Agility & Flyball Demonstrations

DEMONSTRATIONS – AGILITY AND FLYBALL

Dog Agility Demonstration

Welcome to the exciting world of dog agility! In this fast-paced sport, a handler guides their dog through an obstacle course filled with jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and more—similar to a steeplechase for horses. Each course is a race against the clock, where both speed and accuracy count.

Agility is open to dogs of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments, and to handlers of all ages and abilities. The dogs you’ll see today typically compete on several courses with different layouts in a single day. They’ve never seen the courses before, so they rely entirely on the cues and communication from their handler.

Whether you’re looking to compete or just want a fun, engaging activity to share with your dog, agility is a fantastic choice. It builds trust, teamwork, and keeps both dog and handler mentally and physically active.

This demonstration is proudly hosted by First Class Agility Facility, with locations in Silt and Loma, CO. Interested in getting started? Ask us about our training programs and classes—we’d love to help you and your dog begin your agility journey!

Flyball… if an apt metaphor for agility is steeplechase, then the only possible metaphor to describe flyball is – DRAG RACIN’ DOGS !! Flyball is a head to head series of races between two teams of four dogs. Each dog races through 4 low jumps to “the box”. When they hit the box and make a high speed turn to come back, the box kicks out a tennis ball which they must successfully carry back through all four jumps and then all the way through the finish line without dropping it. The next dog is released at a precisely determined moment that will hopefully allow the dogs to pass noses right at the start / finish line without the second dog getting there too soon and being disqualified. This is repeated for all four dogs on the team and the entire race – all four dogs – is usually completed in only 16 to 20 seconds!

Flyball dogs can be all sizes and breeds – the border collies and other herding breeds that you came to see this weekend are well represented in flyball, but any high drive and focused dog that can learn the skills of making the turn at the box and then passing another dog at top speed (usually some 25 or 30 MPH) with their bodies just inches apart will make a good racing dog.

The flyball and agility dogs you will see at Meeker, and their owners, will represent all levels of skill and accomplishment from beginning dogs in training, to senior dogs, to accomplished competitors who have won many ribbons and titles at regional and national events. We will have a handout at the demo location with contact information for the clubs in our area and for people who teach classes and provide individual instruction, so ask for one of those handouts if you’re interested in learning more about either sport or getting started with your dog.