Flyball dog breeds

[raegank]

On the back of the recent post about breeds for Agility... I have the same question but for breeds of dogs that are good for flyball

Currently I have a 4 year old black lab who is amazing and so consistent however being a lab she'll never be as quick as the collies etc

Trying to decide what breed I get in the next couple of years as my next dog that will be a bit quicker for flyball, not sure on collies or spaniels as it's important for me to have a dog that is also good at switching off when needed. Any ideas?

 

[splashgirl45]

Whippet or whippet cross , they had quite a few at crufts this year

 

[maisie06]

My Spaniels switch off when needed - they have to as part of being a good gundog means they have to wait around between drives and not fidget or make a noise, it's all in the training early on.

 

[Honey08]

My friend’s poodle crosses do well.

 

[Moobli]

The whippety types at crufts did very well and certainly gave the collies a run for their money.

 

[MurphysMinder]

The serious flyball lot tend to go for something with whippet in nowadays . But 12 year old heeler I mentioned in the agility thread was an advanced flyball dog in his younger days .

 

[Annette4]

It depends for me on what you want.

Most whippet and whippet mixes struggle with holding a ball (I can't stand a ball spitter), mine seem to be the exception. One runs at around 4.5/5 seconds depending on the speed of the dog she's racing (but she is 9yo) and the other sits around 3.5/4 seconds.....neither are ball spitters but both have been difficult to train and we still have run back issues with Dobby so he's still in starters at 5yo. Whippets and mixes are generally harder to train, take longer and the ones you see in the faster teams are generally hammered.

My most reliable dog is my terrier mix, she's a super height dog, reliable and has picked it up much quicker.

I want a reliable dog who doesn't spit, I don't care about how fast they are but for some, speed comes first.

 

[Kaylum]

My little terrier is also most wanted as a height dog. Fast and agile.

 

[outdoor girl]

I've a friend who does Flyball with her Border Terriers. They're really good at it and is very popular with all her team, because the jumps are lower because of the height of her dog!!

 

[Tiddlypom]

You can plant a small dog in the team so that the jumps are lower for the larger dogs in your team?!

Why wouldn't you

 

[ponyparty]

Manchester terrier? I’ve def seen one that competes… also very good at being lazy sofa surfers/sunbathers!

 

[satinbaze]

A friend of mine who is a serious fly baller is in a team that is breeding its own sports mixes they are generally whippet x staffie. These are the same crosses that the top international teams are using. My friend has working cocker spaniels that do very well in the “b” teams

 

[Clodagh]

A friend of mine who is a serious fly baller is in a team that is breeding its own sports mixes they are generally whippet x staffie. These are the same crosses that the top international teams are using. My friend has working cocker spaniels that do very well in the “b” teams

When you think whippet x staffies used to be bred for badgers! Trouble is then there was a high wastage and the spares weren’t great pets, as happens with any new breeding developments, what will happen to the too staffie like ones?

 

[FinnishLapphund]

If German Pinschers weren't so much rarer than Whippets, I would have thought that they would've been more popular as an option. Their bodies are also built to be quite fast and agile, and I presume that they're much more likely to have the desire to grab a ball, and hold on to it, than a Whippet.

Perhaps a Miniature Pinscher?
The first is just a ball reward, wait for the second proper run, and look at those nice low jumps...

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1449558061864944

There's some Danish-Swedish Farmdogs that are quite good at Flyball...

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=4738252236194334

 

[rara007]

Collie whippet or border staff! My sisters light weight farm bred collie is a sub 4 second dog, but has struggled with sports horse style subtle lamenesses - I guess at that intensity many of them might?

 

[DabDab]

My terrier-spitz mix is good training-wise, but obviously with her little legs she's never going to be close in speed to the wippety or collie-esk dogs. Quite a different training prospect to a collie though...she's not particularly driven by either the ball or a tugger to run back to, she has just learnt the 'trick' of fetching the ball from the box and bringing it back for a treat. She spits the ball out a couple of meters past the gate while still in full run and then comes and plonks herself in front of me for her reward

How about a Kelpie? I'm not sure they're as flyball-capable as a collie or cocker spaniel, but they should be quieter to have around the house

 

[Errin Paddywack]

How about a Kelpie? I'm not sure they're as flyball-capable as a collie or cocker spaniel, but they should be quieter to have around the house

The kelpies I know are far from quiet. My friend has had/has several and all have been hyper and barky, they like to be 'doing' all the time. My collies are much easier to live with.

 

[DabDab]

The kelpies I know are far from quiet. My friend has had/has several and all have been hyper and barky, they like to be 'doing' all the time. My collies are much easier to live with.

Funny isn't it...the one of mine was very easy and one a friend has also very easy. Definitely not barky really. The one in my flyball group does bark a bit but a lot less than a lot of the collies, although admittedly from what the owner has said he sounds a bit headstrong at home.
Tbf I actually think a lot of collies are quite nice to have at home, there's just a lot of variety in them and if you get the wrong one they can be tricky. Springer and Cocker spaniels meanwhile....Well I think they are very nice just so long as they're not in my house....(sorry spaniels lovers)

 

[druid]

There's some good Manchesters running flyball - Onyx was on Focus Flyball's winning team at Crufts in 2022 and Gary has her replacement, Zircon in training.

I'm using an American sire for my next MT litter in 2024 who has his Flyball Champion and Master titles. I like my dogs dual purpose!

 

[Annette4]

There's some good Manchesters running flyball - Onyx was on Focus Flyball's winning team at Crufts in 2022 and Gary has her replacement, Zircon in training.

I'm using an American sire for my next MT litter in 2024 who has his

A Manchester is on my wish list for our next sports dog and its all Onyx's fault