Barking mad over canine capers

IT'S known as drag racing for dogs, and flyball is the cause of much excitement - especially for the canine competitors, who break out barking as soon as the Christmas tree lights come on to get the races under way

Flyball dog

IT'S known as drag racing for dogs, and flyball is the cause of much excitement - especially for the canine competitors, who break out barking as soon as the Christmas tree lights come on to get the races under way

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THE only thing missing is a flag to drop to start the race.

With the countdown on, the lights go green and the dogs go into a barking frenzy.

Then they're off, racing at full speed as they strive to beat the other team.

Flyball, also known as drag racing for dogs, is a growing sport in Australia.

It consists of two teams of four dogs in a type of relay race with hurdles.

One dog from each team runs over four hurdles to a black spring-loaded box where they trigger a tennis ball, grab it and run back over the hurdles so the next dog can run.

The height of the hurdle depends on the height of the smallest dog in the team, with a minimum of 17.8cm and a maximum of 35.6cm.

The first team to have four dogs complete the relay with no errors wins the heat.

There are seven flyball clubs in southeast Queensland, and the sport is growing.

Rachael Haines, trainer for Brisbane's RSPCA team the Flyball Fanatics, says the sport of flyball has been in Queensland since about 2000.

The first team in Brisbane was Awesome Pawsome, who train in Rochedale.

Haines says the Flyball Fanatics started in about 2001.

"It's a growing sport," she says. "Redlands just started a new team just last year."

Flyball training also has started as far north as Townsville, and new members are needed.

Haines, who had a rottweiler named Belle which played flyball from 2002 to 2009, says any dog of any breed or size can learn to play.

"It doesn't have to be a purebred dog," Haines says.

"We have had many foxies, moodles and griffons.

"Your dog doesn't have to be ball-obsessed either.

"They just have to like to retrieve things, running, jumping and, most importantly, playing with their owners."

Haines says beginners are welcome at all flyball teams, where the basics - right down to how to play tug-of-war with your dog as a reward for doing the correct thing - are all taught from scratch.

Anyone who has watched a flyball competition can tell the dogs love the game.

As soon as the lights indicate the start of a race, they break out barking in excitement, some pulling and tugging, waiting for their turn to sprint.

Some of the canines like to sneak a peek at the other team as they run, to see whether they are winning or being beaten.

Haines says the sport was dubbed drag racing for dogs because of the Christmas tree lights in the centre of both lanes - just like car drag racing.

In southeast Queensland, a flyball competition is held about once a month from March to November. The location varies.

Three Queensland teams are heading down to Canberra for the national championships at this weekend's Canberra Royal Show.

The next local competition is scheduled for March 24 at the Pine Rivers Dog Obedience Club at Rob Akers Reserve, Bells Pocket Rd, Strathpine.

Jan McChesney, of Redcliffe, has two border collies that play flyball with the Flyball Fanatics.

She says she loves the chance to do something with her dogs Morgan, 7, and Zephyr, 3. Her late border collie, Dash, also loved the sport.

"I'm a bit of a team person and agility (in which dogs race around an obstacle course under their owner's instructions) is a more on-your-own type of sport," McChesney says.

"I also like to win - but even if we don't win, if the race is close you get an adrenalin rush."

Haines, who also has a 2½-year-old rottweiler named Skye in training for the sport, says not every dog will perform perfectly every time.

"It depends on if someone is standing on the sideline holding a hot dog, and if the hot dog is more interesting than the ball or not," she laughs.

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Interested in learning flyball with your pooch or want to attend a local competition to check it out?

See the Australian Flyball Association's website to find a team close to you and a calendar of events at flyball.org.au

Queensland teams include:

RSPCA Flyball Fanatics: Train at 7.30pm Thursdays at the new RSCPA Wacol grounds at 139 Wacol Station Rd, Wacol, and 7.30am Saturdays at the World for Pets Supercentre on the corner of Lexington and Logan roads, Springwood. Info: 3426 9955 or flyballfanatics.com

Awesome Pawsome: Train at the Rochedale Rovers Soccer Club, Underwood Rd, Rochedale, on Fridays at 7.30pm. Info: awesomepawsome.org.au or email [e-mail]

Pine Rivers Flyball: Train 7.30pm Tuesdays at the Pine Rivers Dog Obedience Club, Rob Akers Reserve, Bells Pocket Rd, Strathpine. Info: 0418 719 180 or pineriversdoc.org.au/flyball.html

Jimboomba Organised Chaos Flyball Club: Train every Thursday at 7pm at the Jimboomba Dog Obedience Club, Tully Memorial Park, Beryl Parade, North Maclean. Info: 0433 963 333 or jimboombadogtrainingclub.com.au

Redlands Dog Obedience Club: Train Tuesdays at 7pm at Judith Holt Park, Bailey Rd, Birkdale. Info: 0402 866 923, 0410 417 717 or visit redlandsdoc.com.

Fast and Furious Flyball, Sunshine Coast: Train every Monday and Thursday at 6pm at the Noosa Croquet Club, 9 Seashell Place, Noosaville. Info: fastandfuriousflyball@ hotmail.com

Luv a Dog Regardless Flyball Team, Hervey Bay/Maryborough: Train every Sunday at 3.30pm at the Maryborough Aeromodellers Club, Maryborough-Tuan Rd. Info: 4122 1537 or 0409 345 495.

Townsville Outdoor Agility Dog Sports: Beginners train the first and third Thursday of each month at 7.30pm, Heatley Park, Fulham Rd, Townsville. Info: toads.websyte.com.au