Flyball Addiction

[NicoleLJ]

As most of you know Sheena is my Service Dog. But do you all know what she does in her off time? Flyball and a little bit of Agility. Just like a person a Service Dog needs to have off hours too to work off energy and just have fun. They can't be serious and working all the time or else they will burn out. So my solution was to join a flyball and agility club. Not only did it help me with my disabilities by making me get out there and be around people but it also gave Sheena an outlet to have fun.

Most people know what agility is. Flyball on the other hand is not as familiar. What it is is a relay race between 2 teams of 4 dogs. You have two lanes set up side by side. At the end of both lanes is a box that has a ball in it. The dogs have to run up the lanes, clearing the jumps that are there, hit the box so it releases the ball, catch it, turn around and run back over teh jumps so the next dog in line can do the same. The first team to finish with no mistakes wins.

Here are some pictures of Sheena at a Flyball trounament in Calgary last year:
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/NicoleLJ_2003/32A8CBCA-D6F0-EDC9-4D21E459F0E226F6.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/NicoleLJ_2003/32A5D4F7-FD5D-96FF-B1ED0C9B7CF59B7B.jpg

Practicing at home:
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/NicoleLJ_2003/AC960108-E3A1-21C9-0A20D93049260012.jpg

So when I say that racing weight Sheena averages about 67 pounds you now know what I mean.

Here are some of her enjoying doing an agility demo with my club:
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/NicoleLJ_2003/9CF061DD-067D-267F-BD4430C7B5D9336F.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/NicoleLJ_2003/9CF013D3-D8DE-B69B-0CE2B2C03923C6CE.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/NicoleLJ_2003/9CF1D7D1-A7CF-48FD-D5A7A294C5C06CB8.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/NicoleLJ_2003/9CF29AA8-FD9F-A9FB-4E3656A47492CE17.jpg

I don't know if I will ever be able to handle competing in Agility. Some day I hope to. Doing the demos is hard enough since I am out there alone with Sheena. That is why I enjoy flyball so much. I am surrounded by my club of dogs and people and not alone in the group. So it is easier for me to handle.

Either sport I would recomend for anyone looking for some fun with their dog.
Nicole & Sheena & Ajax

[DrKym]

stealing her..........................................

[KittyGurl]

She looks like she is having a ball. It must be so fun to do that if your a dog. Sheena is adorable and so talented. Give her big pats from me please!

[cassiesmom]

I like the last one best, but in each photo Sheena looks like she's happy and having fun! Way to go, Sheena! An athlete AND a mommy too!

[NicoleLJ]

http://giftofgracekennels.com/id31.html

At teh top of this page is a link to a video of when Sheena was on the news with our agility/flyball club. This was last year.
Nicole & Sheena & Ajax

[Romance]

If Sheena is trained to alert and aid you with panic attacks, what would she do if she was on the fly ball course and you were to have a panic attack?

[DrKym]

If Sheena is trained to alert and aid you with panic attacks, what would she do if she was on the fly ball course and you were to have a panic attack?
probbly clap for Sheena...... Romance get over the sniping please

[NicoleLJ]

probbly clap for Sheena

Actually most would. LOL Sheena amazes people. lol The answer is she won't run. She will refuse to leave me. Hence why it is good that the rules call for five dogs on a team. 4 to run the course and one relief dog. Sheena refused a couple of times to run during practices because of me panicing and her needing to do her job. She may love flyball but she loves me more. Hubby even tried to run her, when I thought I was getting under control but wasn't ready to get up, and she only would run back to me where I was sitting trying to calm down. Her job always comes first.

Luckily at teh tournaments it has not happened yet. But a cool thing I found out at one tournament is that there is a flyball judge that also has a PSD that she runs in flyball in the States.
Nicole & Sheena & Ajax

[Freedom]

Nicole, when did you and Sheena find for for having babies??? I mean, agility demos, fly ball, PRACTICING which I am sure takes time. And she had pups and now you are expecting?

And people wonder if superheroes really exist! :rolleyes: :D

[NicoleLJ]

LOL That was last year. Sheena started practicing in 2005, competed in 2006 and then had her pups this year in 2007. We made the time. Sounds like a lot but it really isn;t when you realize it has been broken up over 3 years. Just like next year Ajax will be showing and Sheena will be in flyball agian and agility demos agian.
Nicole & Sheena & Ajax

[Romance]

ty nicole
and i wasn't sniping dr. it was a question i wondered about...and nicole obviously didn't mind answering it.

[K9karen]

stealing her..........................................


:p Ya think Kym? You'd have to catch up with me first!!! :D

[NicoleLJ]

LOL You will have to catch her first and since she averages the whole course, there and back in about 5.4 seconds she is pretty fast.
Nicole & Sheena & Ajax(who hopes to be as multitalented as his mom)

[dukedogsmom]

Great pics! I love watching flyball. Have only gotten to see it on tv. Would love to see it in person. I think the agility thing would make me tired :p

[DrKym]

:p Ya think Kym? You'd have to catch up with me first!!! :D

Runs faste than Karen and wheeeeeeeeeezing LOL

[Falconara]

bah - Sheena likes me better...she's coming home with me because she thinks Ruby is cute :p

[DrKym]

bah - Sheena likes me better...she's coming home with me because she thinks Ruby is cute :p
NO WAY she likes me better! and uhhhhhhhhh she likes my nekkid cat!

runs like heck with Sheena............................ :p

[Falconara]

::Ruby runs after you and bites you in the butt::

She's a good SchH dog in training :p Wrong appendage, but I am sure she doesnt know that yet :p

haha, she is mine now.

::grabs sheena and runs the other way:: :D

[NicoleLJ]

Ok Ajax has had enough of people stealing his Mommy. He is howling and wants her back.

Luca on the other hand is just enjoying chasing everyone with his ball in his mouth.
Nicole & Sheena & Ajax

[DrKym]

Distracts Ruby with some treats............ grabs Sheena and limps away(butt hurts) :eek:

[Alysser]

She's gorgeous and those action shots are GREAT!


Can I live with whoever has Sheena?? And bring Sassy along?? ;)