ScottBowen Posted April 22, 2010 Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 I am looking for a good site with information on training a BC to do flyball. I have built a box and my dog loves playing ball. Just need to know the basics to get him started on it Thanks for any and all help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted April 22, 2010 Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 Start here... http://flyballdogs.com/training.html It would be a good idea to find a team that can help you, and it's more fun running as part of a team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted April 22, 2010 Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 I don't play flyball but I have a good friend who does, and she assures me a correct box turn is where its at, and that its a fairly complicated process. Is there a club or team near you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoZo Posted April 22, 2010 Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 Yes, complicated is the word. I am astonished at how much more complicated and complex flyball is than I first perceived it was a couple years ago when we started. Flyball training today is different than in years past and getting a good start with the right techniques will be a huge benefit to you and your dog. If you train incorrectly or not enough or spend too much time in one step or not enough time in another step, you may need to spend a considerable amount of time later to undo and retrain (with no guarantee that you will be successful). When some dogs get into a bad pattern (such as a bad box turn), it may be very difficult for the dog to do the correct thing in the ring later. Every dog learns at a different pace. Every dog in our club seems to have a different problem and it really takes a team effort to try and overcome those issues. Finding a good flyball team to get started with is essential. It's a team sport and you really do need the advice and support they offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottBowen Posted April 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 thanks for all the help. Big problem I have is one; closest club is 2 hours away. second; is my BC is sound sensitive. I am working on the sound thing with him now. I take the box outside and I bounce a tennis ball off the flyball box and he catches it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted April 25, 2010 Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 thanks for all the help. Big problem I have is one; closest club is 2 hours away. second; is my BC is sound sensitive. I am working on the sound thing with him now. I take the box outside and I bounce a tennis ball off the flyball box and he catches it. if you post here or pm me where you live I will ask my friend if she has a recommendation for you...she knows people everywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottBowen Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 if you post here or pm me where you live I will ask my friend if she has a recommendation for you...she knows people everywhere! thanks.. I live in South Texas. 2 hours from San Antonio, Austin or Houston. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Sadly, she says she doesn't know anyone. Flyball is a team sport so a certain "critical mass" is required to have a flyball team. You compete as part of a team, not by yourself. She said to tell you that "if he has hopes of competing, it's worth waiting until he has access to a good trainer" re: the box turn: "it's easy to teach it right, but its easy to teach it wrong, and VERY VERY hard to fix once it is wrong." Sorry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 She also said that a bad box turn or a 1 hole box increases the risk of elbow/shoulder injuries...its not just being sucessful, its protecting the doggie. "tell him that there is a risk of shoulder and elbow injury if it is a one hole box or if he teaches a bad turn on any box, no matter how professional if it is a two hole box, his first step is to determine which way his dog turns on the flat, away from the box, in a big empty space he can learn the turn long distance, but he is risking injury if he does it wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 "If he can get to Dallas for a lesson, Pam Martin is a killer trainer for a box turn Pam Martin topdogpam@aol.com (972) 278-3985" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottBowen Posted April 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 "If he can get to Dallas for a lesson, Pam Martin is a killer trainer for a box turn Pam Martin topdogpam@aol.com (972) 278-3985" thanks again for the good info. Unfortunately Dallas is a good 6 hours away for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted April 28, 2010 Report Share Posted April 28, 2010 Well, when I was living in very rural WV I drove 2 hrs one way for obedience lessons, and 2 hrs the other way for agility...I didn't go every week, but I went every 2-3 weeks and took careful notes practicing what I learned. Later, I found a friend to carpool with me and that helped a LOT, because we split the driving and gas and also helped each other when we practiced. It was worth the trouble to have a good set of foundation skills that I draw on, even now, 3 dogs and 12 years later. Maybe you can find someone in your 2 hr circle to train with occasionally. I would also suggest you talk to Pam, and she might know someone closer to you. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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