What is flyball? Flyball is a team sport for dogs that was invented in California in the late 1970s. Legend has it that Herbert Wagner first showed it on the Johnny Carson Show to millions of Americans. Soon afterwards dog trainers and dog clubs were making and using flyball boxes. In the early 1980s the sport became so popular that the North American Flyball Association (NAFA) was formed and they are the worldwide authority for flyball.
     A sometimes wild relay race between two teams of four dogs, flyball is really an organized excuse for dogs to run, jump, retrieve and bark. Each team has six dogs: four that run and two as backups. The course consists of a starting line, four hurdles (or jumps) spaced 10 feet apart and a spring-loaded flyball box. The first hurdle is 6 feet from the start line and the box is 15 feet from the last hurdle for an overall length of 51 feet. The jumps are 24" wide, with height varying from 8-16" (4" lower than the shoulder height of the smallest dog on the team). The flyball box holds a tennis ball which ejects when the dog hits the front of the box.
     The object of the game is for the dogs to go over the four jumps, hit the box, catch the ball, and return back over the jumps as fast as possible. When the first dog comes back over the start line with the ball the next dog goes. The first team to have all four dogs run without errors wins the heat. Tournaments are usually organized in either a double elimination or round robin format. Double elimination is usually best of three or best of five. Round robin is usually best 3 out of 5 and the first team to win three heats receives one point towards their standing in the tournament.
     Flyball does not interfere with obedience training; in fact, the sport reinforces the disciplines taught in obedience.

What is Agility? Agility is the training of a dog to negotiate an obstacle course. Agility training is believed to have its basis in working police and protection dogs, while similar training methods have evolved in the development of search and rescue dogs. Two organizations that sanction agility in Canada are the Agility Association of Canada (AAC) and the North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC).
     Agility is a challenge and a competition to be enjoyed by handler, dog and spectator. The main elements of the sport are good sportsmanship and fun for the dog and handler. Nothing may be included in agility which could endanger the safety of the dogs participating, the handlers or the spectators. It is a sport which is open to all dogs, purebred and crossbred. Agility is a great way for people to experience another side of their relationship with their dog and to improve their dog's confidence, skill level and self image.
     The sport consists of a series of obstacles of various types, such as tunnels, hurdles, elevated walks, weave poles and high climbing boards. The dogs are required to climb over, crawl under or jump a series of these obstacles, on the same principle as a horse trial. The handler moves with the dog, commanding which particular obstacle the dog needs to do.
     The dog's progress through the course is timed; slow dogs are penalized for exceeding the set course limit. Points are also lost for performance faults such as failure to touch contact points, knocking down bars or refusing to execute an obstacle.