Help
Heya,
Just had a chat to someone yesterday who is considering setting up a flyball club here and asked me to join. I've only ever watched it and don't know much about it but have a ball obsessed kelpie that would love to do it. I mentioned my kelpie and she told me that a kelpie is too big and only little dogs can go in it and told me I should bring my JRT instead. My JRT has nil interest in chasing toys or balls so I was disappointed. However, I watched a video today though and it showed border collies and aussies doing it. Was that a special case and is there a height restriction or was she incorrect and I can take my kelpie?
Flyball Height Restriction?
Top
#2
Posted 29 March 2013 - 07:13 PM
Load of BS.
ANY dog can do flyball, the sport is mostly dominated by the herding breeds, I would say 90% are a herding breed!
Little dogs are generally sought after as it brings down the height for the whole team but not essential as long as a dog is taught to jump height. I have an 11inch height dog so height dogs don't even have to be tiny.
Our club has tiny little 7inch dogs as well as the biggest dog in Victoria doing it and she is a Maremma cross BC (at a guess, she is the height of a Maremma!), with all different sizes and breeds in the middle
ANY dog can do flyball, the sport is mostly dominated by the herding breeds, I would say 90% are a herding breed!
Little dogs are generally sought after as it brings down the height for the whole team but not essential as long as a dog is taught to jump height. I have an 11inch height dog so height dogs don't even have to be tiny.
Our club has tiny little 7inch dogs as well as the biggest dog in Victoria doing it and she is a Maremma cross BC (at a guess, she is the height of a Maremma!), with all different sizes and breeds in the middle
This post has been edited by tollersowned: 29 March 2013 - 07:15 PM
#3
Posted 29 March 2013 - 07:23 PM
Perhaps look at some training video on youtube of "Swimmers turns" so that when you go to training you have a bit of an idea of what you are doing (so you know the person is training your dog safely). There are a number of different methods but the aim is to get all 4 feet up on the box as the dog turns to minimise any joint trauma that may happen if the dog "slams" into the box instead.
Good luck- My Kelpies LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE flyball!!!!
Good luck- My Kelpies LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE flyball!!!!
#6
Posted 29 March 2013 - 07:40 PM
No worries lisa, the lady is just getting it started so once it's a definite go I will let you know. I'll tell her you're interested though. it'll be in Coota most likely.
And thanks everyone else. My kelpie is an insane jumper, I'm taking her in the kelpie dash and high jump next year at Casterton hopefully, so I thought flyball would be right up her alley since, she jumps, has speed and likes balls. I was quite surprised when the lady said she was too big.
And thanks everyone else. My kelpie is an insane jumper, I'm taking her in the kelpie dash and high jump next year at Casterton hopefully, so I thought flyball would be right up her alley since, she jumps, has speed and likes balls. I was quite surprised when the lady said she was too big.
This post has been edited by mixeduppup: 29 March 2013 - 07:41 PM
#7
Posted 29 March 2013 - 07:49 PM
The lady had no idea what she was talking about ;). My Clover (rest her dear soul) was a 30 kilo rottie x who did Flyball for years. Friends Am Bulldog, and Rottie x also competed for years, both who were and are not little dogs. Oh and both my older BC's and JRT competed for years. So definitely a sport for all sizes if taught correctly.
#8
Posted 29 March 2013 - 08:13 PM
mixeduppup, on 29 March 2013 - 07:40 PM, said:
No worries lisa, the lady is just getting it started so once it's a definite go I will let you know. I'll tell her you're interested though. it'll be in Coota most likely.
And thanks everyone else. My kelpie is an insane jumper, I'm taking her in the kelpie dash and high jump next year at Casterton hopefully, so I thought flyball would be right up her alley since, she jumps, has speed and likes balls. I was quite surprised when the lady said she was too big.
And thanks everyone else. My kelpie is an insane jumper, I'm taking her in the kelpie dash and high jump next year at Casterton hopefully, so I thought flyball would be right up her alley since, she jumps, has speed and likes balls. I was quite surprised when the lady said she was too big.
What dogs does this lady have then? I would be very curious to know where she got the idea that only little dogs compete? She is going to be in for a massive shock if she ever goes to a flyball comp
#9
Posted 29 March 2013 - 08:19 PM
tollersowned, on 29 March 2013 - 08:13 PM, said:
mixeduppup, on 29 March 2013 - 07:40 PM, said:
No worries lisa, the lady is just getting it started so once it's a definite go I will let you know. I'll tell her you're interested though. it'll be in Coota most likely.
And thanks everyone else. My kelpie is an insane jumper, I'm taking her in the kelpie dash and high jump next year at Casterton hopefully, so I thought flyball would be right up her alley since, she jumps, has speed and likes balls. I was quite surprised when the lady said she was too big.
And thanks everyone else. My kelpie is an insane jumper, I'm taking her in the kelpie dash and high jump next year at Casterton hopefully, so I thought flyball would be right up her alley since, she jumps, has speed and likes balls. I was quite surprised when the lady said she was too big.
What dogs does this lady have then? I would be very curious to know where she got the idea that only little dogs compete? She is going to be in for a massive shock if she ever goes to a flyball comp
She has borders (on the smaller side), which is what confused me.
#13
Posted 29 March 2013 - 09:36 PM
Years ago I did flyball with my old Dobe. He was fantastic at it and speed wise he was not that far behind the fastest of the BC's. we competed at the Sydney Royal and also did demos at the Pet Expo etc. he was the biggest dog in our club but certainly not the biggest dog we saw competing. A Kelpie is a great size and would be great at flyball
#14
Posted 30 March 2013 - 05:40 AM
the smallest dog on the team set the jump height, which can equate to a faster team, this means that many teams consist of a bunch of medium to big dogs and 1 height dog to drop the jump height for the whole team. so for example if you have a team of 4 border collies, you have a jump height of 14-16", this can slow the whole team down, so if you take away one of those BCs and replace it with a JRT suddenly the whole team is jumping 8" shaving precious seconds off the teams time. "only small dogs can play" is just a bunch of malarkey lol, fast small dogs are sought after but hardly required lol
