Copyright Oregon Dog Sports 2016
Treibball
What is Treibball (Try-ball)?
It is a sport that originated in Germany around 2003 that involves dogs working at distances away from the handlers to drive/push balls into a soccer type goal. It is a great activity for dog/handler teams that enjoy communication, teamwork and FUN.
Dogs and handlers must learn to communicate effectively to bring one ball at a time into the goal. The balls used are various sizes of large exercise balls and the dogs learn to push using their noses or bodies to control the balls.
The sport is gaining popularity in the USA with a few different organizations promoting training and competitions. Positive reinforcement training and relationship building are foundation principals for all venues.
Frequently Asked Questions -
What skills does my dog need before starting Treibball?
Dogs should have a good foundation of basic obedience skills and self control. Attention, distance work, voice control, recall and distraction proofing are all key skills needed.
My dog gets too excited around the big ball and doesn’t listen, now what?
Much of the work introduced in the first set of classes does not involve the balls. For some dogs their prey drive kicks in and it becomes all about the ball and the chase. We will work on pushing many other objects, distance control, orienting to the handler and control around the balls before introducing pushing balls. This sport is about more than running around & playing with a ball - it is about communication and teamwork.
What if you don’t have a Herding breed or one with much drive to chase things?
Your dog doesn’t have to be a traditional Herding breed to be successful. This can be a fun activity for any breed of dog that enjoys working with their handler.
Links to learn more:
National Association of Treibball Enthusiasts (N.A.T.E.)
Living with Dogs Treibball Resources