Panhandle Supersonics

The Panhandle Supersonics Flyball team currently practices every Thursday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Gonzalez United Methodist Church at 2026 Pauline Street, Cantonment.

For directions, go to www.gonzalezmethodist.org

We ask that you come to the first practice without a dog so that you can observe our practices to see if it is something you may be interested in doing with your own dog.

Photo by Castoways Photography

Once a class is scheduled, here are some suggestions of what to bring:

Your dog

Proof of rabies vaccination

Water and water bowl

Leash (4 ft or 6 ft)

Flat collar or harness

Poop bags

Treats/motivational toy (something your dog is crazy about!)

Tennis ball (in case your dog doesn't like our pre-slobbered ones)

A crate or x-pen for your dog to be kept in when he/she is not running (or some other way
to restrain your dog)

Chair for you (optional)

The Supersonics emphasize positive methods in our training and classes. Our trainers have many years of competitive dog training experience in a variety of dog sports/activities, in addition to flyball, such as: obedience, agility, hunting, and conformation. This combined experience gives us a broad knowledge of dog behavior and of different training techniques that we can draw upon to help train our dogs in any venue.

We use various tools and techniques to help make the dog’s training successful, reducing frustration for both dog and handler. We believe that every dog is different, from their body structure to their personalities, and most require different approaches and plenty of patience. It is important to understand that each dog learns at it’s own pace and should never be compared to another dog, as is true of each handler.

We also emphasize the health and safety of the dog by training a proper turn on the box, called a “swimmer’s turn,” to reduce the risk of repetitive impact injuries incurred by straight-on box hits. Handlers are encouraged to keep any extra weight off of their dogs to minimize the impact that this can have on dogs that do frequent jumping. Keeping your dog lean will not only make them faster, but will help to prolong a healthy career in any dog sport and reduce the risk of injuries – just as in human athletes.

As a guide, you should be able to easily feel the outline of your dog’s ribs when lightly laying your hands against their sides. You should not actually be able to see the outline of the ribs, though, when viewing your dog. We’ll be glad to help you evaluate your dog’s weight and offer suggestions. Please don’t be offended if we recommend you put your dog on a diet. We also encourage owners of very young dogs, less than 9 months, to refrain from jumping them until their growth plates have closed and their bones are developed enough to handle the stress of the impact of jumping. Your veterinarian is your best reference in this area.

Flyball tournaments present a highly-adrenaline charged, frenzied environment for the dog. Training and proofing a dog’s performance before placing it in a tournament will help ensure its safety and the safety of our opponents’ dogs. Because safety is a priority, a dog will only be able to race with our team in a tournament when it consistently shows during practices that it is able to focus on the game, perform the pattern correctly, and not cross-over to intercept other dogs. This preparation will allow for a less stressful, more successful and enjoyable tournament experience for both dogs and handlers.

Since flyball tournaments always provide divisions for teams of varying speeds, there is no reason to limit the Panhandle Supersonics to only the fastest dogs.

For additional information please contact us.