Want to join the fast and the furious? You’ve seen the sprints down the racing lanes on TV; now it’s time to add a flyball dog to your furry family.
But if you’re looking to win all the flyball tournaments, what breed of dog is best, and what should you look for in a flyball dog?
What is flyball for dogs anyway?
Alright, let's take a step back. What is flyball, and why should you get involved?
Flyball is one of the most exciting, competitive dog sports in the world. Teams of 4 dogs race down a line of 4 jumps one at a time, retrieve a ball from a special flyball box and speed it back to their handler. The fastest team to get all 4 of their dogs successfully across the line wins. It's a test of your dog's speed, agility, accuracy, retrieval, and recall skills.
Teams can be all the same breed of dog or mixed breeds, and hurdle heights are set no higher than the shoulder height of the smallest dog in the team. Championships run across the country (and around the world), but if you’re just starting out or just looking to have fun, you can get started at a local flyball club and join a flyball class near you.
Can any dog do flyball?
Within reason, yes. There are some physical, social, and age limitations, but widely speaking, any dog can play flyball. Dogs must be over 18 months to compete but may train in a low-impact form for the sport before then, under expert guidance.
Brachycephalic dogs (those with shortened noses and restricted breathing capacity) aren’t always ideal to compete in, as it is a high-energy sport, which may be a problem for dogs with breathing problems, but consult your veterinarian.
Dogs with mobility difficulties aren’t ideal for flyball. It is a high-speed and high-impact dog sport that may not suit them. Again, consult with your veterinarian before starting any new exercise plan.
What to look for in a flyball dog
Balls, balls, balls! - A high ball-drive
Most dogs will love flyball, but those with the highest ball drive are likely to do the best and get the most out of the sport. So if your dog will do anything to get his jaws around a tennis ball, flyball might be just what you’ve been looking for.
The whole aim of the game is to fetch a ball, so if your canine friend couldn’t give monkeys about fetch, check out our dog-sports 101 for some other ideas.
Long or low?
Long-legged dogs are often the fastest agility dogs, and taller breeds in single-breed teams are often fast. But small dog breeds are very important in mixed teams. The jump heights are set based on the height of the smallest team member, so it is a huge advantage to have a pocket rocket in your team.
Friendly and fun
Flyball competitions and training are high-energy, hyped up, exciting places to be. Dogs have to run very close together when heading out over the obstacles, so a friendly temperament is a must. When the dogs are super excited and running on adrenaline, they must be able to remain friendly and show no aggression toward other dogs.
Good recall and retrieve
To get your flyball dog off to a strong start, work on their recall and retrieval skills at home. Breeds with a natural drive to bring things to you, like labradors, are often naturally talented at flyball.
Who is the fastest flyball dog?
Currently, the Guinness World Record-holding flyball team is the Norwest Thunderdogs, with a combined relay time of 18.16 seconds—recorded in Narrabundah, Canberra, Australia by the Australian Guinness World Records TV series.
Outside of the Guinness World Records, there are other teams with super-fast times. For example, the Roadrunners, a Belgian team, recorded a combined time of 14.16 seconds in 2023.
As far as individual dogs go, it’s hard to say who is the fastest, but it is generally considered that in the UK the fastest recorded dog was Fume in 2021, from the Leicestershire-based Paws on the Run flyball team.
What are the top 5 flyball dog breeds (plus a bonus breed)?
#5 Jack Russell Terrier
Small, determined and fast, Jack Russell Terriers are known for being super-springy. But channel your little escape artist’s natural jumping abilities into flyball, and you’re sure to be champions. Don’t worry; small breed dogs can use smaller balls, so they’re not forced to carry a ball that’s too big for their mouth.
#4 Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Compact and muscular, in at number 4 comes the ever-enthusiastic, bundle of joy that is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier! These tenacious little ball of excitement are super speedy, and their ball drive and need to please make them incredible flyball dogs. Plus, they’re very people-oriented and their strong bonds with their handlers mean they can stay focused on their commands, even in the high-energy environment of a competition.
#3 Whippet X Border Collie
Alright, it’s not a single breed. Is that cheating? Nah, we don’t think so! In at number three, unsurprisingly, comes a mix of 1st and 2nd place! If you peruse the results tables of the flyball world, the mixed breed you come across most often takes the best bits of our top two breeds and smooshes them into one speedy cross-breed.
The Border Collie X Whippet—fast, intelligent, agile, and aerodynamic. It really is the perfect flyball dog breed!
#2 Whippet
These little sighthounds are built for speed and are super slick and aerodynamic, making them formidable competitors on the flyball field! Their friendly, laid-back nature is perfect for a fun day of competition, and they always rank highly in world-class tournaments.
Some aren’t at all ball-motivated, though, so work out what makes your whippet tick—if it’s not balls, then maybe give agility or canine hoopers a try.
#1 Border Collie
Yep. The Border Collie—Canine Sport Extrodinaire! Border Collies are fast, agile, highly motivated, and incredibly trainable. If your collie puts his mind to it, there isn’t much they can’t achieve. They’re not always a breed recommended for first-time dog owners, but if you’re confident in your training skills and have time to keep their intelligent minds busy, they really are the star of the canine sports and performance world.
So, if you’re considering finding the next flyball champion, then these are the breeds to look out for. But, if you just want to have some fun with your dog, then any breed can be successful and enjoy themselves at flyball.
Not sure if flyball is for you? Check out some other options in our Canine Sports 101.
Looking to support your dog’s joint health after a hard day of flyball runs? Try Antinol Joint Care Pro for your performance dog with our risk-free trial.
