I have just found a flyball team in my area and was thinking about taking Livvy to a beginners class. The teams seem to be mostly Border Collies, are flatcoated retrievers suited to this? It would be just for fun. Anyones flatcoat or other retirever do flyball?

just had a family came round today to look at my f/c,for a puppy in the spring,they come from usa,and will take the dog back with them in july and she said she had read that f/c do fly ball in the usa,so there must be someone over here with a f/c that dose fly ball,i know spainsh water dogs are good at it too,i cannot see why a f/c cannot do it,it's like all training they will catch on with it at sometime,
have ago and enjoy it with the dog,i try to find out for you through another site if there any f/c that do it for you,

As Terri says at the moment Spanish Water Dogs are doing well in Flyball. There hopefully will be a team of them at some point, but due to most of them being bitches I don't think that there will be much chance this year. But you BC flyball teams had better watch out;)

Talking of Spanish Water Dogs there was a programme on Discovery the other day called 'dogs with jobs' and it had a section in it about a SWD who competes in agility in Spain. Having never seen the breed before (sorry i'm ignorant!:) ) it was lovely to watch and I will keep an eye out for them in real life :D

well if you go to crufts at the discover dogs section there be swd there plus you are not to far away from me i live in surrey so you may catch at a show and see gollie,

Yes, flatcoats can and do play flyball with tremendous enthusiasm. But, as you probably know, the enthusiasm can go over the top (also in collies, of course). Only do this activity if you have no intention of doing gundog tests etc ...ever...!!!!! ;-)

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

We were advised by our puppy trainer not to enter our b/c puppy into flyball because he's already hyperactive and it might make him turn.

Our f/c has lots of energy,she already gets 2 good walks a day, but I just thought it would be a fun activity,good mental stimulation for her and exercise. Hope it wouldn't make her more hyperactive though, was hoping it would tire her out a bit! Also thinking of taking her to a hydro' pool once a fortnight as have just found one nearby. She has no injury, but loves water so would just be for fun. She hasn't actually swum yet, she's 2! All of our f/c's have been wimpy, they love the water but won't go out of their depths, they'd stick their necks out and stand on tiptoes to reach that stick! With the second one,"Zoe" I had to go into the sea and actually carry her out of her depth to get her to swim, after a few minutes she was swimming by herself and loved it after that! Thanks for the replies, Sharon.

the more excerise a dog get,s the more hyperactive it will get,it,s like human the more workout they do the more the want to do,bye lenthing the time or fit in anothe class in the week, its the endocrine which are release in the body which make you high,and it can be the same in the dogs so be care not to over do it.

Ooh, this is the second time someone has seen a programme on SWD's but as I don't have this channel I've never seen them. Nobody taped it did they??

By the way your not ignorant, not many people have seen them, but as Terri says there will be quite a few at Discover Dogs (ps. Terri, the passes were sent last night second class)