release a tennis ball using a pedal.
In countries where Flyball is popular (United States, Canada, England, Australia, Belgium), many professionals have invented different types of boxes especially adapted for Flyball. The most commonly used boxes in these countries are characterized by a concave front that allows the dog to turn much faster while catching the ball, like swimmers.
PROGRAM OF THE TRIALS
During official competitions, the first dogs are positioned on the starting line. Upon the judges signal, the two dogs start. They jump the four hurdles. Once they arrive at the box, they press the pedal to make a ball come out, catch it mid-air to lose as little time as possible. Then they return to their respective masters by jumping the same four hurdles on their way back, bringing the ball. Once the last hurdle has been jumped, the next dog on their team starts.
The clock stops when the last competitor on a team completes the course.
Flyball is truly a test of speed. The best dogs take less than 20 seconds to complete the course. The current world record is 16.7 seconds.
ADVANTAGES OF FLYBALL
This sport has numerous advantages, which have surely contributed to its success in English-speaking countries.
First of all, Flyball is open to all dogs, regardless of their origin, breed, or size. And, unlike in agility competitions, the master does not need to run alongside the dog, which makes the sport accessible to older and handicapped owners.
It is a very simple, non-technical game that requires practically no training. The dog mainly becomes conditioned to the sport. The hardest thing to teach the dog is to press the pedal to make the ball come out!
Flyball therefore allows the master to improve the relationship he has with his dog, and also allows his companion to perform a minimum of physical exercise. This is a game - a fun activity that can easily be enjoyed in urban areas.
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