Fly Ball

What is Flyball?

Flyball is a relay race between two teams of four dogs. Racing side by side, one dog from each team must go over four hurdles, trigger a flyball box pedal, catch (retrieve) a ball and then return over all four hurdles to the start/finish line where the next dog eagerly awaits.
Flyball is a team sport. Each team consists of four dogs racing in each heat, plus up to two reserves. Reserves can be interchanged after each heat. There are between three and five heats to a race, and a team has to win a majority to win the race.
Flyball encompasses all things that dogs love to do - jumping, catching, retrieving, competing and striving to please their owners. Flyball is a sport in which any dog can participate, regardless of breed, shape or size. Flyball does not interfere with obedience training. In fact, the sport reinforces the disciplines taught in obedience class.


Besides being great for dogs, flyball is a lot of fun for people too! It is a great way to meet people locally and all around Australia. The team-work aspects bring people together as they strive to improve their team's performance. Flyball can be as competitive as you want to make it. The best part of all is just having fun with your dog, and seeing the look of excitement on your dog's face at the start of a day of racing, and the look of content at the end of the day.

More specifically.....

A flyball course consists of two racing lanes, side by side down a 51-foot (15.54m) course. There are two sets of hurdles and flyball boxes. Each team's racing lane consists of 4 hurdles spaced at 10 feet (3.05m) intervals. The first hurdle being 6 feet (1.84m) from the start/finish line and a flyball box is placed 15 feet (4.57m) after the fourth hurdle. The flyball box ejects a ball after the dog triggers the pedal on the front of the box.

Each dog must run in relay fashion down over the hurdles, trigger the box, retrieve the ball and return over the hurdles and across the finish line so that the next dog can be released. The first team to have all four dogs complete the course, without error, wins the heat. Missed hurdles and dropped balls require the dog to rerun the course after the rest of the team has finished.
Jump heights for each team are set at 4 inches (10.2cm) lower than the shoulder height of the smallest dog in the team. The minimum height is 8 inches (20.3cm) and the maximum 16 inches (40.6cm).

Competitions are run in divisions, based on where the teams are seeded. The fastest teams are put in Division 1 and the slower teams in Division 2 etc. This enables every team to have a fair go and be competitive in their division.

Some Flyball History

When did flyball begin?

Flyball is believed to have begun in North America in the 1970's when a Californian, Herbert Wagner, developed the first tennis ball launcher for his ball crazy dog. After demonstrations at his obedience club, he gave a demonstration on the Tonight Show. The revolutionary idea was then introduced into Toronto and Detroit, and after a few small competitions the first formal competition was held in 1981. The North American Flyball Association was founded in 1984.

And in Australia?

The earliest known Australian flyball activity was in 1982 in Perth (Western Australia). Flyball was a demonstration-only activity until 1996, when the Australian Flyball Association was formed. The AFA grew out of Queanbeyan in New South Wales, and competitions rapidly spread from New South Wales to the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have more recently held competitions.

How has flyball changed over the years?

Flyball has changed quite a lot over the years. For example, the first flyball boxes were arm-style boxes, with a cup to hold the ball on the end of a moving arm. However, after a while people became worried about dogs hurting themselves jumping to catch the ball, and so they swapped to boxes with enclosed moving parts, like the wedge box or curved front box.
Jump heights have varied over the years, and in some early demonstrations all dogs had to jump 16 inches. Now, jump heights are set at 4 inches below the shoulder height of the smallest dog in the team.
Today, sophisticated Electronic Judging Systems judge starts and passes that previously had to be judged by people. Anyone who has watched good passes knows that deciding by eye whether passes are legal is not easy!
Over the years, the best times run by teams have decreased, as training methods and boxes have improved. The first team to break the 20 second barrier in Australia was the Croydon Rocket Launchers in 1999. At that time, the world record was just over 16 secs.

Getting Started in Flyball

There are different ways to get involved in Flyball:
Join an existing team. Many, but not all, teams require dogs to have a basic level of obedience before they can learn flyball. Check out our list of clubs, or contact the representative for your state for more information on local clubs.
Start your own team. If there are no existing teams in your area, you might have to start your own team. Many teams will be glad to help new teams starting up, by providing advice or organising combined training sessions or seminar days. Again, your regional representative should be able to help here. The AFA also has an information pack.

Some questions you might have are:

How old do dogs have to be to play flyball?

Dogs must be 12 months old to compete at flyball. Care should be taken with young dogs jumping, ask your veterinarian for advice.

How many races does each dog do at a competition?

There are typically between 18 and 32 heats for each team at a competition, and between 4 and 6 dogs in each team. With even rotation of the dogs in the team, each dog might run between 12 and 32 heats, plus perhaps a few runs in the 3 minutes practice.

Do dogs need to be fit to play flyball?

Dogs do need to be relatively fit to play flyball. Many handlers keep their dogs fit by swimming or bike riding with them. In summer, they also need to be acclimatised to running in the heat.

How much does it cost to be involved in flyball?

Flyball is a relatively cheap sport. Membership to the afa costs only $20 for the first year, which includes afa membership a CRN (competition racing number for your first dog) and an afa rules and policies book. Renewal is $15 per dog per year and additional dogs may be added to your membership and receive a crn for $15 per year. Competitions entry fees are set by the competition organisors are typically start at $60 per team of 4-6 dogs. Travel interstate for competitions can become expensive, but many Australian teams help each other out by offering to billet teams from interstate.

Flyball Equipment

Tennis Balls

It is very important that you choose the correct size ball for your dog. Tennis balls or any soft ball that bounces and rolls may be used. Some handlers use squash balls for the little dogs if the tennis ball is too big. Cat balls/small tennis balls from pet shops and kids games can also be used. But the ball you use must be able to be bounced.

Hurdles/Jumps

The jumps are a set size and a basic design; they are easy for any handy person to make. The cross boards have to be standard white in colour and the side boards may be of any colour or sponsorship advertising can be use on the sideboards. Most clubs have two sets of jumps and will use their club colours, for example, one set will be blue and one set red. Then at demos and competitions the spectators know who is racing in the blue lane and who is racing in the red lane. This helps the spectators know what is going on and they can barrack for which ever team they like.
Some clubs have also made padding for the top of the jumps, which can be removed at any time, so that the jumps can be lowered for the different heights of the dogs, and then replaced on the lower board. The padding is attached to a metal sleeve that slips over the hurdle board. The padding must not change the height of the hump at all.

Boxes

There are various styles of boxes from which a team/club can choose. As long as they comply with the AFA rules of measurement and are mechanically triggered, they can be of any design. Many of the newer boxes used by teams in Australia are curved front boxes made by Steve Pitt of K-9 Sports and Equipment.
Flyball boxes can have one, two or three holes for the ball. The idea behind this is that dogs often turn better if the ball is off-centre. Some dogs naturally turn to the left, others to right. Smaller dogs may turn best if the ball is in the centre hole.

Electronic Timing and Starting Lights

The AFA has 3 sets of electronic start lights and timing equipment that are currently used in competitions in the eastern states of Australia. While electronic timing eliminates the inevitable inaccuracies when using hand held stopwatches, it is not necessary to have staring lights and electronic timing to conduct a sanctioned competition. However, electronic timing is required to have an Australian record recognised by the AFA.

Signature Systems

The AFA also has 3 new systems from the USA. These Signature Systems are state of the art and the latest designs available.

Siamese Cats Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Traditional Siamese friendly with other people?

Yes. They love people, and most will go right up to strangers and demand to be petted. They have the somewhat perverse nature of most cats, so are sometimes most attracted to people who either don't like cats or are allergic to them.

How are they with children?

They are good family pets, and are very indulgent of small children - they will tolerate liberties (not to be confused with ill-treatment) >from them that they will not take from adults. When they've had enough, they simply make themselves unavailable. Most of them learn to sheathe their claws when playing with people, and it is rare to be scratched.

Are they good with seniors?

With their mellow temperament they are very good with seniors - they are marvelous companions and lap cats.

How are they with other pets?

When introduced at an early age, they will usually become friends with dogs or other animals. An adult cat who is already used to dogs is a wonderful "teacher" for puppies entering the home as a pet.

How many cats should I have?

Single cats in a household do fine, though they can get lonely if left alone during the day, and will therefore demand more of your attention in the evenings. Two cats, especially if they are close in age, become good friends and are often found sleeping or playing together and grooming each other. But they still crave human attention, too.

Are they intelligent?

They are very intelligent - which does not necessarily mean that they are easy to train. Each cat has a different personality - some, if you tell them "No" once, will desist from the activity forever, while those with the more mischievous natures, though they know it's forbidden, will merely wait until you're not around, and then do it anyway. :-) Many Traditional Siamese are quite adept at teaching humans the game of fetch or other tricks. Some cats will readily learn to walk on a harness and leash. These behaviors are far more successful if introduced at an early age.

Do they scratch furniture?

Not usually - it's very easy to train them to use a scratching post, and most breeders do this. In general, they prefer a nice carpet or sisal-covered scratching post to your favorite sofa.

Are they noisy?

One of the traits a Siamese cat is known for is its voice. They can be extremely loud, and sometimes it sounds like your cat is in absolute torment, when in fact he's just trying to make a point. It's not uncommon for people on the other end of the phone to ask if there is a baby crying.

Traditionals tend to be less vocal than the modern cats - though some have the harsh "you're killing me" voice, others have a rather quiet meow. Some are non-stop talkers, while others don't talk unless they have something important to say. The voice and conversational style is apparent from kittenhood, so you'll know what you're getting into.

Do they have any bad habits?

When there are no people around, they like to be up high, and can often be found on the top of bookcases, refrigerators, or curio cabinets. If you can't find your cat, look up. It's probably best to keep any breakables off of high shelves.

Some Siamese cats engage in a practice that denizens of rec.pets.cats have dubbed "smurgling", wherein the cat holds a piece of material, usually a blanket or sweater (but sometimes human skin), in its paws and kneads it, while happily sucking and/or drooling on it. The eyes are often glazed over, and the cat is usually purring loudly. This is not a serious disorder. ( :-) for the humor-impaired.)

What are points?

Points refer to the face, ears, tail, and paws - the term is generally used in combination with color. "Seal Point" means the cat has seal colored (dark brown) points, while a "Blue Point" has blue (gray) coloring.
Will a male or a female make a better pet?Sex of the cat makes no difference as long as they are neutered/ spayed.

Are they outdoor cats?

No, no, no, no. Almost all breeders will sell kittens with a contract stating that they be indoor-only cats, permitted outdoors only on a leash. Too many outdoor cats end up as traffic fatalities, or are severely injured by other animals. Breeders are very concerned with the welfare of the kittens they produce, and usually take great pains to insure that the kittens are going to good homes where they will be well cared for. Since most of these kittens have never been outside, they never miss it.

What health problems are they prone to?

Crossed eyes still crop up occasionally within the breed. Though undesirable, this is not a problem for the cat, and does not affect its behavior or longevity.

Kinked tails also show up occasionally, but this is merely a cosmetic fault.

Other than that, there are no known defects that are specific to the Traditional Siamese. As in most purebred animals, there are some genetic problems that creep in from time to time, but responsible breeders work very hard at keeping their lines as healthy as possible. Things to watch for in any cat, purebred or not, include umbilical hernias, heart murmurs, and kidney disease.

How big do they get?

In size, they are about what you think of when you think of an average-sized generic cat. Males weigh from 11-15 pounds, and females 8-12.
Where can I find Traditional Siamese breeders in my area?Check the ads in the Siamese section of any cat magazine for breeders' names. Look for those advertising "Traditionals" or "Appleheads".

The Traditional and Classic Cat International (TCCI) offers a Breeder's List on their web site. This list includes many breeders who are ethical and offer healthy, purebred kittens.
How much do they cost?They range in price from $200-$800 - registered cats from reputable breeders are more expensive.

What's the difference between Traditional Siamese and modern Siamese?

To be honest, the main difference is largely individual preference. Some people adore the new look, while others hate it.

As far as personalities go, in general, Traditional Siamese tend to be a bit more laid-back than their modern counterparts. But individuals will vary, and you will find very lively Traditionals and mellow moderns. Either type can be a delightful pet.

Why do Traditional and modern Siamese look so different?

See History.

Why don't you see Traditionals at cat shows?

The Traditional Siamese does not conform to the breed standards for Siamese cats in most of the cat associations (with the exception of the Traditional and Classic Cat International (TCCI) which wrote its standards specifically for the Traditional Siamese). As such, they are unable to compete with modern Siamese cats. Though theoretically there is nothing in the show rules that prohibits a registered cat from competing in its breed class, in practice, very few people attempt to show them as Siamese though the United Fanciers Organization (UFO) currently allows Traditional Siamese to be shown competitively under the designation "Siamese-2". In other associations they are sometimes shown in the "Household Pet" class, where breed is not a factor.

Siamese Cats

History of the Siamese Cat:
The Siamese is one of the best known & popular breeds of cat. Many legends surround the Siamese cat. Often said to have resided only in the Royal Palace of the King of Siam, the Siamese have a regal reputation. Sydney W. France quotes a letter from sent from Dr. Hugh M. Smith, Adviser in Fisheries to His Siamese Majesty's Government

'I was well acquainted with cats in Siam, but made no special study of them. There appear to be two races peculiar to the country; the common form with pale fawn colour, black or dark brown feet, tips of ears, tail & muzzle, and blue eyes, well known to cat fanciers all over the world, and a form of uniform mauve or Maltest colour with yellow eyes. There are no palace cats in Siam. There are no 'royal' cats, although the strikingly marked creatures would be natural ones to be kept in palaces. Any person can have a Siamese cat, and as a matter of fact there are many people outside the palaces & many foreigners who keep such cats as household pets.'

Other legends say that Siamese cats guarded the Buddhist temples & were considered sacred. According to Sally Franklin in her book The Complete Siamese Cat, when a high ranking person died, a Siamese was chosen to receive the dead person's soul. The cat was removed from the royal household & sent to one of the temples to spend the rest of it's days living a ceremonial life of great luxury, with monks & priests as it's servants.

The history of the Siamese isn't entirely known although there are plenty of theories as to it's origins.

Sydney W. France in his book 'Siamese Cats' claims that the Hon. Russell Gordon gave his considered opinion that the Siamese cat was a cross between the Sacred Cat of Burma & the Annamite cat introduced into the religiously sealed & guarded Burmese Temples, and which were imported into Siam when the Cambodian Empire of Kymer fell to the attacks of the Siamese.

German explorer & zoologist Peter Simon Pallas shows a picture of a cat with a Siamese coat pattern which was said to be the progeny of a black cat & had a chestnut-brown body colour, black at the back & paler along the sides & belly, with a black streak running along & surrounding the eyes. [1] This cat was seen in the area of the Caspian Sea.

There are many other myths surrounding the origins of the Siamese cat, these are just two common ones.

What we do know is that in 1884 Mr. Edward Blencowe Gould an Acting Vice-Consul at Bangkok obtained a breeding pair of Siamese cats called Pho & Mia. It is said that King Chulalongkorn gave them to him although this story does attract some scepticism. What is known that two Siamese cats arrived in England from Bangkok by Mr Gould as a present to his sister, Mrs. Lilian Veley. Pho & Mia are recorded as 1a & 2a in the Siamese Cat Register. Mrs. Veley went on to co-found the Siamese Cat Club in 1901.

The following year, Mrs Vyvyan & her sister of Dover imported two Siamese cats. Mrs. Vyvyan writes to Harrison Weir 'The original pair were sent from Bangkok, and it is believed that they came from the King's Palace, where alone the breed are said to be kept pure. At any rate, they were procured as a great favour, after much delay & great difficulty, and since that time no others have been attainable by the same person. We were in China when they reached us, and the following year, 1886, we brought the father, mother & a pair of kittens to England.'

During the next few years more Siamese were imported into Britain, and are the foundation cats of the Siamese we know & love now.

Temperament of the Siamese Cat:

The Siamese is an extremely intelligent breed of cat. They are the most talkative of cat breeds & enjoy giving their human companions a running commentary. Their voice is rather unique, it is deep & loud.

Siamese are often described as 'dog like' in that they often enjoy to play fetch, but they are also extremely incredibly affectionate & bond closely to their humans. They love to be the centre of attention.

Appearance of the Siamese Cat:

The Siamese coat pattern is striking. The face, paws, ears & tail (points) have a darker colouring, the body is light in colour. The coat should be short, fine & silky to the touch.

The ears are large, eyes are a stunning blue & almond shaped.

The Siamese is an elegant animal with a long, muscular & tubular body, long neck. The legs are long & slender with small, oval feet. The hind legs are longer than the front legs. The tail is long, thin & whip like.


Colours of the Siamese Cat:

The original & most commonly known colours are seal, blue, chocolate & lilac. Different cat associations accept different colours, which include red (also known as flame), cream, fawn, caramel, apricot, cinnamon. These colours may also come in tabby (also known as lynx) & tortie point.

The Cat Fancy Association in America only accepts seal, blue, chocolate & lilac in Siamese, other colours are considered to be Colorpoint Shorthairs.

Suitable for:

The Siamese cat thrives on attention & needs to be a part of the family. If you are out for long periods during the day it is strongly urged you have two cats to keep each other company. This is especially true with Siamese cats.