Flyball Question

[Yarrowfell]

I am after suggestions on how to teach my girl that she needs to get the ball from the hole in the flyball box.

She has a great (well I think so) turn but has got the idea to trigger the box and then get the ball from the ground and then come back. I have been working on a turning board for the last few days and getting her to get the ball on the full from the turning board and if she knocks if off I grab it and she doesn't get a reward. She is 100% at that now.

However..I try and then transfer this to the box and we go back to setting the box off and then getting the ball from the ground.

[whatevah]

Have you tried attaching the ball to the box with velcro. Teach the dog to get good at getting the ball from off the box, and then start to load the box with the ball. Or try a untriggered box.

Have been working at retraining Tia to turn to the right. I am glad that I did it. Also just to show you that you don't need to own a flyball box to do training.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSKOH6QoLKs

It didn't take that long. She is still a little slow off the box, but she is still in the early phases of learning. Have to start practicing on a proper flyball box. Today was the first day at training her with 4 jumps.

Here is her turning to the left.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=uYouHEM_g9I

[wherezaball]

Sounds to me that the ball is coming out of the box too fast for her.

You need to slow it down possibly alot initially and then gradually increase the speed as the dog gains confidence and is successful in catching the ball straight from the box.

The best way to slow it down is place some sponges in between the "bits" at the back of the where the "thing" moves and pushes the ball out. I really cant think of the right name for it right now

But by placing sponges in the back there, it makes the ball pop out slower (almost a dribble) and makes it easier to catch. This is especially important for little dogs as they get frighted by the ball flying out. Place in a few pieces of sponge and as the dog gets better take a piece out at a time until eventually you have nothing.

Now you cant use sponge in comps because it stops the ball coming out the required 2ft however you can in training to teach the dog to catch properly from the box.

You also may need to teach the dog to "catch" by throwing the ball from about your knee height gently and say "catch" then gradually increase the distance and speed of the ball as you throw it. this increases the dogs confidence to catch a fast moving ball.

Personally I dont like using the velcro method as it teaches the dog to "grab" rather than to "catch" the ball. When small dogs grab at the ball they may not trigger the box as required in the rules.

Velcro also encourages the dog to "stop" at the box rather than have a fluid swimmers turn.

Will try to come up with a better description of where you place the sponges.... brain is a bit dead sorry...

[Budwiserbear]

You are trying to teach your dog to catch the ball as it is triggered from the box.

I would suggest breaking down the behaviour to reward your dog for catching the ball on the full. (This is without the flyball box)

Start with an easy throw near your dogs mouth, use a verbal cue "Catch" then reward and big praise everytime they catch ball.

Next start throwing the ball with a little more speed from about the knee height which is similar position to the flyball hole and again reward & big praises everytime they catch on the full. Everytime they are successfull increase the speed of the throw.

Introduce the flyball box once your dog is catching on the full sucessfully. Most styles of flyball boxes you can slow down the speed of the trigger by using sponges, this will assist your dog to catch the ball. Once your dog is catching you can gradually remove the number of sponges as it become familar with the speed of the ball from the box.

Send your dog to turn on the box only about 10 feet away (Looks like your dog has a great high turn on the box) and give a second cue to catch, only reward & big praises when they catch the ball on the full. (Don't expect them to do it on the first go, it takes time for them to get co-ordinated).

TIP: Some handlers whose dogs have problems catching, use their dinner to practice catching their food.

Let us know how you go...

Budwiserbear