"A Flyball run usually only takes 5 or so seconds to do - so what's the problem? It can't take very long to train a dog, surely!"

Unfortunately this is not the case. It is because the sport is so exciting, fast and is done in close proximity to other dogs that teaching a dog to do flyball can be very difficult to achieve without the dog becoming over stressed (showing symptoms of either confusion, lack of concentration, low mental stamina, and even aggressive behaviour due to tiredness). Handlers and trainers soon learn that this simple chain of behaviours needs to be taught with great care so that the dog thoroughly understands what is expected of it and can do a flyball run with enthusiasm and speed, without becoming stressed or confused.

DOG-GAMES can overcome many of these problems as the dog is taught the different aspects of the International type flyball with calmness and consistency. However, we must make the point that there is no compulsion or reason why dogs who have learnt Dog Games should have to go on to doing Flyball - just that the option is there if handlers (and dogs) wish to do so.

Recall teaches the dog to return to its owner for the consistent reward of a motivator that it is keen to work for, while Bounce teaches the dog that if it sees a jump in front of it, it must go over the jump rather than round it.

"Badger" (a X Breed) triggering the flyball box doing a "swimmers turn" Notice how the dog's sideways momentum as it approaches the box helps it turn back down the lane without having to stop

Round teaches the dog to do a "swimmer's turn" smoothly and with a tight turn off the box. If a dog is inadvertently taught to run headlong onto the flyball box the dog will consistently loose the speed and momentum that it generated as it ran up to the flyball box. It stops to trigger the box and catch the ball and then has to once again build up its speed on its return to its handler, due to it's inefficient turn at the box(this is even more apparent when the dog is using a Crufts flyball box). Another disadvantage of dogs hitting the flyball box head-on is that the force of its momentum jars the dog's bone structure (especially around the shoulders and upper back) and can bruise and damage its muscles. By teaching the dog right from the beginning that it must approach the traffic cone (and eventually the flyball box) in a curving motion, the dog learns to catch and turn without loosing any speed, thus reducing the probability of these injuries happening.

A dog triggering the flyball box head-on Notice how the dog's forward momentum is driving its body upwards rather than helping it turn back down the lane

Touch is another aspect of teaching a dog to position its paws on the flyball box in such a way that it does the "swimmer's turn" with great ease and efficiency of effort and time. By eventually combining both Round and Touch together while still using the target box (which has been specially designed for DOG-GAMES) the dog's turn on the box can be improved before introducing it to the exciting trigger of a ball being with a real flyball box.

Another misconception that many dog owners have is that their dog will be good at flyball as it appears to be a "Ball-a-holic" - never seeming to tire of bringing balls back to them for another game with the ball. What they fail to realise is that their dogs have learnt from experience that if they bring a ball back to their owner, it will be thrown for them to chase after (ie it is the movement of the ball that triggers the dog's instinctive chase behaviour to return the ball for another chase game). However, in Flyball the ball does not move until the dog has triggered the box's mechanism and therefore learning how to do Flyball seems very different from the ball games that the dog plays at home with its owner. Therefore, the dog needs to learn how to retrieve a static ball (see Hand and Problems with Retrieve) and build up new associations when it sees a ball - not just a moving one.

As the dog's confidence grows in each of these Games, distractions are introduced into its training eg.
- changes of lane (Bronze level in DOG-GAMES)
- distractions of other dogs (Silver level)
- changeovers (Gold level)
- and doing the the Game in different locations (Platinum level) can be added to the dog's training programme.

Because these Games are based on how to teach a dog to do Flyball, dogs that are able to cope with most or all of the exercises may like to progress on to the final exercise - learning how to trigger a flyball box.  This is taught either at a flyball club (see recommended links in International Flyball) or at special Training Days that will be held around the country (see Diary of Events or e-mail us for details of trainers who may be able to help you).

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