The tournament opened with doughnuts, fruit, coffee, juice, and a quick captains meeting, then it was off to the races.

The teams and the results

This year, Crazy Train brought two teams, Bark at the Moon (Open) and All Aboard (Multibreed). Additionally, two of our team dogs, Luna and Bugatti, joined a combined team with Surf City dogs, On the Crazy Train.

Team members Kim and Jen also lent their box loading talents to power the combined Crazy Train/Surf City team through the weekend.

This year, both of our teams had the goal of getting as much experience for green dogs as possible, and we definitely accomplished that goal. Bagel, Remy, AND Pepper all made successful debuts, which made for extremely exciting races all around.

Beyond the debut dogs, other green dogs stretched their wings as well, including Atryx, Dixie, and Jack.

Lots of new titles were earned this weekend, including:

And, while he didn’t earn the title at this tournament, team dog Auggie was awarded his Iron Dog plaque during the awards ceremony Sunday morning.

Amazing work, everyone!

Having a bit of fun

Lunch at T.U.G. is always an event, but Crazy Train decided to kick it up a notch with a quick game of duck, duck, goose.

Some of our team dogs also embraced their inner unicorns, with varying levels of enthusiasm.

The team made the most of their time inside and outside of the lanes, having fun and enjoying our brief respite from the Arizona heat.

Crazy Train always brings the fun, wherever we are, and this tournament was no exception. T.U.G. is slightly bittersweet, since it’s the last tournament of the 2026 season, but we’re excited to see what all of our dogs accomplish next. See you in the lanes next season!

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This past weekend, Crazy Train Flyball packed up the dogs, loaded the gear, grabbed the snacks, and made the road trip from Arizona to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for one of our favorite NAFA flyball tournaments of the year: Bad Company Flyball Team’s Fast and Furriest flyball tournament.

This tournament has become a special one for our team. Racing outside of Region 6 gives us a chance to try different lineups, focus on different goals, and give our green dogs valuable experience in a real tournament setting. Over the years, several of our current racing dogs took big steps forward at Bad Company’s tournament, and this year was no different.

In fact, this year may have been one of our best green dog weekends yet.

Road to Odz hits the lanes

Crazy Train brought two teams to the tournament. Our Multibreed team, Road to Odz, included Rudy, our red Border Collie; Kiwi, our Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever; Quill, our Standard Poodle; and Bugatti, our purpose-bred flyball mix, running as our height dog.

The team ran well on Saturday and, even though we did not win every race, they put together a solid performance and finished in second place.

But the really exciting part came from one of our up-and-coming dogs.

Atryx, our mini Australian Shepherd, had such strong singles runs that we were able to sub her into the team on Sunday. She handled the racing environment beautifully and earned flyball points with the team. Getting a green dog into the lanes and watching everything start to click is one of the best parts of this sport.

Bark at the Moon brings the fun

Our second team ran as an Open team named Bark at the Moon.

The main lineup included Skyler, Sneakers, Luna, and Pagie, with Dixie one of the newbies subbing in throughout the weekend. Dixie did a great job stepping into different spots and helping the team keep things moving and was more focused than ever before.

Remix, one of our up-and-coming purpose-bred flyball mixes, also showed a lot of promise in singles. Over the weekend, we were able to learn more about where he felt most comfortable in the lineup and which dogs he ran best behind. By Sunday, we were able to sub him in, and he earned points too.

That means Crazy Train had three newer dogs make major progress in the lanes at one tournament.

That is huge.

That is also the kind of weekend that makes all the practices, repetitions, troubleshooting, gate holding, dog wrangling, and “please just do the thing we taught you” moments feel worth it.

Our singles racing wins

One of the things we love most about Bad Company’s tournament is that they offer singles racing during the lunch break.

For experienced racing dogs, singles may seem simple. But for green dogs, singles are a big deal. They get to practice the full racing pattern, experience the tournament environment, run line to line, and build confidence without being thrown directly into team racing.

Bad Company allowed singles runs with props and people where needed, which makes such a difference for dogs who are still learning. Each dog received four heats, a ribbon, and a certificate with their times written down, which gave the humans a fun keepsake and gave the dogs a real chance to shine.

Crazy Train had several green dogs participate in singles, including:

• Remy
• Kolache
• Bagel
• Cosmo

Each dog showed improvement, and each run gave us helpful information about what they are understanding, what they are still working through, and how close they are getting to being ready for the next step.

And honestly, watching green dogs start to figure out flyball is one of the most exciting parts of a tournament. There is nothing quite like seeing the light bulb come on.

Mat time, warm-ups, and green dog progress

The learning did not stop with racing. Crazy Train also used Saturday night mat time to work several dogs in the tournament environment.

Lijah worked on his box work while changing directions. Dart focused on confidence-building and staying engaged in the lanes. Dez, our Australian Shepherd, worked through the distractions of a new environment and practiced staying focused on the job.

And then there was Yaupon.

Yaupon, our Jack Russell in training, showed marked improvement both days during warm-ups. She worked on recalls and box turns, and she looked more focused and more into the game than ever before.

Anyone who has ever trained a Jack Russell knows they can be a handful. Cute? Yes. Smart? Absolutely. Opinionated? Also yes. Possibly powered by chaos? Sometimes.

But Yaupon kept it together, stayed calmer before racing, and focused in the lanes. Our team stepped up with gates, wranglers, and support, and it paid off. She made real progress, and it was so fun to see.

Cannon makes new friends

Our all-star Border Whippet, Cannon, usually runs on our Multibreed team, but this weekend he got to run with 5280 Spaceballs because Bugatti was filling the height dog spot on our team.

Cannon had a great time running with new friends and getting to know the teams around him. We also want to give a special thank-you to Be Right Back Flyball Club, who stepped in to help check him when he started running a little funny.

Thankfully, it turned out to be a small splinter stuck in the front part of his foot. Once it was removed, he was good to go.

Flyball people really are the best. Everyone wants the dogs safe, sound, and ready to race.

Bad Company knows how to host a tournament

Bad Company Flyball Team hosted an amazing tournament, and we appreciate how much work went into making the weekend special.

Putting on a flyball tournament is exhausting. It takes planning, volunteers, equipment, timing, hospitality, problem-solving, and a whole lot of energy. Bad Company did all of that and still managed to add extra touches that made the weekend even better.

They offered mat time and singles runs. They had tournament shirts, which our team has basically turned into an annual collectible. They printed photos of people in attendance and handed them out at the end of the tournament, which was such a fun and thoughtful touch.

And then there was Saturday dinner.

Anyone who has ever waited around for Saturday night mat time knows that the time between racing and mat time can feel very long, especially when everyone is tired, hungry, and trying to figure out where a whole flyball team can go eat without causing chaos.

Bad Company solved that problem with a catered dinner for $20, and it was absolutely worth it. The food was delicious, everyone got to eat together, and nobody had to pile into cars and hunt for a restaurant after a full day of racing.

That alone deserves a ribbon.

Canine Sports Hub made stats fun

Our team also got to try the new Canine Sports Hub app, and it added a fun new layer to the weekend.

The app tracks dog titles, race schedules, heats, analytics, and stats, which made the tournament more interactive for everyone. Crazy Train has used stat sheets in the past, but having the information available to the whole team made a big difference.

Suddenly, more people were checking times, following progress, and getting excited about the numbers from race to race. It made the weekend feel even more engaging and gave everyone another way to celebrate improvements.

And let’s be honest, flyball people love stats. Even the people who say they do not care about stats absolutely start caring once the numbers are right there in front of them.

A weekend full of progress

Crazy Train came home tired, proud, and probably still covered in dog hair.

We had dogs earn points. We had green dogs gain confidence. We had singles runs, mat time breakthroughs, new lineups, new lessons, and a whole lot of laughs. We also had the chance to race with and around teams we do not always see, which is one of the best parts of traveling to out-of-region tournaments.

Thank you to Bad Company Flyball Team for hosting such a fun and well-run tournament. We know how much work goes into making a flyball tournament happen, and we appreciate the time, effort, and energy your team put into making Fast and Furriest such a great weekend.

We are already looking forward to the next one.

Crazy Train may have gone to Albuquerque with green dogs, goals, and a whole lot of gear — but we came home with progress, memories, and some very proud dogs.

And if we are honest, more tournament shirts.

The post Crazy Train’s green dogs shine at Bad Company’s 2026 Fast and Furriest flyball tournament appeared first on Crazy Train Flyball Team.

The 2025 season gave us something huge to celebrate! Crazy Train Flyball has officially earned the titles of Region 6 Overall Champions and Regional Champions.

These titles represent a season full of dedication, determination, and heart. Our team committed to the journey from start to finish, attending every in-region tournament in 2025 and giving it everything we had along the way. Each weekend we practiced to push harder, support one another, and keep building toward something special.

What makes this accomplishment so meaningful is that it belongs to the entire team. Every member of Crazy Train helped make this happen. From the dogs giving their all in the lanes to the people working tirelessly behind the scenes, this was the result of a true group effort. Success like this is built run by run, weekend by weekend, and person by person.

We are incredibly proud of everything this team put into last year’s season and even prouder of what we achieved together. Finishing 2025 as both Region 6 Overall Champions and Regional Champions is an honor, and we are so excited to celebrate this milestone.

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To celebrate both our anniversary and the holidays, we came together at the Crazy Train Team Headquarters (aka Nicole’s house). Nicole outdid herself, hosting and organizing an incredible breakfast catered by Over Easy. The food was delicious, as were the mimosas, coffee, and homemade chai.

During breakfast, we took time to reflect and look forward. Each team member shared their goals for the 2026 racing year. Our goals included new dogs entering the lanes, individuals perfecting a specific skill, and a handler working on something new. For each goal, we discussed how we want to show up and support one another as a team. Sharing these goals will help us grow and ensure we are all stepping in to help one another meet those goals.

Emma went above and beyond in creating and printing personalized team awards for both our members and our dogs. Each award was thoughtful, heartfelt, and perfectly captured what makes each person and dog special. There were laughs, a few emotional moments, and lots of appreciation.

No Crazy Train celebration would be complete without our annual White Elephant gift exchange. As expected, it delivered nonstop laughter and chaos.

Ten years ago, Crazy Train Flyball started as an idea. Today, it is a team built on support, dedication, humor, fun, and love for each other and our dogs.

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Mid-November marks the annual Woofstock tournament, hosted by the Arizona Supercharged flyball team, and this year was a bit of a curve-ball. With rain in the forecast for the entirety of the weekend, some of the out of state teams opted to stay home. They were sorely missed, and the Woofstock flyball tournament went ahead with the teams remaining.

This year, we had two teams competing, our Regular 1 team and our Multibreed team.

On our Regular team, veteran team member Tim drove all the way from Virginia to join in on the fun. His dog, Auggie, ran perfectly and earned his Iron Dog title.

The Regular team placed second for the weekend, ran well, and are looking forward to the next tournament!

Over on the Multibreed team, we had a few early hiccups, but recovered nicely and ran well all weekend. Our Multibreed team included Kiwi (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever), Quill (Standard Poodle), Quade (Jack Russel), and a rotation between Paige (mix) and Rudy (Border Collie).

Our Multibreed team is running for the first time in several years and they did fantastically this weekend, finishing in first place.

Way to go, team!

Also at the Woofstock flyball tournament was a new team member, Steve! He learned all about box loading and box assistant, and did a wonderful job all weekend.

Holly, another new team member was also at the tournament, but she was behind the camera, taking amazing photos of our team, like this fun shot of Quade:

The weather held up nicely all weekend, with only a few sprinkles late Saturday. The Woofstock flyball tournament was a blast and we’re looking forward to next year! Great work, all!

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Our Regular team, Bark at the Moon, had a very successful tournament. Sneakers was the lead dog, followed by Rudy in second, Kiwi in third, and Bugatti was the anchor dog. They predominantly ran clean and fast, winning first place in our division both days! This was exceptionally exciting as we secured our position as Region 6 Champions.  Hurray, Bark at the Moon!! Green dogs, Mazie and Jack, got some warm up time to experience the tournament vibes.

Our Open team, Mama, I’m Coming Home, consisted of Quade as the lead dog, followed by Quill and two dogs borrowed from our Surf City hosts, Ushi and Gale. Gale has run with us part time at prior tournaments as she eases into her retirement years. Ushi was a first-timer with our team, and she fit right in! 

Our green dogs, Jack, Atryx, and Dixie, also got some time in the lanes during warmups and even a few real heats. The big excitement of the weekend was Dixie making her debut and earning her very first NAFA flyball point! We had some rocky moments but managed to pull out a first place in our division on Sunday.

Let’s talk about Dixie’s handler, Tonnie, for a minute. Tonnie has been with the club for six years and this was her first time actually running a dog! Her perseverance in training and being an awesome teammate is legendary! We are so lucky to have such a dedicated teammate.

And, as if getting Dixie’s first flyball point wasn’t enough, we also got to celebrate Tonnie on Friday night as the upcoming week will be her official retirement from work! Welcome her to the world of leisure, everyone. Though we know she isn’t actually going to rest – she’s much too busy for that.

Surf City did a great job hosting the tournament. The logistics were great; the raffle was awesome (and we had 3 winners!); the judge, Steve Corona, was wonderful; and they were even able to offer lunch in the university cafeteria, which was a fun blast from the past for most of us whose college days are long gone.

As with every tournament, it could not be done without the help of the whole team! Mark and Jen, our fabulous box loaders; Shannon, Jett, Monica, and Tonnie tracking stats and calling passes; Emma, Cheri, Jill, Lalit, and Stacey helping as box assistant, Mark and Meagan coaching the teams; Jill, Lalit and Cheri shagging balls. And big kudos to everyone for such positive attitudes and being the biggest cheerleaders a team has ever had. We have the best team!

This tournament was especially poignant as it followed closely after the death of Ozzy Osbourne, whose song, Crazy Train, is the impetus for our team’s name. RIP, Ozzy.  

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What’s better than a weekend of flyball? A weekend of flyball at the fair! On June 28 and 29, the Ballistic Racers Flyball Team and co-host Fast Fourward Flyball Team hosted a flyball tournament at the San Diego county fair and it was certainly an exhibition to remember. 

First off, a huge shout out to our gracious hosts for keeping the energy high with hot coffee and snacks to start the day. It was the perfect fuel for a weekend of flyball fun.

Off to the races

Our Open team, Road to Nowhere, ran well all weekend, placing first in Open 2 on Saturday and second place overall. And, excitingly, one of our green dogs made his debut that weekend. Jack was swapped in unexpectedly and he did an amazing job on his first ever run. So proud of our little guy!

Capturing the event

One of our team members, Holly, joined us at the tournament and took some truly amazing pictures.

Fun, fair, and prizes

The raffle excitement was doubled this tournament, with each host club running their own on separate days. Check out that prize haul!

Sweet treats and tasty eats

Of course, we couldn’t be at the fair without indulging a little. The team took a well-deserved lunch break to explore the sights, sounds, and tastes of the fair (which included Jill finding her new favorite cinnamon roll).

Soaking up the sun and surf

And, being in San Diego, visiting the ocean was a requirement. 

Can’t wait to go again!

Crazy Train had a great time at the fair and we’re looking forward to the next tournament!

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This was a milestone weekend for our green dogs, who all made huge strides toward their flyball debuts—and a special shoutout to Av, who attended her very first flyball tournament ever!

The Dreamers, our Open team, faced a few curveballs, but came together with tons of laughter and solid teamwork to snag 2nd place in Open 2 on Saturday and 3rd place on Sunday. Way to rally, team!

Our Regular team, Bark at the Moon, brought the heat, battling hard and earning 2nd place in Regular 1 both Saturday and Sunday. They even snuck in a blazing-fast 17.286 during one of the final races of the weekend!

Bonus Brags!

• Rudy and Bugatti earned their Flyball Master (FM) titles!
• Skylar achieved her FDCH-S title!

We would also like to thank Surf City Flyball for loaning us Gale, who ran like a champ all weekend long. 

Big congrats to everyone who ran, supported, cheered, and laughed with us all weekend long. We’re so proud of this pack!

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This tournament is always one of our favorites because SoCal Frequent Flyers goes above and beyond to make sure everyone has a great time. They always offer a two day raffle with many dog goodies our team loves!

This year our team won big. Kimberly took place in a Easter egg hunt and got the whole team working together searching for eggs. Not only did they grab the ball shaggers to find the eggs, but they ended up taking a wagon around the entire venue. In total, Crazy Train found 99 eggs! Which won our team for a free one-day entry for the Flying Dogs 2026 tournament next year! We couldn’t believe it!

SoCal Frequent Flyers had warm coffee, cream, fruit and snack both days at their fully stocked and manned hospitality table. Some of our favorite snacks were the tennis ball cookies and delicious brownies.

Crazy Train thanks all of SoCal Frequent Flyers for an amazing time and also the RDs and judges for keeping things organized and running smoothly. We can’t wait to come back!

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What to expect from flyball class

1. Introduction to Flyball:
   • Overview of flyball and its rules, including safety guidelines for both dogs and handlers.
2. Basic Obedience:
   • You and your dog will need to have some basic obedience skills in place before starting flyball. These skills include commands like sit, stay, recall (come when called).
3. Equipment Familiarization:
   • You will learn about the flyball equipment, including the hurdles, flyball box, and tennis balls and how to maintain this equipment.
4. Training Techniques:
   • We will guide you on training your dog to jump over hurdles and trigger the flyball box and work with you while other dogs are out. This will involve positive reinforcement techniques to motivate and reward your dog for each step of the process.
5. Safety Precautions:
   • Safety is a top priority. You’ll be taught how to ensure your dog’s well-being during training and competition, such as proper warm-up and cooldown exercises or routines.
6. Teamwork:
   • Flyball is a team sport, teamwork is practiced and shown at every practice and competition.
   • You will support other dog/handlers in their training as they also help you in you and your dogs training to move forward.
   • Expect a positive and supportive atmosphere.
7. Gradual Progression:
   • The class will progress at a pace suitable for beginners, gradually increasing the complexity of exercises and drills as you and your dog become more proficient.
8. Homework:
   • You will be assigned homework exercises to practice with your dog outside of class to reinforce the training.
9. Competition and Graduation:
   • We will have a final competition/graduation.
   • Dogs/Handlers will be recommended to move on to more advanced training or potentially join the team.

What to bring to your first flyball class

• Water for you and your dog
• Crate/kennel
• Cover for crate/kennel
• 4-6 ft. non-retractable leash
• Dog’s favorite non-squeaky toy
• Training treats
• Sunscreen and bug spray (depends on weather)
• Tennis shoes (something you can be active in)

Ready to get started? Drop us a line!

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