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What is Flyball?

Flyball offers fast pace action with plenty of excitement for dogs, handlers and spectators alike!

Flyball is an exciting, fast-paced, team sport enjoyed by many people and their dogs!  It offers plenty of excitement for dogs, handlers and spectators alike.

Picture two racing lanes, each with a row of four low jumps leading up to a spring-loaded box which shoots out a tennis ball.  Each team consists of four excited dogs awaiting their turns.  The first dog on each team races down their row of jumps, hits the box, activating a lever that propels a tennis ball.

The dog grabs the ball and races back across the start line.  As the first dogs cross the line, the next dogs on each team take off, passing at full speed.  The first team of four dogs to successfully complete the course is the winner!  Success in Flyball racing is measured in seconds and the action is fast and furious.  Most of all, it's great fun for both dogs and people!

Flyball is a team relay race with 4 dogs on a team.  The course consists of a starting line, 4 jumps spaced 10 feet apart and a box.  ( The jumps' height are dependent on the height of the smallest dog on the team.)  The first hurdle is 6 feet from the start/finish line and the box is 15 feet from the last hurdle for an overall total course length of 51 feet.

Flyball was invented in California in the early 1970's.  Dog training clubs quickly picked up on the sport and began holding Flyball tournaments.  To standardize the rules, keep records of tournaments, and guide the development of Flyball racing, the North American Flyball Association (NAFA) was formed in 1985.

The United Flyball League International (U-FLI) was founded in 2005.  In U-FLI tournaments the jump heights are lower and the point system for Flyball titles earned is different but the Flyball race course is basically the same.  In U-FLI tournaments, they also offer single dog racing and pairs racing in addition to the standard team racing.

While speedy dogs like Border Collies  and Jack Russell Terriers   are obvious candidates for Flyball, they are not the only dogs that excel at this sport.

From the biggest Great Dane to the smallest Poodle, dogs love to play this game!

Flyball gives dogs a lot of exercise in a short amount of time without exhausting their owners!  Some owners and their dogs play Flyball just for fun and exercise; others compete for titles and championships.

Especially important is the fact that Flyball is open to mixed breeds and shelter dogs, in addition to registered breeds.

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