Fly Ball - YorkieTalk.com Forums

luvmyyorkie · 10-27-2004, 07:03 AM

Does anyone know anything or is involved with Fly Ball? My yorkie's mother is a fly ball dog champion and I am interested in finding out more information. Do you think that athleticism like that runs in their genetics like humans? I would like her to live up to her potential..whatever that may be. She jumps ALL THE TIME! Does anyone else's yorkie jump so much? Sometimes I am afraid she is going to hurt herself. Any information you had about fly ball or genetics in dogs would be great!

fasteddie · 10-27-2004, 08:55 PM

Well, usually Yorkies that come from show dogs do well in shows themselves, but I'm not familiar with Fly Ball at all. (Just looked it up for anyone interested: http://www.max200.com/flyball.htm) Looks like an obedience type course? Yorkies are prone to joint problems, but I would venture to guess that jumping on grass is better than jumping on hardwood floors. Sounds like fun though, Yoda jumps a whole lot around the house, up and down the sofas, and up onto the bed too..

yorkipower · 11-23-2004, 05:45 PM

OK, first, did your breeder compete in flyball with your pup's dam or did someone else? That would be my first source of info (esp. if mom was a FDCH -"Flyball Dog Champion").

I should explain that my dogs do not do Flyball but I compete in a number of companion/performance dog sports and am a member of the workingyorkie list. If you join that list, you'll meet a number of people who DO actively show their Yorkies in flyball. Here's the link: WorkingYorkie Message Board Home Page

Other great sources of information about flyball are the Flyball Dog Home Page and The North American Flyball Association . For those reading who just want to know what this is all about - Flyball is a dog sport which is really the equivalent of doggie relay racing. Dogs of all sizes and shapes are part of a team. The dogs run down a chute of jumps to a box. They have to bounce on the box (it's a spring board actually) so that a ball will come flying out. They must catch the ball and run back so that their next doggie team mate can run down the chute. The team with the fastest time wins!

If your dog loves to run and "bounce," I say go for it! The one thing I'v noticed is that it isn't so much about the particular breed of dog or its size that counts, it's the dog's drive. People can be successful with lower drive dogs, but it takes a lot of work from the handler/owner to get the dog working and enjoying it. For dogs who are naturally zippy, both handler and dog can "bounce" right into it and have a blast. If you want to know why I don't do flyball - well, it was my dogs' choices. I like to pick dog sports based on what my dogs natural inclinations are and what they enjoy doing. None of my dogs are much into retrieving or playing with balls. Agility, on the other hand, was the ticket - running around with mom, playing "king of the mountain" on top of the A-frame, and shooting through tunnels! There are so many dog sports to choose from - you'll have a blast just picking through them! You'll need to find yourself a flyball team to get started. Many obdience clubs host flyball teams. You go that route or check out the websites I listed. NAFA, I beleieve, also has a message board.

Now, a more general note about Yorkies and performance sports:
Yorkies can be great athletes! Anyone who has a five pound Yorkie who manages to jump 30 inches up in the air to get onto the duvet cover they were told not to jump on, knows that. However, you should bring your pup to the vet for a thorough exam before you get started. One thing in particular, common among most toy breeds is Patella Luxation (trick knees). Now, Patella Luxation is NOT the kiss of death. Your dog might have it right now and you don't even know about it! It depends on the degree and extent of the loosness in the knees. My dogs ALL have it, but since they are rated 1s and 2s, my vet simply has me giving them glucosamine as a preventative and monitoring each year. Really loose knees can be surgically stabilized to prevent arthritic changes, but generally, for most dogs it's not necessary. Anyhow, talk to your vet and let him or her know that you would like to compete in a dog sport.

One other thing while we are talking about health: A LOT OF YORKIES ARE PUDGY! That's a no no when it comes to performance sports. Of course, pudge slows your dog down, puts extra strain on his organs AND can contribute to athritis. In fact, performance dogs, tend to be kept on the THINNER end of the scale (so that you can see their ribs but not push between them). I acutally have a treadmill for my dogs!

In any event, I have a ton of other information on my website. Please click here to visit:

Mighty Mite Dog Gear Links Page

Good Luck! Hope to be seeing you up on the new title wall of workingyorkie soon!

yorkieagility · 02-21-2005, 12:17 PM

I just happen to see your post and was curious to know who is the mother of your yorkie. Out of the 9 yorkies that have a FDCH in flyball I know the owners of 4 of them.

yorkipower · 04-29-2005, 08:49 AM

If you are interested in learning more about Yorkie Flyball - please visit our message board!

Small Flyball and Dog Sports Forum

10-27-2004, 07:03 AM	#1
luvmyyorkie Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 33	Fly Ball Does anyone know anything or is involved with Fly Ball? My yorkie's mother is a fly ball dog champion and I am interested in finding out more information. Do you think that athleticism like that runs in their genetics like humans? I would like her to live up to her potential..whatever that may be. She jumps ALL THE TIME! Does anyone else's yorkie jump so much? Sometimes I am afraid she is going to hurt herself. Any information you had about fly ball or genetics in dogs would be great!

11-23-2004, 05:45 PM	#3
yorkipower BANNED! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York Posts: 446	Flyball Yorkies! OK, first, did your breeder compete in flyball with your pup's dam or did someone else? That would be my first source of info (esp. if mom was a FDCH -"Flyball Dog Champion"). I should explain that my dogs do not do Flyball but I compete in a number of companion/performance dog sports and am a member of the workingyorkie list. If you join that list, you'll meet a number of people who DO actively show their Yorkies in flyball. Here's the link: WorkingYorkie Message Board Home Page Other great sources of information about flyball are the Flyball Dog Home Page and The North American Flyball Association . For those reading who just want to know what this is all about - Flyball is a dog sport which is really the equivalent of doggie relay racing. Dogs of all sizes and shapes are part of a team. The dogs run down a chute of jumps to a box. They have to bounce on the box (it's a spring board actually) so that a ball will come flying out. They must catch the ball and run back so that their next doggie team mate can run down the chute. The team with the fastest time wins! If your dog loves to run and "bounce," I say go for it! The one thing I'v noticed is that it isn't so much about the particular breed of dog or its size that counts, it's the dog's drive. People can be successful with lower drive dogs, but it takes a lot of work from the handler/owner to get the dog working and enjoying it. For dogs who are naturally zippy, both handler and dog can "bounce" right into it and have a blast. If you want to know why I don't do flyball - well, it was my dogs' choices. I like to pick dog sports based on what my dogs natural inclinations are and what they enjoy doing. None of my dogs are much into retrieving or playing with balls. Agility, on the other hand, was the ticket - running around with mom, playing "king of the mountain" on top of the A-frame, and shooting through tunnels! There are so many dog sports to choose from - you'll have a blast just picking through them! You'll need to find yourself a flyball team to get started. Many obdience clubs host flyball teams. You go that route or check out the websites I listed. NAFA, I beleieve, also has a message board. Now, a more general note about Yorkies and performance sports: Yorkies can be great athletes! Anyone who has a five pound Yorkie who manages to jump 30 inches up in the air to get onto the duvet cover they were told not to jump on, knows that. However, you should bring your pup to the vet for a thorough exam before you get started. One thing in particular, common among most toy breeds is Patella Luxation (trick knees). Now, Patella Luxation is NOT the kiss of death. Your dog might have it right now and you don't even know about it! It depends on the degree and extent of the loosness in the knees. My dogs ALL have it, but since they are rated 1s and 2s, my vet simply has me giving them glucosamine as a preventative and monitoring each year. Really loose knees can be surgically stabilized to prevent arthritic changes, but generally, for most dogs it's not necessary. Anyhow, talk to your vet and let him or her know that you would like to compete in a dog sport. One other thing while we are talking about health: A LOT OF YORKIES ARE PUDGY! That's a no no when it comes to performance sports. Of course, pudge slows your dog down, puts extra strain on his organs AND can contribute to athritis. In fact, performance dogs, tend to be kept on the THINNER end of the scale (so that you can see their ribs but not push between them). I acutally have a treadmill for my dogs! In any event, I have a ton of other information on my website. Please click here to visit: Mighty Mite Dog Gear Links Page Good Luck! Hope to be seeing you up on the new title wall of workingyorkie soon! Last edited by yorkipower; 11-23-2004 at 05:52 PM.

04-29-2005, 08:49 AM	#5
yorkipower BANNED! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York Posts: 446	Come talk about flyball! If you are interested in learning more about Yorkie Flyball - please visit our message board! Small Flyball and Dog Sports Forum

10-27-2004, 08:55 PM	#2
fasteddie *YT 6000 Club Member* Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,238	Well, usually Yorkies that come from show dogs do well in shows themselves, but I'm not familiar with Fly Ball at all. (Just looked it up for anyone interested: http://www.max200.com/flyball.htm) Looks like an obedience type course? Yorkies are prone to joint problems, but I would venture to guess that jumping on grass is better than jumping on hardwood floors. Sounds like fun though, Yoda jumps a whole lot around the house, up and down the sofas, and up onto the bed too..

02-21-2005, 12:17 PM	#4
yorkieagility YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: House Of York Posts: 1,079	I just happen to see your post and was curious to know who is the mother of your yorkie. Out of the 9 yorkies that have a FDCH in flyball I know the owners of 4 of them.