Flyball is a dog sport in which teams of dogs race against each other from the start to the finish line, over a line of hurdles, to a box that releases a tennis ball to be caught when the dog presses the spring-loaded pad, then back to their handler. The dogs then go in succession relay-style, passing nose-to-nose at the start/finish line until all four dogs have successfully completed the course with the fastest team winning the race.

Flyball is a unique dog sport in that it is made up of a team of dogs and handlers. There are four dogs and handlers that complete in each heat of a race. Up to all dogs including mixed breeds (15 months and older) are eligible to compete in Flyball. The AKC recognizes three Flyball titles in partnership with the North American Flyball Association (NAFA): Flyball Dog Champion (FDCH), Flyball Master (FM), and ONYX.

Flyball provides an entertaining and active way to interact with ones dog and other dog enthusiasts in an enjoyable environment while allowing the dogs exercise and enjoyment. It is an especially effective way to burn off dogs energy with a high drive to work, such as Border Collies and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. A large part of flyballs popularity stems from the fact that it is one of the competition activities available to mixed-breed dogs, allowing rescued mutts and non-pedigree dogs to shine alongside their purebred canine counterparts. Though herding dogs currently dominate the courses, many champion teams have mutts on them. Dogs earn titles and awards based on points earned by their team in racing.

Flyball is not limited to the breeds size, as smaller dogs such as Patterdale Terriers, Jack Russell Terriers, Whippets, and even miniature poodles often compete with great success in mixed-breed teams (teams consisting of dogs of various sizes and breeds). Smaller dogs are often prized as the hurdle height is based on the height of the smallest dog in the team, commonly known as a height dog.

In summary, flyball is a dog sport that involves teams of dogs racing against each other over a line of hurdles to a box that releases a tennis ball to be caught when the dog presses the spring-loaded pad, then back to their handler. All dogs including mixed breeds (15 months and older) are eligible to compete in Flyball, and the AKC recognizes three Flyball titles in partnership with the North American Flyball Association (NAFA): Flyball Dog Champion (FDCH), Flyball Master (FM), and ONYX.