Smooth Collies, Border Collies, Danish-Swedish Farmdog

Innovative Flyball Box Turn Training

On my continuing quest to get Jet a better box turn, I had a new idea. Well, maybe it’s not really that new, since people use props and hovering sticks all the time. But I haven’t seen anyone put a bar directly on the box before. So this is my next attempt to get Jet to catch the ball, and use his rear on the box as well.

I like how this is working so far. I see success with him pushing off with his rear when he’s getting the ball. I think I’m going to stick with this method for a while and see what we get. I did take him to training, and I’ll get that video up too. I’m not convinced this method is holding over to the training place, but maybe if I work it every day, it’ll get stronger.

Cynthia
March 14, 2011
Flyball, Jet
7 Comments
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  • http://mylifewithflyballdogs.blogspot.com/ Crystal

    Did you at any point do wall training with him? Its something I have heard a lot of people have success with, as it teaches great hind end awareness and a really good, strong push off with the hind feet.

  • Kathy

    Jet is so cute and it was neat to watch him figuring it out…think you get the creative trainer of the month award for sure!

  • http://laurawaudby.blogspot.com Laura, Lance, and Vito

    I know absolutely nothing about flyball but have you tried using a vertical pole in front of it so he has to wrap his body around it? I’m using a plunger for Vito’s running dogwalk training so he can’t cut off the board early. But like I said, I do’nt know anything about flyball!

    • http://mylifewithflyballdogs.blogspot.com/ Crystal

      Some people use a cone or similar to teach a dog to wrap around it, but that tends to end up with a wider, sloppier box turn, rather than the fast, snappy turns we aim for. It can be a useful thing to try though, if all else is failing.

  • Cynthia

    Hi Crystal, yeah we’ve done the wall training, he does fine, but his problem is when the ball comes into play, and I don’t know if I can put a ball on a wall. LOL

    • http://mylifewithflyballdogs.blogspot.com/ Crystal

      You can actually put a ball on the wall. And the glory of doing that is it tends to be too high for the dog to get without doing a full, good turn. Just use a X of tape or velcro on the wall to stick the ball to.

      A few of the videos for box turns on youtube have the ball on the wall. Normally I wouldn’t do it, but sounds like it might be a good step to help fix your problem.

  • Jill WW

    Hi
    Can I ask for the dimensions of the box you made.
    My collie has a very bad habit of landing front feet bang on the box and I would like to do some things at home.
    If I can make a simple box like this I have an area behind the house I could set it up.
    Thank you