Saturday, October 18, 2014

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Animal House is a Flyball Club in Salem, Oregon.  We practice each week at My Dogs Gym and participate in 4 to 6 Flyball tournaments each year in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.  In our practices and at tournaments, we keep the emphasis on having fun with our dogs and with our fellow teammates...we celebrate our successes, and we laugh at our mistakes.  Dogs and handlers from all backgrounds, with any and all levels of skill are welcome to join us.


If you’d like more information, please contact Mary Lou at dandyrat@comcast.net.

CLASSES



We are offering a beginners class, seven session, Sunday afternoons starting Feb. 28th My Dogs Gym in Salem, Oregon. Pre-registration is required. For more information and registration, email Mary Lou Janeba at dandyrat@comcast.net.  

(If this date/time does not work for you, check our LINKS page for information on other local Flyball clubs.)

COST INFORMATION
The first introductory lesson is free; after that, the cost is $120 for 6 weeks of instruction.


PREREQUISITES
Prerequisites for the Flyball class are that your dog has:
     1)  A good, solid recall (your dog will come to you if you call him, even in 
          a moderately distracting environment;
     2)  The ability to fetch (retrieve) a thrown or stationary object;
     3)   No aggression toward other dogs;
     4)   Can stay focused on you in a moderately distracting environment.
 If you are uncertain whether or not your dog currently meets these prerequisites, we can evaluate that during your free introductory lesson.


CLASS SIZE AND CONTENT
Classes are small (around 6 students at a time), so you and your dog will receive lots of individual attention.  We train you on how to train your dog in the sport of Flyball.  Training starts by introducing you and your dog to several basic, foundation exercises.  We then build upon those foundation behaviors, so that you can bring your dog to the point of successfully and safely executing the full Flyball course: 

  1. to run down the Flyball lane over 4 jumps,
  2. to catch the ball from the Flyball box while executing a 4-paw swimmer’s turn off the box, and
  3. to return to you with the ball, back over the 4 jumps.
Our training program is grounded in positive reinforcement techniques, relying heavily on the use of treats OR toys that your individual dog finds the most rewarding.  Our main goals in training are to keep it fun for you and your dog, while using the best tools and techniques to keep your dog making noticeable progress, each and every week.


OUR TOURNAMENT - January 2016



We will be hosting our TOGA PARTY tournament on January 9 & 10, 2016, in SALEM! (same location as the annual Muddy Paws tournament)

RV PARKING ON-SITE
 Dry camping only (no hook-ups), $15/night, gravel parking lot. Pay Animal House when you check in.

HOTEL INFO
Room Rates include a complimentary hot breakfast.
When making reservations, call the local front desk (numbers listed below), and be sure to let them know you are with the Animal House Flyball Club Toga Party Tournament in order to get the rates listed here.

Comfort Suites, 630 Hawthorne Ave SE, Salem, OR (503-585-9705)
$105 + $15 pet fee per room for Dbl/Dbl and King (up to 20 rooms)

Days Inn Black Bear, 1600 Motor Court NE, Salem, OR (503-581-1559)
$69+tax for King or $79+tax for Dbl/Dbl $10 pet fee per night (up to 20 rooms)

Phoenix Inn and Suites, 4370 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR (503-588-9220)
$89+tax for King or $99+tax for Dbl/Dbl $22 pet fee per room (up to 20 rooms) 

Shilo Inn and Suites, 3304 Market St. NE, Salem, OR (503-581-4001)
$85+tax for King or Dbl/Dbl with a $75 refundable pet deposit (up to 20 rooms)

TEAM PRACTICE



Animal House team practices are held every Thursday night at 6:30pm at My Dogs Gym in Salem, Oregon.  Non-members with experienced Flyball Dogs are welcome to practice with us, as time and space allows.  The drop-in practice fee is $10/night.

For beginners, new dog classes are held at 5:30pm on Thursday nights.  Please see our CLASSES page for more information.

My Dogs Gym address is:
1337 Madison St. NE, Salem, OR 97301

For more information, or if you’d like to visit one of our practices or join us for an evening, please contact Mary Lou at dandyrat@comcast.net.


MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION



Upon graduation from our new dog CLASS and with permission from the Animal House Board of Directors, a handler can become a member of Animal House Flyball Club. Contact Patty at allkees@comcast.net for more information.


MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

*A Fun, Flexible, and Forgiving Attitude: Animal House members are kind, patient, and respectful of one another—we’re here to have fun with our dogs, which means we have to get along with each other.

*A Commitment to Excellence (but not to Stress): We work hard, and our practices are structured and organized so that each dog and handler team is ready to put their best paws forward at tournaments and other events. Solid preparation allows us to relax and have fun!

*Annual Fee of $36: This helps to cover the club’s insurance and equipment costs, and is due on June 15th each year. The first year fee will be pro-rated ($3 per month) for those who join Animal House after July 1st. (Note: annual fee may change as insurance rates and/or membership numbers change.)

*Membership Agreement Form:  Members are also required to sign an Animal House Membership Agreement.  For a copy of the form, contact Patty at allkees@comcast.net.


*NAFA CRN: This is a Competition Racing Number from the North American Flyball Association. Each dog must have a CRN prior to being able to compete in a NAFA tournament. The CRN is a one-time expense per dog, and can be purchased here.

*Animal House T-Shirts: At tournaments, team members wear our team t-shirts. Cost per shirt is usually around $15, and it’s a good idea to plan to buy 2 shirts (one for each day of a tournament.) T-Shirts are ordered as needed to meet the needs of new members. (Hoodies and other AH gear may be available, but are not required.)


VIDEOS



Some of Our Tournament Video Links




Find other Animal House videos on Youtube—search “Animal House Flyball”.


LINKS


FLYBALL ORGANIZATIONS

LOCAL TEAMS (most offer new dog classes)
BoondogSaints in Bend
Flying Underdogs in Portland
Rip It Up in Portland
Stumptown Racers in Portland
X-Fidos in Portland