Unorthodogs Flyball Club

Thanks Griffey!! You know we love you….but could you dial it back just a smidge. Yeah, didn’t think so. 😂

CLASS ALERT!

Intro to Dog Sports -FUNdamentals!

Ready to put the fun in FUNdamentals?
Join us for a 4-week Intro to Dog Sports class starting March 22nd in Lake Stevens.

This class is all about teaching behaviors through fun, engaging games that will set you and your dog up for success in more advanced training. We’ll build skills that transfer into a wide range of sports, including: Flyball, Agility, Scent Work, Barn Hunt…..and more!

Perfect for curious beginners or teams looking to explore what dog sports are all about in a low-pressure, high-fun environment.

Starts:March 22
Location: The Canine Resource Center, Lake Stevens
Length: 4 weeks
Cost: $200
How to sign up:
Email [email protected]
Spots are limited, so do not delay!

Come play, learn, and discover what your dog loves to do. Let’s build skills, and confidence one game at a time!

Come give flyball a try! You’ll learn all about the sport, try out the basics, and see if it’s something you and your dog would like to explore more.

Email to save your spot!

Congratulations to Vandal on earning her Iron Dog title at the Kaotic K9’s tournament!

That’s ten consecutive years of racing — an incredible milestone. Vandal has been a cornerstone of UOD, and this achievement is so well deserved.

She’s helped train many of our green dogs at practice, giving even the more challenging ones a solid, confident partner to run with. In tournaments, she’s run for multiple handlers, always steady, doing her job, and teaching new handlers the ropes — from starting to passing.

Vandal is a true staple of our team, and we love every moment we get to share the lanes with her.

The Unorthodogs had a blast attending the Mariners' Bark in the Park game! Great weather, great company, and so many good dogs 🩷

We are so proud of Atlas for being awarded the Georgia award at this weekends Run Free Flyball Club. Here’s the nomination that describes him perfectly:

Atlas is a 5.5 year old golden retriever/husky mix. He is fluffy, goofy and amazingly sweet. His golden retriever side shines through his boundless friendliness, while his husky side adds a dash of independence and mischief.

He has dry eye that requires daily medications four times a day and occasionally requires goggles for his sensitive eyes. While his housemate trained with intensity, Atlas prefers rolling around in the grass and greeting every person he meets with an enthusiastic wooo and wag.

Retrieving toys didn’t interest him and his attention was easily diverted. The idea of training - let alone competing in a structured sport like flyball -seemed unrealistic. But leaving him behind while his housemate went to practice seemed unfair.

To help Atlas stay focused, the team had to follow strict guidelines:

- No direct eye contact – eye contact would break his concentration.
- No calling his name – he had to move through the course independently.
- Minimal verbal cues – extra noise would throw off his rhythm.
- Careful placement of props – spacing had to accommodate his zigzag style.
- Patience – the process wasn’t about speed but letting Atlas navigate in his own way.

The team was mostly successful, some days better than others, it was hard to resist his charm, even the strictest of handlers have a hard time enforcing the rules when he flashes his happy grin.

He trots into practice with no intention of working but happy to perform. Against all expectations, Atlas started training in early 2023, and after months of embracing his own rhythm, he made his flyball debut in the spring of 2024.

His style is uniquely his own, zigzagging happily, gliding over jumps at his own pace. He may not be the fastest or the most precise competitor, but Atlas embodies the heart of the sport. His boundless joy, his goofy charm, and his gentle loving spirit reminds us that winning isn’t just about being the best - it’s about being unapologetically yourself.

A couple Unorthodogs teamed up with Elusive Flyball and traveled to Minnesota for Animal Inn’s 40th anniversary tournament.

Wendigo, with Veronica, was a champ. After traveling on a red eye and getting in at 5 am Saturday he jumped in the lanes no problem. He ran nice and consistent and earned his FMX—10,000 points! We are so proud of this scruffy guy and how hard he works. He’s a very important part of our team!

Raven, with Morgan, spent the week in Minnesota on an extended trip with her family and was SO excited to see her week end with flyball! She earned her FDCh-G— 2,500 points and was putting up some really nice times. Watching this girl run is a lot of fun and she was excited to meet all her new friends and fans. Keep watching, the best has yet to come!

Our Open 2 team took 1st on Saturday and 3rd on Sunday. It was good fun racing and we got enjoy the debut of an elusive dog, Stevie with Nancy, who ran like she’s been doing it forever! Thanks Elusive flyball for teaming up with us and representing region 7 together all the way in Minnesota. We love running with y’all and can’t wait to do it again.

Two new titles earned at Portland Tail Blazers Goon Dogs Tournament, what a good weekend!!

Sitka with Ronnie earned her FDCh, 500 points! At 10.5 years old she’s proving that older dogs really can learn new tricks. She’s having a blast and we love having her in the lanes with us.

Hydrus with Nena earned his FM, 5000 points! He’s been an important part of our team for the last year and he’s worked hard for those points. Running in start or in the pack, he’s not phased! If Nena forgets where to line up all she needs to do is look at the mat and find his trail of spit he so nicely left to help her remember. Watch out for this guy, he’s got lots more to give!

We had a blast racing at Matsqui’s May Madness in Abbotsford. Raven proved she’s a solid Flyball dog by swapping handlers and running well no matter who was wrangling!! Atlas earned his FDCh-S!! And we managed to break out more often than not on Sunday. 😂 The dogs were clearly in the zone!

We love junior handlers and can’t wait to watch this kiddo and his minions racing! Charlie is showing the adults just how to wrangle these terriers!!!