Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Flyball dogs... fast, fit, and healthy
Once you have joined a flyball dogs club and started to enjoy the fun and camaraderie... both for the dogs and humans alike, you will want to ensure you both stay fit and healthy.
Your pet will need to be fast and accurate for flyball. He or she will also need to be fit and healthy. To maintain their optimum health and fitness you need to have them checked by your veterinarian to see that they are fit to compete. You will also need to ensure that they receive optimum nutrition.
Ask advice on the best foods from either your vet or fellow flyball club members [or both]... with all the exciting exercise they will get at flyball I doubt you will have any problems with weight control!
Your pet will need to be fast and accurate for flyball. He or she will also need to be fit and healthy. To maintain their optimum health and fitness you need to have them checked by your veterinarian to see that they are fit to compete. You will also need to ensure that they receive optimum nutrition.
Ask advice on the best foods from either your vet or fellow flyball club members [or both]... with all the exciting exercise they will get at flyball I doubt you will have any problems with weight control!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Obedience for flyball?
Right from the beginning when you first meet your dog, whether this meeting is as a young pup, or a rescue dog [of any age], trained or untrained... you must begin your own personal obedience training with the puppy/dog.
Obviously there will be great differences between 'training' a fully grown dog, a puppy, or a 'mentally scarred' rescue animal which has suffered previous cruel treatment.
Training time scales will be entirely different, as will what can be expected. But one thing should be consistent... you should act as leader of the pack!
Should you require further reading on becoming the leader using positive reinforcement training, I will add a link to a first-class book. I would recommend this book to all animal lovers.
It is a real boon in helping to understand ill-treated rescue dogs too. You'll find the link at the bottom of this page... do check it out, I wouldn't be without it!
Basic obedience commands come first for the sake of your pets own safety, enjoying further activities [like flyball dogs] together cannot be safely undertaken until you have control of your dog... and for all of this to occur your dog will need to recognise you as the leader of its pack, and will need total confidence in you as its leader [and boss].
For flyball your dog will need to be self-reliant, it will need to be obedient, to listen well to commands, it will also need to be quick to start, and good at jumping. It will need to catch the ball efficiently, to learn what is required of it quickly, as in triggering the box for the ball, and, perhaps most importantly, it will have to be able to be focussed intensely on what it is supposed to be doing!
Reward based training is normally the method of choice for handlers who want to get the best out of their canine companions.
Who would you want to return to, someone who shouted at you when you eventually returned, or someone who gave you a treat? And if you got a treat, wouldn't you return sooner next time?
Reward training works best for your dog and it will cement a lovely working relationship between you within a short period of time.
The next question which is often asked is... what form of reward or treat is best?
The answer, I'm afraid, is that there is no one 'one size fits all' answer to that question! All dogs are different, some are food motivated, some go for toys, others just love to go a walk, still others will love kind words and praise or being stroked, patted, and rubbed. For many though a bit of praise which is reinforced by a food treat is the ideal.
The only thing to bear in mind when using food as the reward is that you don't want your dog to get overweight... so take care in the selection of your treat food. It isn't wise to use dog biscuits or similar commercial treats - it is far better to go for something like cheese, liver, or sausage.
Choose something which it is practical and hygenic to carry around with you... I know of dogs who love baby tomatoes, and we had dogs who just loved blackberries, another who could never resist rosehips, and also a 'bananaholic'.
If you are looking for a video course, rather than a book, just look for the link to Dove Cresswells course, or for another highly recommended online course check out SitStayFetch... you'll find links to both courses in our left-hand margin. If you bought all three you'd be set up for life... and would soon be teaching other people yourself!
Obviously there will be great differences between 'training' a fully grown dog, a puppy, or a 'mentally scarred' rescue animal which has suffered previous cruel treatment.
Training time scales will be entirely different, as will what can be expected. But one thing should be consistent... you should act as leader of the pack!
Should you require further reading on becoming the leader using positive reinforcement training, I will add a link to a first-class book. I would recommend this book to all animal lovers.
It is a real boon in helping to understand ill-treated rescue dogs too. You'll find the link at the bottom of this page... do check it out, I wouldn't be without it!
Basic obedience commands come first for the sake of your pets own safety, enjoying further activities [like flyball dogs] together cannot be safely undertaken until you have control of your dog... and for all of this to occur your dog will need to recognise you as the leader of its pack, and will need total confidence in you as its leader [and boss].
For flyball your dog will need to be self-reliant, it will need to be obedient, to listen well to commands, it will also need to be quick to start, and good at jumping. It will need to catch the ball efficiently, to learn what is required of it quickly, as in triggering the box for the ball, and, perhaps most importantly, it will have to be able to be focussed intensely on what it is supposed to be doing!
Reward based training is normally the method of choice for handlers who want to get the best out of their canine companions.
Who would you want to return to, someone who shouted at you when you eventually returned, or someone who gave you a treat? And if you got a treat, wouldn't you return sooner next time?
Reward training works best for your dog and it will cement a lovely working relationship between you within a short period of time.
The next question which is often asked is... what form of reward or treat is best?
The answer, I'm afraid, is that there is no one 'one size fits all' answer to that question! All dogs are different, some are food motivated, some go for toys, others just love to go a walk, still others will love kind words and praise or being stroked, patted, and rubbed. For many though a bit of praise which is reinforced by a food treat is the ideal.
The only thing to bear in mind when using food as the reward is that you don't want your dog to get overweight... so take care in the selection of your treat food. It isn't wise to use dog biscuits or similar commercial treats - it is far better to go for something like cheese, liver, or sausage.
Choose something which it is practical and hygenic to carry around with you... I know of dogs who love baby tomatoes, and we had dogs who just loved blackberries, another who could never resist rosehips, and also a 'bananaholic'.
If you are looking for a video course, rather than a book, just look for the link to Dove Cresswells course, or for another highly recommended online course check out SitStayFetch... you'll find links to both courses in our left-hand margin. If you bought all three you'd be set up for life... and would soon be teaching other people yourself!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
How to start your pet in Flyball
So you have watched flyball dogs and think your pet might enjoy it!
The first thing you must do is join a club. [I will add some useful addresses at the bottom of this article.]
If you need to travel to get to your nearest flyball club... always remember the regulation rules for travelling with dogs... take plenty of water and a bowl, take plenty of treats [and food if that will become due whilst you are out], and take plenty of plastic bags to clean up after your pet.
Once you have joined a club you will begin to practice with your pet... then I can guarantee you will never beat the sheer thrill you'll feel when your dog manages to put it all together for the first time. This first success will represent a great deal of time and work from both you, and your dog. Now it is only onwards and upwards!
Before you consider joining in all the fun of flyball you must have a totally reliable and obedient pet... we have links in our left-hand column to the best online training, and a link to the best book within our articles... should you require any help in this area.
Find information with regard to clubs which are local to you at the following links...
The Kennel Club, UK
The Kennel Club America
Australian Kennel Club
The Canadian Kennel Club
Irish Kennel Club
The Kennel Club Italy
Swedish Kennel Club
List of National Kennel Clubs... some not mentioned above
The first thing you must do is join a club. [I will add some useful addresses at the bottom of this article.]
If you need to travel to get to your nearest flyball club... always remember the regulation rules for travelling with dogs... take plenty of water and a bowl, take plenty of treats [and food if that will become due whilst you are out], and take plenty of plastic bags to clean up after your pet.
Once you have joined a club you will begin to practice with your pet... then I can guarantee you will never beat the sheer thrill you'll feel when your dog manages to put it all together for the first time. This first success will represent a great deal of time and work from both you, and your dog. Now it is only onwards and upwards!
Before you consider joining in all the fun of flyball you must have a totally reliable and obedient pet... we have links in our left-hand column to the best online training, and a link to the best book within our articles... should you require any help in this area.
Find information with regard to clubs which are local to you at the following links...
The Kennel Club, UK
The Kennel Club America
Australian Kennel Club
The Canadian Kennel Club
Irish Kennel Club
The Kennel Club Italy
Swedish Kennel Club
List of National Kennel Clubs... some not mentioned above
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Do dogs enjoy flyball?
People often ask... Do dogs enjoy flyball?
My answer is always the same... go and watch flyball dogs. Go to a club. Go to a show. Watch some television coverage of flyball dogs.
Whether you watch flyball 'live' or on the television... you will be able to 'feel' the excitement of the dogs. Yelps and barks of excitement grow as the dogs realise it is soon going to be their turn. Trainers/handlers have to shout to communicate over the canine commotion!
The two teams line up with four dogs per team, and handlers have to hold back each excited doggy participant... the excitement infects more than just the dogs... the spectators won't be able to help themselves, and they'll all yell encouragement too!
Flyball racing is fast and exciting for all involved. When the dogs line up for the flyball heats, every dog is so eager to compete that the handlers have difficulty in holding each dog back behind the start line.
When the whistle goes for the start... you can actually feel the excitement. Once you have watched flyball... you'll never question whether the dogs enjoy flyball, ever again!
My answer is always the same... go and watch flyball dogs. Go to a club. Go to a show. Watch some television coverage of flyball dogs.
Whether you watch flyball 'live' or on the television... you will be able to 'feel' the excitement of the dogs. Yelps and barks of excitement grow as the dogs realise it is soon going to be their turn. Trainers/handlers have to shout to communicate over the canine commotion!
The two teams line up with four dogs per team, and handlers have to hold back each excited doggy participant... the excitement infects more than just the dogs... the spectators won't be able to help themselves, and they'll all yell encouragement too!
Flyball racing is fast and exciting for all involved. When the dogs line up for the flyball heats, every dog is so eager to compete that the handlers have difficulty in holding each dog back behind the start line.
When the whistle goes for the start... you can actually feel the excitement. Once you have watched flyball... you'll never question whether the dogs enjoy flyball, ever again!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Flyball dogs at CRUFTS
Crufts dog show is held each year in the early Spring [March] and is the pinnacle to which a pedigree dog and its owner strives for the whole of the previous year. To reach Crufts, qualifying points have to be achieved in accordance with kennel club rules, in a number of ranking shows.
As for the pedigree dog show, so for the flyball dogs, [and agility, obedience, etcetera]... qualifying rounds, shows, and points have to be gained... so that, in the end, only a certain number of teams end up representing their sport at the actual Crufts Flyball competition.
For the pedigree section, dogs from all over the UK, plus many from overseas, qualify for their particular breed and once qualified... the hard work begins all over again.
Each owner must get their dog to the peak of health, fitness, and breed standard at just the right time for the show. The dogs must be kept free from injury, away from fights, exercised correctly and groomed to perfection. Then it is a matter of finding a professional to 'show' the dog, or learning how to 'do it yourself' like a professional.
Each breed of dog is judged individually by a judge who specialises in that particular breed, although there are some judges who are 'all-rounders' and will be knowledgeable about many breeds.
Once the top dog and bitch of that particular breed have been chosen, then one has to be picked as the best overall to represent that breed in the particular group to which they belong.
Groups include... Gundogs, for example Spaniels, Pointers... Hounds, for example Bloodhounds, Greyhounds, Basset... Terriers, for example Fox Terriers, Bedlington... Toy Dogs, for example Maltese, Chihuahua... Working dogs, for example Newfoundland, Collies, St Bernard... Utility, for example Poodle, Dalmation and Bulldog.
I know that once the top dog in each individual breed reaches the Group Final it is supposed to be judged according to how well it matches its own breed standard... but there is such a diversity within each group, and a judge must surely have a preference for a particular type of dog... that the whole thing seems rather unfair to me!
Maybe it's because I am totally prejudiced in favour of larger dogs, short-haired dogs, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks in particular... they seem to have more personality, they can be idle, crafty, clever and wise, devoted to their families, and their own stomachs, to name just a few of their character traits!
But once we have 'gotten over' our disappointments on which breed represents our own particular favourite group... then remember there is SO much more to Crufts dog show, even when you just view the TV coverage and can't attend in person, than the Best of Breed, Group Champion, and then Show Champion sections.
The 'dancing dogs' are always a highlight for me, such control! Mary Ray is mesmerizing. Then there are the obedience classes, and of course the sheer speed and excitement of the Flyball, the excitement of the flyball dogs is truly infectious, and who can forget the control and agility of the dogs [and owners] in the heats and finals of the Agility itself.
Flyball dogs... like agility, it's SPORT for dogs
Flyball, like agility, is SPORT for dogs.
It is a team sport and was invented in the USA... California to be precise... in the late 70's - so, at around the same time as Agility was first introduced at Crufts in the UK.
What is flyball? A brief explanation follows, for those who have never seen flyball dogs...
Four dogs comprise the flyball dogs team [obviously a team will have a couple of reserves in case of injuries, etcetera] and they work in a RELAY.
The flyball course is comprised of a starting line, behind which all dogs and handlers congregate [and handlers and non-competing dogs must stay]. Then in each lane you have four hurdles spaced 10 feet apart over the course... [the height of the hurdles is set to be 4" below the shoulder height of the smallest dog in a team]... and at the far end of the course there is a 'BOX'.
The first dog must jump the hurdles, then step on the pedal of the spring loaded 'flyball box' and catch the tennis ball which is shot out from it - then run back over the hurdles in its own lane to its handler... once it re-crosses the start line the next dog in the team can go... until all four dogs in the team have completed the flyball course.
Flyball is fast, furious and extremely exciting.
The dogs have to be fast AND accurate. Both are equally important, as if the ball is missed it has to be retrieved, so valuable time is lost.
Flyball competitions are normally run with two teams against each other, and normally are the best of three [or 5] runs per team. Losing flyball teams are eliminated, winners go on to the next round, until just two teams remain.
These two teams will compete to win the flyball dogs final and receive the winners trophy... just imagine the noise and excitement when it gets to this final stage!
It is a team sport and was invented in the USA... California to be precise... in the late 70's - so, at around the same time as Agility was first introduced at Crufts in the UK.
What is flyball? A brief explanation follows, for those who have never seen flyball dogs...
Four dogs comprise the flyball dogs team [obviously a team will have a couple of reserves in case of injuries, etcetera] and they work in a RELAY.
The flyball course is comprised of a starting line, behind which all dogs and handlers congregate [and handlers and non-competing dogs must stay]. Then in each lane you have four hurdles spaced 10 feet apart over the course... [the height of the hurdles is set to be 4" below the shoulder height of the smallest dog in a team]... and at the far end of the course there is a 'BOX'.
The first dog must jump the hurdles, then step on the pedal of the spring loaded 'flyball box' and catch the tennis ball which is shot out from it - then run back over the hurdles in its own lane to its handler... once it re-crosses the start line the next dog in the team can go... until all four dogs in the team have completed the flyball course.
Flyball is fast, furious and extremely exciting.
The dogs have to be fast AND accurate. Both are equally important, as if the ball is missed it has to be retrieved, so valuable time is lost.
Flyball competitions are normally run with two teams against each other, and normally are the best of three [or 5] runs per team. Losing flyball teams are eliminated, winners go on to the next round, until just two teams remain.
These two teams will compete to win the flyball dogs final and receive the winners trophy... just imagine the noise and excitement when it gets to this final stage!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Flyball Dogs... news and info
Wow, flyball dogs! Have you ever seen flyball... either live, or on TV? For sheer excitement nothing can touch flyball. Our pets are jumping up and down with excitement, the handlers themselves are excited, and the atmosphere at the show or club is just electric! If you can stand the supercharged atmosphere, flyball could be just what you're looking for.
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