Cracking 'Flyball-box' Code

We dogs at Pet-n-You not only possess the 1st Flyball box in Malaysia, but now we had upgrade ourselves with the coolest flyball box, newly constructed by Mr. Kimi Chai. Ta dah!

When I first introduced myself to a flyball box, I wonder what the heck is that? A box that kidnap my tennis ball. I look and look, stuck my muzzle in and nothing seems to work. My precious ball is trap and he's demanding me to come to his rescue.

Soon after, I learnt about the mechanism behind this complicated work. I need to trigger the paddle with my manicured paws to release the ball. After I had succeeded, I felt a twinge of pride, like James Bond breaking the code to save the world.

~ Pacco to the tennis-ball-rescue ~

She had finally brought herself to read the first Ian Fleming novel, the Casino Royale and noticed what a huge difference this novel adaptation had with other novels that made into movie. Take Harry Potter for example, almost 70% of the novel's content are being butchered in the movie. What a waste. But in the case of Casino Royale, the novel only talks about the poker game, and Mr. Bond got physically tortured by Le Chiffre. No Jamaica chasing stunt, no Miami airport chasing scene and no Venice building collapsing. Those are the parts that made a great action movie.

Pacco de Dogzilla

This is another weekend to be forgotten. Ms Owner was banned from hiking by the parent until 25 June. According to what I've heard, they didn't want to encounter any misfortunate accident in the jungle that might cause her unable to attend to examination. That's really thoughtful of them.

Last week, I'm slothy. This week I'm a Dogzilla. While, Ms Owner was trying to capture some video with her camera, I went over to launch an attack on Angel. This was not the first time we have a rough encounter. We are life time enermy. Okay, I'm just jealous because she's a Border Collie, and I'm not. Ms Owner felt so sorry about my 'insane' behaviour, but she don't think I will ever learn a lesson. She feels like strangle me to death, chop me into 18 pieces and then distribute my meat to every dog. She warn me not to force her buy a muzzle or a prong collar, or even worse, electric collar. Thinking of it makes me shiver.

Anyway, although this didn't turn out according to her plan of capturing the flyball video for all the 4 dogs, including me, we have a complete video of Groovy. As you can see, I appear as the cameo. Talking about cameo, we heard that Robert Downey Jr. will appear as cameo in "The Incredible Hulk". Although we don't fancy watching gigantic green CGI monster, we might give it a go.

We also attempt 36 weave poles challenge, which can really make me dizzy. I can't even reliably weave 12 poles, 36 will be too much, and the sight 60 can make me faint on the spot.

The next agility trial will be 3 days after Ms Owner last paper. We don't think with 2 days interval, we can fix anything. If I didn't wander off the ring, I will most likely miss all contact, skip the weaves and fly-off from the teeter. So rather than washing done the entry fees into the drain, we might as well donate it to the charity, at least it was for a good cause.

PAAPP 11th Agility & 4th Obedience Trial

~ 3 mutt representing team from KL. Scruffy, Ginger and me ~

The day started off with the Obedience trial, and by the time I reached the venue, Intermediate class had already begun. This was Scruffy's Intermediate class debut and he nearly nail it with the score of 163, only missing out the retrieve over jump exercise. While Ginger did us proud by beating off Steven Tan's and Max Lee's Golden Retrievers to claim the Obedience Novice Champion award, while Scruffy settled for 3rd place.

~ Scruffy competiting along with the OB big guns ~

~ Ginger claiming top spot for Novice Obedience ~

I had a long day before my run began at 3.00pm. Since no warm up jumps are available, I did some heeling practise and playing rough with my stinky tug. This time the treat was Ms Janice's famous "buttered-chicken-liver"! Anything that isn't commercial works great for me. Slurp.

~ The Fanstastic Duo are set to dominate the OB ring ~

The number of participants was low and some of the registered ones didn't turn up. Groovy's lady boss messaged me some words of encouragement and it really boost up my confidence until it nearly spilled, coupled with our request to Bank's owner, asking him to pray for us that we will win in all 3 class. But the 'blur' him, didn't even realize I was up in Penang, when the rest of the world knows about it.

We started off with the jumper class. It was a totally right handler course if only you want to have a beautiful run. But we choose to go ugly and keep switching side. 1st attempt - off course. 2nd attempt - CLEAN RUN, but I did some wide turning, hence record time 23 second. 1st placing for me.

Qualifying for the Elementary class was our main aim for this trial, although I expect to miss the contact for dog walk. Table wouldn't be much of a problem, since we had been practising table everyday and night for the past 2 weeks, working on every direction and distance. But this time, it was the teeter! 1st attempt: Standing in the middle of the teeter without tilting it down. Ms Owner made me repeat the teeter several times, but I still bailed off without tilting it. 2nd attempt: Still the same. What a bummer and she was got real pissed off. We were in such high confidence that we will definately get it this time. Argg!! Ms Owner feels like throwing me down the Penang bridge and let me swim back to KL.

~ Getting some decent rest in between runs ~

Final run, the Gambler Test I. The gambler sequence was hurdle, hurdle, tyre, hurdle, table. The distance was comfortable for us, but later we notice it had a difficult entry. During the opening sequence, we choose to weave, but I weaved like an old grandma and then I refuse to enter the tunnel. I doesn't seems like my usual self, I never hesitate to enter the open tunnel. But atleast I successfully touch the table this time with Ms Owner giving only 1 cue. Daily practise had made me a table pawfect. Surpringly, 1st placing.

At 7.00pm there was Flyball Mock run. The aim of this mock run was to enable the judge and steward to try out their rules and made any adjustment if necessary. I don't even bring my flyball box along, hence I'm just doing some retrieving work here. The banner was set up in between 2 lanes to ensure the green dogs don't run into each other. Ms Owner predict I will run like an auntie and skip the jumps during the run back. But the outcome was better than expected. During my first 2 runs, Kofi came over to my lane to say 'hi' and ask if he could try out my tennis ball. I got rather paranoid and drop my own ball, but I manage to control myself from snapping innocent dog, and return to Ms Owner. Later, the authority secure the banner from all gaps. Despite all the tiredness, I'm still hitting 7 seconds. Whoopee! But Ms Owner wonder how come I'm not faster at the training ground.

~ I'm analyzing the strange white hurdles ~

By the end of the day, I did not contribute anything to earn points toward the agility title. Nonetheless, the food prizes were bigger than before. We got 7.5kg bag for 1st placing. Archer's owner got pretty anxious and ring me up demanding for results. She's really happy that I didn't let Pet-n-You down, as this time I came as a sole ranger. Ginger's trophy was really beautiful and yet again I'm so tempted to participate in the OB trial. Scruffy came in 2nd for Jumper class and 3rd in Novice obedience, thus he only manage to bag home the food prizes.

~ 1 clean run medal, 2 winner trophies, 2 big packs of food and smiling faces~

~ The mafia gang's haul. We, the proudest mutts in town ~

Flyball Try-out

The Flyball: Step-by-Step that Ms Owner taught me nearly 3 weeks ago really works. Now I know how to 'bash' the flyball box. Here's the photo shot last Sunday, my flyball training along with Groovy and Russell, the 2 JRT. Groovy is already a pro in this sport, as he learnt it long time ago. As for me and Russell, we only decided to indulge after we find out about the tournament. Therefore he just need to bear with the incompetence of us.

~ Me the flying mongrel, attempting Flyball, the combination should 'rocks' ~

~ Groovy, the 'land torpedo', no doubt, fastest in the inaugural team ~

~ Russell, the 'kangaroo hooper', who loves escaping with the ball ~

Unfortunately I still haven't get the idea of 'grab'. I tends to allow the ball to drop on the ground before picking it up. This is all because Ms Owner forbid me to grab it directly from the hole before I learn to hit the box. Whenever I approach the hole with my muzzle, she shouted 'No!'. Now, I was in dilemma.

And when the ball rolls off to the side, I ended up with a wide turn and skip the jumps. Maybe there's something wrong with my eye-sight, I tends to focus only on jumps that available directly infront of me. There's need for more efforts to put on. Firstly, I need to learn 'bash and grab' at the same time, and retrieving back without any miss jump eventhough the ball roll 10 feet away.

Flyball is much more fun than agility, as I can worked independently after being released. There's no need to follow orders from my poor handler, who tends to point me here and there. This cause plenty of frustration to me. Maybe she should think what she really wants before asking.

The Almighty King King presented me the 'Funky Blog' award. So now, I'm " Funk.... Funk... Funky.... Pacco ! " Thanks you, King King.

Flyball : Step-by-Step n Mr. Rambo

This afternoon Ms Owner went for a date with Mr. John Rambo at Mid Valley. Soon as she reach home, she told the family 'no spagetti for the day'. Humans being blast off like minced meat, bloody flesh and beheaded humans, n etc etc. Urg...! But nonetheless, great action pack with lotsa bombs and machine guns! Worth your every penny.

By the way, we heard that flyball competition is around the corner, probably this June. As usual, Pacco de Mongrel wouldn't wanna feel left out. But only once a week practise wouldn't make much improvement on my skills. I'm facing trouble with the flyball box.

So Ms Owner yet again, using her great imaginative skill work, came up with DIY flyball box that doesn't cost us a penny.

1st - Learn to step on a wooden plank

2nd - Elevated it a little


3rd - put the wood plank on the slope resemble a flyball box


4th - learn to retrieve while stepping at the same time


5th - replace wooden plank with different material

After a couple of season, I roughly got the idea of it. But I looks a little awkward when I was ask to 'stay' and strike a pose. We are looking forward to put our skill for test this Sunday. Can't wait for it! Paw crossed.

By the way, for those who are interested in flyball training, we found an interesting read by Kelly Price for 'Swimmer's Turn'. Although I don't fancy swimming, but swimmer's turn should worth a try.

1st Trip to PetnYou ground

2nd September 2006

This is Pacco 1st trip to the PetnYou ground. It ground was indeed a spacious field, whereby all dogs gotta chance to enjoy offleash run.

Agility tryout is the main aim for our trip to the ground. So basically try out all the equipment except for the collapsed tunnel. I wish that I gotta come everyweek and the day whereby Pacco can complete an offleash run will finally come.

Russell and Groovy doing a 'Stand Stay' exercise?

Pacco trying out the Flyball equipment. But she yet to get the idea of retrieving the ball from the box.

After the exhausting run, even Groovy wanted a rest under the shade.

Before ending the session, we finish off with a 'Down Stay' routine. Pacco emerged as the 1st dog! 1st dog to be eliminated.