Flyball Demo

[subwoofer]

Had hoped to take in a demo today, as a local club is putting on a demo at a weekend Sports and Leisure show. Didn't realize until I got there that the flyball was Sat. and Sun. only, but did wind up with some info on a league in my area.

Anyone here have experience with this?

Looks like a lot of fun, and would be a good indoor winter activity.
There is a beginner course, but doesn't start until Nov.

[DogGoneGood]

I've never seen (in real life) or participated in Flyball, I'm more of an Agility girl. I was interested in it a few years back and looked into it because I thought it was something Coal would be good at, but opted against it because Labs tend to have poor joints (and I don't know anything about Coal's breeding) and I heard a lot of bad stories about Flyball ruining dogs joints, specifically their shoulders. I actually met a girl who I went to school with and she did flyball with her big lab and he ended up tearing something (I can't remember what) and had to have surgery done

I'm glad now I opted against flyball because Coal's joints are in very poor shape and I have no doubt Agility didn't help much with it, so if I'd done Flyball with him he'd probably be in much worse shape.

I think if someone's going to do Flyball with their dog they NEED to pick a dog with good breeding and good joints and CONDITION their dog constantly for it. Dogs tend to hit the spring box pretty hard and doing the "swimmers turn" (I think that's what it is called) LOOKS nice but can be very hard on a dogs body. Dogs are designed to move forward so sports like sledding, lure coursing and such can be great for a dog but things like Flyball and Agility can be very hard on their body. They're not necessarily build for that kind of jumping weaving etc. and it's the hard jumping down on the joints that can hurt them and Flyball is ALLL about the jumping and slamming into the spring box.

[subwoofer]

Thanks for the input. I may opt for something else, reading through the pamphlet last night, all the dogs pictured had either a brace or some kind of wrapping on their legs.

[DogGoneGood]

I believe that usually those wraps are used to try and prevent an injury from ocuring. If you choose to do Flyball, I would suggest learning how to properly condition Brandy for it and also get a good check up done on her and mention your concerns to the vet and talk to him/her about it

I wouldn't say to not look into the sport, I just thought you should know that joint damage is a concern in it