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Flyball is a relay race with teams consisting of 6 dogs and their handlers per race. Only 4 dogs run each heat, however—the others 2 are on hand
to fill in if necessary. A race can be won or lost on the basis of 1/1000th of a second. The dogs have a start/finish line to start their run.
They must jump over 4 hurdles each 10 feet apart and release a ball from the "ball box" and return over the same jumps. The first jump is 6
feet from the start line and the ball 
box is 15 feet from the 4th jump. This totals 51 feet they must race in one direction (102 feet total).
The jump height is based on the height of the smallest dog on the team, measuring at the withers. The minimum jump height is 8 inches and 16
inches is the maximum height. An 18 inch dog, would get a jump height of 14 inches, if a smaller dog were not available.
Since there are 4 dogs, it means they must pass each other just before the next dog running passes the start line. The ball box shoots out a
tennis ball for the dog to grab when the dog releases it with forepaws. The dogs race against another team and the winner is the one that
wins the best 3 of 5 heats. Sometimes, if there are many teams in a division, heats run are the best 2 of 3 heats per race.
Points are earned for titles. If the team runs the race in less that 32 seconds, eash dog earns one point. If it runs in less that 28 seconds,
each dog earns 5 points. If it runs in less than 24 seconds, each dog earns 25 points.
The titles dogs earn are:
| Title |
Points |
Award Type |
| Flyball Dog (FD) |
20 |
Certificate |
| Flyball Dog Excellent (FDX) |
100 |
Certificate |
| Flyball Dog Champion (FDCh) |
500 |
Certificate |
| Flyball Dog Champion-Silver (FDCh-S) |
1000 |
Certificate |
| Flyball Dog Champion-Gold (FDCh-G) |
2500 |
Certificate |
| Flyball Master (FM) |
5,000 |
Pin |
| Flyball Master Excellent (FMX) |
10,000 |
Pin |
| Flyball Master Champion (FMCh) |
15,000 |
Pin |
| ONYX Award (ONYX) |
20,000 |
Plaque |
| Flyball Grand Champion (FGDCh) |
30,000 |
Plaque |
| Commemorative Pin and Plaque |
40,000 |
Plaque |
| Commemorative Pin and Plate for 40k Plaque |
50,000 |
Plaque |
| HOBBES Awards (HOBBES) |
100,000 |
Plaque |
Dogs of any size are welcome into the sport. They do not require registration in any organization. Many wonderful dogs have been rescued from
animal shelters. "Height dogs" must be able to clear a jump of 8" and have the energy to be able to do a lot of running or the capacity to work
for endurance. At this time, our Club has a Cocker Spaniel, a Jack Russell Terrier, a little cross between a Boston Terrier and a pug, a Sheltie,
and a Beagle in training for our height dogs. The dogs MUST not be a danger to other dogs or to people, but with work and exposure to other dogs,
some "taming down" can be wonderful and surprising to watch. This does take time and effort.
Qualities of a flyball dog are ball-drive (the desire to play with tennis balls,) retrieving ability, strong work ethic, and even temperament
are all desirable, to name just a few of the major qualities necessary. Our canine family members are true performers, not only in Flyball,
but many also compete in other activities and earn titles in Obedience, Agility and Herding.
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