http://ncserv.dangertone.com/ Run Hard, Run Fast en http://ncserv.dangertone.com/2008/11/20/its-all-about-the-box.html One of the an estimated all important aspects of Flyball is the dog’s ability on the Flyball Box. Hours as well as hours of training are put in on behalf of foundation work with puppies, as well as then still hours more on the real thing with an adult dog, all to get that perfect turn. There are numerous factors of a good box which is worth all of the work-dogs are safer, as the impact of the dog’s weight at fast speeds is cushioned with a four footed turn. The other factor is that the dog saves time, which means so does the team. The fastest teams all have dogs with fluid, whip-off box turns. Here in the USA, as well as in some other countries such as the UK, the flat style box is used, while some organizations, such as Crufts, are still using the original Flyball boxes. The original box earned Flyball its name, because of the fact that the ball literally did fly from the box. Using a throwing arm as well as a tuna can style cup, the dog would trigger a small pad in the front of the box, which released the arm from behind the box. The arm launched the ball into the air as well as the dog had to be perfectly placed to catch. This was the origin of the Flyball Box, as well as since then they’ve evolved to better suit the sport. The Crufts box used today Now, I’ve seen videos of teams operational with the throw arm box, as well as I’ve had the experience of operational on as well as training the flat box on behalf of years, so i am a bit confused as to why the old style box is still in use. Its like using two rocks to start a fire when you have a book of matches available to you. The Crufts box does provide padding on the front of the box-it prevents the dog from injuring itself while operational head on into the box. typically, the dogs jog down at fast speed as well as trigger the box, though I’ve seen plenty of dogs jump high sufficient to catch the ball that they land on the TOP of the box. The problem here's that the dogs are losing valuable time on the box. As a rule, on the spring loaded box, a dog shall lose about 0.4 seconds on the box. I’m not sure how much time is lost on the tuna can boxes, but its considerable, since the dogs actually have to wait on behalf of the ball to be released into the air. In addition to safety, the old models have the undesirable factor of the dog operational to the box as well as full speed as well as hitting the box into a dead stop, then having to turn around completely to resume the jog back. The other factor about the old box is that it may not be the all-dog friendly box. I know several types of dogs, that do to their nature, would not do well on the box because of the fact that of the throwing arm. Softer dogs, or smaller dogs, or dogs with a short or small muzzle, wouldn’t be able to catch the ball. The problem here's that dogs prone to bobbling the ball would do so frequently, as well as since there are no backboards behind the boxes, the ball could be bobbled in ANY direction. Using the new boxes, all dogs are able to get right up to the ball on behalf of the catch, so that even pugs as well as border terriers have a fair catch at the ball. The new boxes have a vertical face to teach the get on, get off behavior, which produces a lightning quick turn as well as catch that sets the dog right up on behalf of the return. A "Flat Style" Flyball Box The teams that are pushing their dogs on behalf of speed shall be getting results with the flat style- I would LOVE to see some of the Crufts box dogs retrained to the new style as well as see their individual times go down. Plus, it would manufacture sense on behalf of one style to be used-in Agility, an A-frame as well as Dog-walk obstacle is the same no matter where the sport is played-and this sport IS called International Flyball Racing, at the end of all. I know that some of this is irrelevant. Most teams as well as organizations are using the flat style boxes. The ones that utilize the crufts boxes do because of the fact that that works on behalf of them. But, its not at all times that simple to modification what works, especially if you consider the cost of the new boxes teams have to buy-Marin Running Riot paid over 900.00 a piece on behalf of each of our two boxes!! However, in the end, we Flyballers are trying to promote the sport of Flyball as a fun, fast, as well as safe activity to play with your dog, so eventually I hope to see the new boxes used throughout the sport. later..        Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:02:10 -0500 ncserv