When you choose to pursue a dog sport like Flyball for your puppy the benefits will be copious. You and your puppy will establish healthy exercise habits. You will be physically and mentally challenged.
You both will have a lot of fun.
And you will create a bond that will last a lifetime.
Isn’t that the reason you got a puppy in the first place !
The most important thing is the health of your puppy. No puppy should start formal training among other animals or humans until he has all of his immunizations. An overall physical of your pup should be completed by your veterinarian before beginning any type of training.

Mental acuity is just as important as physical health to your puppy’s well-being. Begin the bonding process with your pup right away. Like children, puppies respond to anything that is fun, so make playtime a big part of your puppy’s day. Encourage interaction and interest in toys, as toy or ball drive is important in many competitive dog sports. Teach your puppy at an early age to respond to his name and to come when called, using food or a favourite toy as a reward. Praise heartily and often, in a happy voice that shows how much you approve of your puppy’s response.

Socialization with other dogs is key to any performance sport. Your pup should learn how to interact with other dogs and how to not be distracted (and how to respond to your voice and your command when other dogs are around). There also should be no aggressive tendencies toward other dogs or people on the part of your pup. Aggression is cause for disqualification.

Get your puppy used to a gentle lead at a young age, as leads are often necessary in the beginning stages of training for a performance activity.





12 weeks – 6 months of age

To prepare your puppy for flyball training, we will teach you to play with him, socialize him and take you through some basic manners for him.

We will help you determine if your puppy prefers to turn to the right or the left, so you know what to expect when he is running the course. Knowing how to get a consistent response from your puppy is key in flyball training. While a strong ball drive is a good indicator of your puppy’s natural talent, it is also important to find motivators he likes, be it food or another toy. Ultimately, there has to be something at the end of his run that he likes even better than the ball. Taking the jumps and retrieving the ball is the trick; his motivator is the end reward.

6 months of age - onwards

Dedicated flyball training can begin at 6 months of age, starting with lower jumps until the puppy has matured enough to take full jumps and to run at high speeds.

Flyball is boisterous, energetic fun. Dogs who compete can be heard cheering each other on,” barking vociferously throughout the race.