We are on a break from Schutzhund training with our club and no longer tracking because of hunting season, so I decided to pursue flyball as our winter activity. Three reasons: 1) it’s indoors, 2) it’s only 10 minutes away! and, 3) the dogs LOVE it! I know you are probably thinking “flyball with a GSD?!” Believe me, I think the same thing every day, but we haven’t been kicked out yet!
We went to a trial visit in Feb. At that time, we worked on restrained recalls down the lane with the jumps, and then added in a large fake dog at the end to immediately start conditioning the dog to move over and “yield the lane” on the way back (because flyball is a relay so unless you are the last dog, you have to move over!).
Now the team trains each week at a new dog training/boarding facility in town and we’ve been keeping at it. I decided to make a “push board” so I could train the swimmer’s turn at home. The swimmer’s turn is really important in flyball, but even more so with such large dogs because without it, the dogs often want to slam into the box straight on and this is very stressful on their shoulders. A swimmer’s turn means the dog jumps onto the box and is already turning when they hit the box with all fours and then push back off with all fours. It’s much safer for their bodies and fast too. Many people don’t use a push board but literally have their dogs flip off a wall. Nikon can actually do this, but again with such a large breed of dog it’s really not the best way to condition this behavior so I designed my own push board that has a rubberized surface and just uses old couch cushions to form the angle and absorb the impact.
If anyone out there does flyball and is interested in making boards, these are my instructions.
Here is Nikon getting acclimated to the board. Note the extreme use of props, including my own body, to initially shape the behavior.
Here is Nikon a few days ago showing off his turn (with the retrieve). Note that all the props but the jump have been removed.
Here is Pan showing the same progress with his turn.
We had training again Tues. night and both dogs went from doing recalls down the lane to doing their box turns! Unfortunately no video since my video/photo friends are in Texas for a Schutzhund trial. Nikon needs to work on catch the ball (the real box pops the ball up, rather than him taking it off the board) and Pan needs to work on carrying the ball *all* the way back to me. We’re getting a real box at home soon, a friend of mine has offered to let me use hers as soon as we can get it. Our trainer said we can start entering singles tournaments but so far the tournaments are too far away. It’s still a lot of fun and great exercises even if we never compete!
These are two of the best dogs on our team. The Border Collie is TEN years old!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_WfHb2uT3E
Your invention is ingenious! Thank you for sharing the directions. Flyball looks like a blast.
A m a z i n g!!
Great videos and instructions! Looks like a lot of fun.
Thank you for sharing.
Those are great Lies! Nikon looks like he really loves this sport.
When you see him compared to the dog he runs next to (a JRT/small Corgi mix who can be dog aggressive but “knows” Nikon and won’t get in his space) it looks ridiculous but he really dogs love it, probably second only to lure coursing (coursing for Nikon is just in a class of its own!).
That is SO COOL! I love both Nikon and Pan. They are such versatile dogs, and I love that they (and you) will try just about anything. Thanks for posting the videos and instructions.
Lies, I meant to tell you earlier, your entire site is really helpful and well done: http://vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net/
Man. Border Collies are like the Usain Bolts of everything.
Thank you! I do so many sites now mine is the one that gets done last but I hope to work on it over Christmas break. I have some training articles I’m working on.
That border collie is really awesome. She used to be faster but you can tell she is very skilled at flyball because she only takes one step between jumps and also when she is running her best, her topline never changes over the jumps. She also has this intense look, she really is racing the other dog. Anyone who visits gets to “handle” her because she will run for anyone (and is really good about releasing her tug and scooting her butt back into the start position on her own!).
That is amazing! I have been following Nikon’s adventures on this site on and off for awhile now, and it’s always great to see updates! He definitely flies over that course! That’s the first time I’ve seen an “all grown up” video of Pan too… he looks incredible. Thanks for sharing!