MLive.com: Search Page 1 of 4 SEARCH Pick Newspaper Home News+Biz Travel Enter Keyword(s) Sports Forums Cams+Radio FIND A BUSINESS Enter Keyword Living Entertainment MORE SEARCHES Classifieds Back To Your Search Results | Search Again » More From The Ann Arbor News Dogs have a ball on the fly Eager canines, owners avid to compete in relay races Page 3 of 3 As for the people, flyball fans say they range from fiercely competitive to laidback. In all cases, flyball is a team effort. "If you have to pull your dog (because he's not in top shape), you do what you need to for the good of the team,'' says Elin Becker of Huntington Woods, a Pawsitive Attitudes member who races her dog Nigel, a cavalier King Charles spaniel. Her club, like many, runs a lot of border collies but also whippets, golden retrievers and mixed-breed dogs: All are welcome in flyball. "It's fun to win, but the good thing is, your dog gets points even if your team loses,'' says Vicky Lamb, another Front Runner member and a Westland veterinarian. Individual dogs get points, based on their team's speed, that can be accumulated toward a future title. » Jobs » Autos » Real Estate » All Classifieds Obituaries » Death Notices & Guest Book Flint Journal archives » Search back to 1995 Grand Rapids Press archives » Search back to May 1990 Saginaw News archives » Search back to 2001 Local Businesses » Find A Business Entertainment Advertisement » Contests & Games. Click here! » Movies » Music » Arts & Events » Dining & Bars » Advertise With Us OUR AFFILIATES http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/features-1/115425431527800.xml?aanews?FEG&coll=2&thispage=3 8/12/2006 MLive.com: Search Page 2 of 4 Jack Russells are now frequent team members, thanks to their very unwhippet-like gams. The jumps have to be the height of the shortest dog on the team, minus 4 inches. For border collies, who dominate the sport, those http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/features-1/115425431527800.xml?aanews?FEG&coll=2&thispage=3 8/12/2006 MLive.com: Search Page 3 of 4 are easy hurdles. Jack Russells are a go-go kind of dog, so they're naturals for flyball. But a mellow yellow lab stands out in this crowd. The sport appeals especially to dog owners who need to take the edge off seemingly bottomless stores of canine energy and drive. Flyball is a workout for handlers as well, Lamb says. Some rush with their dogs to the starting line, and run up again to egg them on for the home stretch. Some flail thick rope chew toys on the ground and shout "Back!'' In the din, it's hard to tell who's yelping loudest, dogs or humans. At the end of one round of races in Chelsea, the Ballistics team shakes hands with the Paw Busters team. The handlers, that is. The dogs just pant and look happy. Reporter Anne Rueter can be reached at 734-994-6759 or [email protected] Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 FIND NEWSPAPER ARTICLES Select Newspaper: Select Category: Select Time Frame: AND Enter Keywords: Pick One Any Category Today (Example: governor, capitol) The Best Local Classifieds: Jobs | Autos | Real Estate | Place An Ad Special Home Delivery Offers! Ann Arbor News | Bay City Times | Flint Journal Grand Rapids Press | Jackson Citizen Patriot | Kalamazoo Gazette Muskegon Chronicle | Saginaw News About Us | Help/Feedback | Advertise With Us Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement. Please read our Privacy Policy. ©2006 MLive.com. All Rights Reserved. http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/features-1/115425431527800.xml?aanews?FEG&coll=2&thispage=3 8/12/2006 MLive.com: Search http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/features-1/115425431527800.xml?aanews?FEG&coll=2&thispage=3 Page 4 of 4 8/12/2006