According to the North American Treibball Association, Treibball, also known as Driving Ball or Herding Ball, is a new, German dog sport that’s becoming popular around the world. In Treibball your dog has to herd eight large balls into a soccer net, in 15 minutes. This dog sport is great exercise for all dogs, large and small, and develops your dog’s concentration and self-reliant thinking. Treibball is the perfect sport for herding and sporting dogs.
| Getting ready for a game of Treiball |
About Treibball
Treibball, developed in Germany by Jan Nijboer in 2003, became a competitive sport in Europe in 2007. Many dog training schools in the United States are adding Treibball to their course offerings, especially in the Midwest and California. In Treibball classes, dogs learn to move large, 22 inch to 34 inch, air filled balls into a net or a pen, and the dog handlers learn how to incorporate distance work to direct the dog.
The handler signals the dog, guiding him to go out to the balls and wait for the herding command. The dog handler directs the dog to go right or left to begin herding the balls into the net using a series of hand signals, whistles, or verbal commands. Treibball is very similar to herding a flock of sheep and is ideal for dogs that want to work.
Treibball Rules
The eight different colored Treibball fitness balls are arranged in a triangle similar to a game of pool, 15 feet away from the goal net. The dog handler stands to the right of the net or pen and cannot enter the herding area that is the length of half a soccer field. When the start whistle blows, the dog has 15 minutes to herd the balls into the net. The dog has to push the balls into the net in a certain color order and the handler directs the dog with distance commands to the correct ball.
Yelling or pressuring the dog in any way results in a time penalty. More advanced Treibball competitors push the balls through narrow passages and water obstacles. Beginner handlers and dogs just need to get the colored balls into the pen.
Treibball is not as easy as it sounds and before beginning Treibball training, your dog should know the basic obedience behaviors sit, stay, down, heel and come. Treibball requires your dog to work off-leash, so a reliable recall is necessary. This sample video clip shows a dog owner and her dog in Treibbal training. The video gives an idea of what is involved in training your dog for Treibball and shows how much fun it is.
Sources that explain more about Treiball:
American Treiball Association
German Shepherd Home: Treibball/ball Herding Rules and Training
Treiball Training and Supplies
