Hi, my name is Roxie (Kelsie’s adopted sister)

I am just starting out in my flyball career and am plodding along quite nicely. I have already gained my FDCh after my first 2 competitions (including National Championships where I won the pairs competition with my mate Mississippi and our team came 2nd in the regular competition) and love playing with my flyball mates. My favourite thing at flyball is giving my mate Spunky lots of kisses in the ring as we line up to race!!  My next favourite thing is herding Kelsie when she plays ball in the backyard – I know I am never going to catch the ball as she it too quick, so I just ran after her and bark lots!!See you around at my next comp. 

Love and kisses - “Roxie”

Hello there Lyn,

      just wanted to know if you or someone you know would like a free poodle. I am moving overseas and intended to take Panda with me, but I am worried that he might pick up some disease or cope with the environment. Might be better if he stays here. He's about 20 months old now and typically poodle. Over to you.

This is the email which preceded Panda’s arrival in the Belconnen Bullets.  The day after he arrived in May 2005, he was taken as a spectator at the 1,000,000 Paws Walk flyball demo.  Ever seen a poodle with its jaw open???  Gob smacked!!!  The next Tuesday night Panda to flyball training.  Just for a laugh, hewas lined him up in front of 4 jumps.  He went over four jumps, triggered the box, picked up the ball, and came back over four jumps.  He did it twice!

It took 18 months for Panda (266C) to become a reliable flyball dog, which included teaching him to catch.  Panda isn’t the fastest poodle on the planet but Panda plays flyball for all the right reasons: it’s fun; you get to go amazing places; you get to hang out with your human all day; and oh, it’s fun!

Tink - a female 4 year apricot Spoodle (1052B).  She alternates in her thinking between Madam Lash and the Prime Minister. Tink likes to be the top dog but is happy to co-operate if treats are involved.  She lives with Indie and Bear (1052C) and rules the roost. She has been running in Flyball competitions for 15 months and does enjoy the occasion.  She has become a consistent Flyball competitor.

I am a 3yr old border collie x foxie (or so that is what I am told I look like).  I think I am special because I was rescued from the Hawkesbury animal shelter just over 2 years ago.  I didn’t know why my old family didn’t want me anymore, something about being too energetic. Luckily a lovely lady ‘Jo’ was called out to pick me up and take me to the shelter and she took one look at me and said “what a great flyball dog this little girl would make”.  I had no idea what she was talking about but I was very excited.  A couple of days later another lady (Lydia) came to the shelter, showed me some “tennis balls” which I had never seen before, and examined me all over.  She must have been happy because I got to go home with her in her big station wagon.  My new family is amazing! I have a new Mum and Dad (Lydia & Christian), and 2 big brothers Milo and Barney and a half brother Basil (Grandma’s dog).  I play with Milo ALL the time and I have made tons of friends, mostly from where we play flyball.  My favourite friend at flyball is of course Jo (who first spotted me) and Cooper, (Jo’s dog who is Milo’s brother).  My best achievements so far have been making the front page on the Parramatta Advertiser in September 2007 (making my brother Milo VERY jealous) and winning the 2007 National Flyball Championships in 2007, Div 1 in Queensland.  I guess that is a lot to achieve for a little black and white dog that no-one wanted 2 years ago! 

Dog Profile for Pebbles, an 11 inch height dog running with the Norwest Thunderdogs (Norwest Canine Association) PB 4.6secs

Syrah (88C) is a 3 year old male blue merle Rough Collie that shares the household with two other older Flyball and agility collies, i.e. Koonunga (88A) who is 12 years old and Grenache (88B) who is 9 years old.  He started his Flyball career about 18 months ago and has steadily earnt himself a Flyball Master title.  While he follows in Grenache’s footsteps he is a bit of a loveable larrikin.  His earlier training trick during pack-up was to steal a soft Flyball jump cover and dance about the oval with his ‘mum’ in hot pursuit.  Thank goodness this does not occur in the competition ring.  Syrah has developed a very nice swimmer’s turn at the Flyball box and is becoming a very reliable Flyball dog member of the T-Keilor team.  His passion for the sport is growing stronger and has been evident at those competitive moments such as when there has been a run-off to decide final competition placing.

Jackson - also known to his team mates at 'Jackie Chan' is a miniature poodle that was born on 21.12.02. Jackson is well known for his attitude, personality and spark. He is our 8" height dog and is at home when running with a team of Borders. Jackson is a regular team member of the Norwest Thunderdogs T2 and competes in Division 1.
People always comment on his beautiful box turns and speed in which he belts up and down the lane. Jacksons PB is 5.00 which is quick for a dog that only measures 12" and weighs 4.4 kg. Jackson lives for Flyball and starts crying as soon as I pull into the driveway at training.                  

Grenache (88B) is a 9 year old male blue merle Rough Collie that shares the household with two other Flyball and agility collies, i.e. Koonunga (88A) who is 12 years old and Syrah (88C) who is 3 years old.  Koonunga taught Grenache how to do Flyball as a puppy and passed on his passion for the sport.  Grenache’s Flyball career started at about 2 years old.  He quickly became very reliable, quite fast and one of the pillars of the T-Keilor teams.  He is quite passionate about Flyball and looks forward to each comp.  Once we get in that ring the magic words are "Ready Set Go”.  Then he explodes with excitement and he can’t wait til it’s his turn to run again.  While Koonunga was the first Rough Collie in a Australia to get a Flyball title, Grenache at 9 years is still going strong, wanting more Flyball and is the highest titled Rough Collie with an ONYX.  You can train a dog to do flyball but you can’t train passion.

Ginger is the third of five flyball dogs that I have raced or still racing as two of my dogs have retired now (Tyson & Jagger), one deceased (Tyson) through old age unfortunately, Jagger is now 12yrs old and enjoying retirement, although I still think he would love to do some more flyball. Three are still racing, Oscar & Rippa are the other two although Oscar has gone under two cruciate ligament operations, he has just returned to flyball racing again.

Ginger is now 9yrs old and is the only female of the group and has delivered two litters of puppies with Jagger, numerous of her puppies are now enjoying the fruits of the flyball world. Ginger did her first flyball competition at the first National competition of 1999 at Albury at the tender age of 13mths and has been a most reliable dog to run ever since, she has always been in any team whether it be the fastest or the slowest, she did not care, she just liked getting that ball out of the box and coming back for that tug. She has also just gained her AFA flyball title "The Onyx Award". What a pleasure it has been to have owned and raced Ginger as it has been all of my dogs and I am sure that we shall see you at a flyball competition somewhere soon.

My name is Rex. I’m made up of a mixture of genes of many breeds, sort of ‘multicultural” origin, may be German shepherd, Ridgeback or Kelpie, who knows ? It is not much known about my puppyhood and the following months of my life because I ended up in the Canberra dog pound, obviously some gipsy blood was circulating in my veins. In 2000 the dog pound held an open day, many visitors were passing in front of my enclosure. All other dogs were barking, I was sitting quietly and tried to look attractive, I was lucky  a couple fell in love with me and decided to adopt me. Since then my life changed, Alex and Zlata became my best friends. My gipsy nature prevented me to respect fences in general and so in our backyard they had to be put up higher. I have been educated in obedience, I didn’t enjoy it much and ended up just short of a title. To keep me busy,  they put me in flyball classes and that was much better, I like running, jumping and socializing with other dogs and people. As I’m a food lover and never get enough of it, my reward after each run is a piece of sausage, my favourites are the tasty cabanossi. After 5 years of flyballing with the Belconnen Bullets, I still enjoy it very  much and also the company of my fellow dogs.  

Dudley - the 45 kilo Briard pictured here at 14 months old running his first flyball comp with the Parramatta Pistols at the Southerly Muster.  Bred by Tiahart Kennels Dudley, affectionately known as 'DUDS' by his family, is anything but a DUD!!

Not only is he a playful and loving family member, and protector of his family's 5 year old daughter, but he can also run some pretty impressive flyball times. Dudley started flyball training just 5 months ago under the competent guidance of Gloria Boon from the Parramatta Pistols and has taken to the sport like a duck to water. And he is also a big hit with a couple of the "girls" at Parramatta.... especially Daisy & Judy.

Come and say hello at the next flyball comp.... he'd love to meet you.

My name is Josh and as you can see I am a red and white Border Collie. I live with my owners Anne and Geoff , and my older brother Brocky a Golden Retriever and my little sister, my niece Maggie Mae a black and white Border Collie. I was born on September 11th 2000 (not a good date!) and have been doing flyball for about 5 years now.  I started flyball because I am obsessed with those round yellowy green things called tennis balls. Although now we only have rubber ones at home cause the tennis balls wore down my teeth toooo much. Both my parents Jagger and Ginger were involved with flyball when I was younger, although dad has retired now as he is getting on a little. I love going to training with Eastside Flyers and meeting all my two and four legged mates for socialization and then doing flyball. It can get really hot so I love getting into the pool after racing to cool off. (The beach would be better!)  I love competing and travelling. I go to Canberra and Adelaide regularly. I also do demos cause I just LOVE flyball. Just so they wouldn't miss out, Maggie and Brocky joined in doing flyball too. I can't do anything without them! At the end of last year I got really really sick and couldn't do flyball and boy did I miss it. I couldn't wait until I was allowed back to training. If you dog owners want something to do with your best friends of the 4 legged variety, I’d say try flyball. IT'S GREAT FUN.

Hot Chilli or Skybreaker Illusio AFCh if you prefer, she is almost 4 years old, and is an English Staffordshire Terrier, white and brindle. Chilli was bred by Penni Harrison from Cranbourne in Victoria, she is best mates with Rowdy. Chilli passed all her levels of dog obedience and has competed with Eastside Flyers since her first comp in Albury 2006, during dog socialising time attraining Chilli appears to enjoy running from human to human the most, although she does attract quite a bit of attention from the boys at Eastside, especially Oscar and young Jaffa. Chilli lives with Ex Flyballer Rowdy, he is her rock and playmate, but sleepovers are extra fun when her handlers Gran dogs arrive: Roxy and Cosmo, its not uncommon to see 3 staffies and one cheaky little Jack Russell racing around the property playing tug or keepings off. Chilli loves swimming and especially flyball outings to see all her friends, 2 and 4 legged variety, weekends away with flyball are just the best of all, she is an absolute joy to own.

G'Day there, my name is Wags and I am a three year old Brittany. If you want to make me cranky, call me a Brittany Spaniel. I am not a common Spaniel, I am a Pointer - a much better class of dog in my opinion. One negative though, I was born in Melbourne. The weather and people seem much warmer here in Sydney. I have never been to Queensland but I am sure it would be too hot for my delicate constitution.

When I was 14 months old and just starting my flyball career I had a nasty accident in the flyball ring. I don't remember anything about it as I was knocked out and ended up with two displaced vertebrae and a badly bruised left shoulder. They tell me another dog in my team collided with me. Whatever happened that day does not matter now, what does matter is how great all my team mates have been in supporting me since the event. After the accident, I still liked running flyball but, for some reason, I did not like passing other dogs. With my friends support I have very gradually overcome my problems and now, nearly two years later, I feel I am starting to become really competitive again. Thanks again to all my friends, with two and four legs, past and present, at Leaps and Bounds. Thanks also to all those friends I made attending demonstration events.

Billy is a 3 year old Collie Rough who I rescued in November 2005 from the Border Collie Club.  Billy and his brother were abandoned by their previous owner but I am lucky to have found such a great dog. (His brother also found a great home!).  He commenced flyball training in 2006 and after a false start at the Pet Expo in November 2006, Billy competed in his first flyball comp in December 2006.  After being “red” carded he made a full recovery and earned himself his first title.  Billy lives with 2 crazy Jack Russell’s, Princess, who never gives him the ball (and he tries so hard!) and Freckles who likes to curl up in his tail to sleep.  Billy races with the Dapto Dishlickers and has even starting to learn agility.  Billy is a great dog, very loving and affectionate who knows that Tuesday nights is flyball night (as soon as he sees his harness) and can’t wait to get there, although, at the end of a hard day he likes nothing more than curling up on the couch relaxing. Teresa Good

Malchyk is a x-kelpie who was a rescue dog from Monika's Rescue. His mother was a kelpie and she had the litter of pups that Malchyk came from while she was in the shelter, so we don't know what his father was. All Malchyk's litter mates got homes as pups but for some unknown reason, not Malchyk. When I found him, Malchyk, known then as Jumbo, was already 19 months old and I didn't know how he'd turn out, but he seemed very gentle from the start.
I did have flyball in mind for him but wondered whether I'd made a good choice when I realised that he didn't even know what a ball was when I first brought him home. Anyway, undaunted, I took him to training soon after I got him and he was a very fast learner. I don't know that I really trained him, I think he trained himself. Within about 4 and a half months he changed from a timid, wary dog to being reliable enough to go in his first competition. He hasn't looked back since. He loves it. He has the best fun getting treats and barking while he's waiting to go. I'm so lucky to have found such an excellent all round companion for my other dog, Sonsa and for me.

Fidelis Pacalbel is a Border Collie from Scottish working lines.  He has very long legs and body and a light long coat.  He is 3 years old and has been competing in flyball since he was 12 months of age.  He is totally focussed on the ball and 100% focussed on his tuggy.  He always puts his total effort into the game.  He also competes in agility and about to trial in obedience.  He races with Awesome Pawsome in Queensland and will travel from Milton, NSW in June to join their team for the Nationals.  He lives with another Border Collie, Savvy and three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Toshi (who is probably the slowest, most reliable dog doing flyball), Oakley and nachi.  Pac is a very loving, super eager to please dog and loves to jump into the dam after his frisbee, run around three acres with the golf buggy but mostly to be with me, Rosie.

Zaq is an almost 6 year old Border Collie and started flyball in August 2005.  He competed in his first flyball competition at the Canberra Royal this year for Awesome Pawsome. Zaq has also competed in both obedience and agility, but prefers sport with more action.  When not flyballing he loves going to the beach swimming and playing with either ball, Frisbee or tug toys. Zaq has enormous enthusiasm for flyball and can barely wait to hit the ground running, regularly bruising his handler on take off!  He is becoming a consistent performer proving that you can teach an older dog new tricks!