Flyball Dogs Anonymous
A hush of expectation hovers over the crowd as the two identical sets of lights blink from red to yellow to green. As soon as the green light appears, one dog from each team sprints across the start line in each lane. They race over the jumps – one, two, three, four. At the end of the lane, they trigger a box and catch the tennis ball launched out. Pivoting in fluid motion, they race back to the start line and their teammates sprint forward. A third and then a fourth dog runs the course. As the fourth dogs fly toward the finish line, the crowd leaps to its feet and cheers. The winning team crosses the line in under 18 seconds.
Flyball is a relay race for dogs, where each of four dogs must race down a lane and leap over four jumps toward the flyball box. They trigger the box to release a tennis ball, which is sent flying out. Dogs must catch the ball and race back over the jumps to the finish line. As soon as the first dog crosses the line, the next dog runs. All four dogs must complete the course without any errors.
It’s easy to get hooked on this kind of excitement. Flyball Dogs Anonymous have been hooked on flyball since September 2001, when they first began training. By March 2005, their club had grown large enough to enter their first tournament. Now they compete in tournaments up and down the East Coast and have won several first-place ribbons. Recently, they took first place in the Regular Division 2 in the Flyball Flurries Tournament in York, PA.
You’ll have the chance to watch the Flyball Dogs in action at PawsAbilities 2009. These canine athletes will show off their speed and agility as they fly over the hurdles and snag the tennis ball out of the air.
If you and your pooch want to try your hands and paws at flyball, Flyball Dogs Anonymous has beginner classes at their training facility in Wrightsville. Classes are on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. and cost $15 per month. Not sure if flyball is right for you? Flyball Dogs will give you a FREE trial class for you to find out.
Check out the Flyball Dogs on YouTube!
- Flyball Dogs Anonymous compete in Manassas, VA »
- Flyball Dogs demonstrate the race at the Lancaster Barnstormer’s Dog Daze Event and Game in 2007 »
For more information about Flyball Dogs Anonymous, visit www.flyballdogs.com/fda or call 717-494-0676.
Contact
Flyball Dogs Anonymous
6141 Lincoln Highway
Wrightsville, PA
