Treibball: What it Is and How to Get Your Dog Started

Treibball is one of the newest dog sports and its popularity grows daily. If you’re looking for something new to do with your dog, this could be just the thing. You only need an exercise or yoga ball and some basic obedience to get started in treibball, so let’s take a closer look.

What is Treibball?

The dog sport with a funny name started in Germany in 2008 and made it to the U.S. in about 2011. The sheepherding competitors wanted something to do with their dogs in the off-season that would keep their dogs’ skills fresh until the next season.

Ball herding is treibball’s best description. In treibball, judges arrange up to eight balls in a triangle, similar to billiards. Under the handlers’ guidance, the dogs move those large balls from the starting point to a soccer goal-sized area. 

The dogs are all under a time limit and if they or the handler make mistakes, they can be penalized. As dogs move up to more harder levels, they work further from the handler. By the time they reach the highest levels, they’re working at around 75 feet from their handler!

Treibball’s Benefits

Similar to dog agility, treibball requires dog and handler teams to communicate and work together. The teamwork you need for success in treibball makes you a better dog parent. It also makes your dog more fun to teach, because every skill the dogs learn makes it easier for them to learn the next thing. 

Perhaps more important is that dogs involved in dog sports become more confident and mentally calm. They may get excited at competitions, but they’re also more focused and able to handle a bit of stress — a skill we could all stand to improve!

Do You Need Special Equipment?

Initially, not much. You don’t have to buy a bunch of yoga balls because the more important foundational skills don’t require it. After your dog knows the basic skills, a single yoga ball will be plenty for a while. 

Make sure your dog knows to not bite the ball because that is against treibball’s rules. Instead, teach him how to nudge it with his nose.

Which Skills Does Your Dog Need to Get Started in Treibball?

To get your dog started in treibball, he needs a few basic skills. Happily, the foundational skills are the type anyone can teach in their backyard and practice out in the world.

• Focus/Look: Dogs need to be comfortable looking their handler in the eye. We need to know they’re listening and not looking at the squirrel that jumped out of the tree.
• Down: Your dog needs to lie down nearly instantly.
• Recall: They need to come when called. 
• Go to Place/Mat: Targeting in treibball is necessary. If you can point to a place and your dog goes there to lie down, you’re already on the right track.
• Fetch: Even if it isn’t refined, a dog that likes to bring toys to you will be more motivated to learn treibball than those that aren’t.
• Stand: Going from a down position to standing up.
• Backup: Walking backward a few feet as needed.

If this seems like a lot, don’t worry. Most of these skills are part of a basic obedience class. The more advanced directional cues like away and come bye come a little later.

Is Treibball Appropriate for All Dogs?

Like many sports, treibball’s physical demands mean that most dogs need to be in decent condition to handle it. However, it isn’t high-impact like agility or flyball, nor does it require four legs – three will do just fine. 

All breeds can enjoy this new sport. However, herding breeds have a natural affinity for the activity — even though the “sheep” are giant balls. 

The most important thing about whether you decide to get your dog started in treibball is do you like it? If having your dog pushing yoga balls around a field sounds like fun, then do it! It isn’t as physically intense as some dog sports but will keep a smart dog happily challenged.

Treibball Games Your Dog Can Play

Just like other dog sports, there are variations within treibball. In the U.S., there are four different game categories, each with several difficulty levels. 

Skills

This is the obedience section. There’s only one ball on the field in the lower levels. Here, dogs cannot touch the ball and work on their impulse control. 

Dogs must go out from their handler in an arc (no bee-lines to the ball!) behind the ball. They have to do it from both the left and the right. Once by the ball, they’ll have to sit, down, stand, and back up. 

Rapid Fire

In rapid fire, there are four balls arranged around the handler in the center. The dog goes around clockwise and pushes each ball in towards the handler, then goes the opposite direction doing the same.

Drive

There are eight balls for dogs to bring to their handler. The handler has to stay within a marked area and if they step outside, they’re penalized. When they’re moving balls, dogs cannot touch the balls with their mouths or feet and must “nose” it along.

Hide & Seek

They start with six balls in the open but the seventh and eighth balls are hidden in two tunnels at the farthest corners of the field. As dogs move up in levels, they work farther away. An added challenge i the handler has to call out which tunnel before their dog goes out to it.

Where to Play Treibball — Clubs and Organizations

As the sport grows, more clubs and instructors add classes to their schedules. There are a few organizations worldwide and many have information on local groups. When you’re ready to get your dog started in treibball, your best bet is finding a local club that offers classes. Group classes are the most affordable, but private lessons help solve specific challenges.

• National Association of Treibball Enthusiasts — North America
• Canines and Humans United — United States 
• World Treibball League — Worldwide and online 

Other Dog Sports You and Your Dog Can Play

Treibball is newer but growing quickly. It may be tough to find local events and training classes, but there are plenty of other dog sports and activities. Here are a few:

• Agility
• Flyball
• Canicross
• Dock Diving
• Rally Obedience
• Mantrailing

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Michal Ninger/Shutterstock.com