[AU-074] Flyball: Learning the Foundations (Winter-Spring 2025)

This course is ideal for learning the fundamentals of dog sports with a focus on beginner Flyball training. The behaviors you learn will transition seamlessly into the advanced mechanics required in executing a Flyball pattern. The lessons can be easily trained at home with minimal equipment. The work does not require a Flyball team or a Flyball box.

Focus areas include:

  • Tugging/toy play
  • Driving away from handler
  • Building work ethic
  • Retrieving an object
  • Targeting all feet
  • Recalling to you
  • Focusing around distractions
  • Controlling arousal
  • Committing to jumps
  • Controlling impulses
  • Hind end power
  • Developing body awareness

Additional Course Details

  • Faculty:
    • Shelly Switick
  • Dates:
    • Course starts on January 8, 2025.
      • Unit 1 – Jan 8
      • Unit 2 – Jan 22
      • Unit 3 – Feb 5
      • Unit 4 – Feb 19
      • Unit 5 – Mar 5
      • Unit 6 – Mar 19
      • End Date: Apr 9
    • Registration opens on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 @ 11 am Eastern
    • Registration closes for Working Spots Feb 27, 2025. Auditing remains open.
    • Course material access never expires.
  • Level:
    • This course is perfect for pups aged 5 months and older. For younger dogs that are not fully grown, please consult a veterinary professional to determine a safe jump height for your dog.
  • Course Structure:
    • Over 6 Units. Each exercise has:
      • Demo video
      • Written description
      • Downloadable PDFs
  • Equipment needed (working participants only):
    • Jump that is 24-30″ wide and 6-7″ high
    • 18″ x 24″ target mat, black preferred (shelf liner is perfect)
    • Tugs, treats, clicker
    • Optional: 14″ fitness/stability disc (larger breeds may require a larger disc size)
    • Optional: Cato Board
  • Space required (working participants only):
    • Games require a maximum of 30 feet of indoor/outdoor space.

Course Information

Estimated Time: 6 units, 2 weeks between each release, with a week of catch up at the end.

Difficulty: Puppy

Categories: ,

Course Instructor

Shelly Switick Shelly Switick Instructor
  • Enrollment in this course closed on May 28, 2025.

Introductory Information & Glossary

Introductory & Glossary
Lesson 1 of 2 within section Introductory Information & Glossary. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Course PDF Download
Lesson 2 of 2 within section Introductory Information & Glossary. You must enroll in this course to access course content.

Prerequisite

Prerequisite – Toy Engagement
Lesson 1 of 2 within section Prerequisite. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Prerequisite – Learning To Tug
Lesson 2 of 2 within section Prerequisite. You must enroll in this course to access course content.

Unit 1

Here Game
Lesson 1 of 7 within section Unit 1. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Recalls
Lesson 2 of 7 within section Unit 1. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Four Feet In A Box
Lesson 3 of 7 within section Unit 1. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Nose Target
Lesson 4 of 7 within section Unit 1. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Impulse Control + Food
Lesson 5 of 7 within section Unit 1. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Ready, Set, Okay (RSO) Game
Lesson 6 of 7 within section Unit 1. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Two Tug Game
Lesson 7 of 7 within section Unit 1. You must enroll in this course to access course content.

Unit 2

Target Mat + Platform
Lesson 1 of 8 within section Unit 2. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Here Game + Toy
Lesson 2 of 8 within section Unit 2. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Proofing Two Tug Game
Lesson 3 of 8 within section Unit 2. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Identifying the Lead Foot
Lesson 4 of 8 within section Unit 2. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Middle/Line Up
Lesson 5 of 8 within section Unit 2. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Retrieve From Ground
Lesson 6 of 8 within section Unit 2. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Backing Up On the Flat
Lesson 7 of 8 within section Unit 2. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Spin Left + Right
Lesson 8 of 8 within section Unit 2. You must enroll in this course to access course content.

Unit 3

RSO + Ground Tug
Lesson 1 of 6 within section Unit 3. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Jump Introduction
Lesson 2 of 6 within section Unit 3. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Target Mat + Turn
Lesson 3 of 6 within section Unit 3. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Backing Up Stairs
Lesson 4 of 6 within section Unit 3. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Here Game + Distractions
Lesson 5 of 6 within section Unit 3. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Two Tug Game + Distance
Lesson 6 of 6 within section Unit 3. You must enroll in this course to access course content.

Unit 4

Play Bow
Lesson 1 of 6 within section Unit 4. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Middle + Tug
Lesson 2 of 6 within section Unit 4. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Target Mat + Distance
Lesson 3 of 6 within section Unit 4. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Two Tug Game + Motion
Lesson 4 of 6 within section Unit 4. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Jump + Retrieve
Lesson 5 of 6 within section Unit 4. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Jump + Distance
Lesson 6 of 6 within section Unit 4. You must enroll in this course to access course content.

Unit 5

Target Mat + Motion
Lesson 1 of 6 within section Unit 5. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Jump + Distance + Retrieve
Lesson 2 of 6 within section Unit 5. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Prop Introduction
Lesson 3 of 6 within section Unit 5. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Middle + RSO + Two Tug Game
Lesson 4 of 6 within section Unit 5. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Pivot
Lesson 5 of 6 within section Unit 5. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Over & Back Turn Prep + Prop
Lesson 6 of 6 within section Unit 5. You must enroll in this course to access course content.

Unit 6

Target Mat + Height
Lesson 1 of 5 within section Unit 6. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Middle + RSO + Jump + Retrieve + Jump + Two Tug Game
Lesson 2 of 5 within section Unit 6. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Balanced Sit to Stand
Lesson 3 of 5 within section Unit 6. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Head In Hand
Lesson 4 of 5 within section Unit 6. You must enroll in this course to access course content.
Cato Board Station Game (Optional)
Lesson 5 of 5 within section Unit 6. You must enroll in this course to access course content.