Flyball dogs scare me. How is it from hunting dogs? I'll admit, I've only watched a few times, but what thinking does it need? It looks like dogs run for a ball and run back... how often do they train?
I already posted a massive shpeal about Flyball, in the BC breeder thread... but....
I don't really see WHY Flyball dogs would scare you. Have you ever been to a tournament, and actually met any of the dogs? Or have you simply seen the races, televised or whatever?
The races are a small part of Flyball. Miniscule. The dogs might race 4 times a day, for 2-3 days at a large tournament. There are 3 heats per race; each heat lasting a few minutes total. There will be several hours of breaks in between races, in which the dogs hang out in crates and x-pens, go on walks, play in baby pools, and socialize with other dogs. If EVERY ONE of these dogs was hyper, constantly go-go-go, and neurotic, they would be extremely annoying and over-whelmed in a tournament environment. The owners intentionally hype their dogs up before each race, but the dogs are not hyped up through out the entire day.
Most teams practice once a week, for a few hours. We practice every Saturday during the summer/fall/spring months, with occasional demonstrations here and there. The majority of the time is spent doing a variety of exercises; long-distance recalls with distractions, obedience work, passing exercises, a bunch of games with the dogs, some box work, etc. Actually, we spend the majority of the time talking and watching our dogs play. It isn't just "run over the jumps, get the ball, run back again"... there is a lot that goes into training a dog for Flyball. Teaching a dog to take the jumps every time alone takes at least a few weeks. Teaching a dog to TRIGGER the box, let alone do a swimmer's turn (which is faster and safer), can take weeks or months. Gonzo was scared of the box at first, and it took a good 6 months to get him to consistently trigger it. Timing a run perfectly, so that the dog crosses the start line exactly at the green light, and timing perfect passes, is practically an art form. It takes A LOT of practice, A LOT of dedication, and a SERIOUS bond with your dog.
Flyball is more a social event than anything. Dogs get to meet and greet, and so do people. There are tons of awesome booths at tournaments, raffles, prizes, non-Flyball-related games, and you become very close with your team. I actually prefer the social aspect of Flyball way over Agility; it isn't anywhere near as close-knit.
What I don't get is all of the malice towards Border Collies in dog sports... I mean, as it is assumed, "bred for dog sports". Everyone who says all of the neurotic BCs they have met have been performance bred, did you specifically ASK the owner if the dog was bred for performance, from performance dogs? Or did you just assume? Did you encounter the dogs in their down-time, or when they were competing? Did you ever meet these "performance bred" dogs in a home environment? Are "performance" dogs NOT pets, as well? I just don't get it... I mean... there are some breeders out there breeding BCs with crazy energy, but performance dogs are not "performing" day and night! I'm sure even the most competitive owners appreciate a dog who can relax at home, too.
I'm not trying to imply that I approve of breeding Border Collies for "performance" - I don't! But, the majority of all of the Flyball BCs I knew, were indeed from 100% working lines. And they were very sweet, chill dogs when they weren't doing their "work".