For 2025 Dobiefest are introducing a Flyball Arena featuring demonstrations by Trent Valley Dog Club and the opportunity for visitors to Have-A-Go with their own dogs for £2.00.
A flyball race sees two teams of four dogs each, racing side-by-side over a 51 foot long course. There are different tournament formats but each format involves racing between two teams at a time. Within a team, each dog must run over the jumps, trigger a Flyball box releasing a ball, retrieve the ball and then return over the jumps. The next dog is released, in relay fashion, to run the course but can’t cross the start line until the previous dog has returned over the finish line. The first team to have all 4 dogs finish the course without error wins. Each race comprises up to five legs, and the team that wins the most legs wins the race. Each flyball team consists of four dogs, plus up to two reserves that can be interchanged after each leg.
An electronic judging system that uses lights and timing sensors is used on the start / finish line to determine accurate times, and the winner when both teams complete the course in quick succession. Tournaments are run in divisions based on the fastest speed of the team in a previous competition or a time declared by the team captain. Arranging divisions based on speed enables the racing to always be competitive.
Why not come and see how fast your dog is on the flyball course!
