Unorthodogs Flyball Club

Thanks Griffey!! You know we love you….but could you dial it back just a smidge. Yeah, didn’t think so. 😂

Congratulations to Vandal on earning her Iron Dog title at the Kaotic K9’s tournament!

That’s ten consecutive years of racing — an incredible milestone. Vandal has been a cornerstone of UOD, and this achievement is so well deserved.

She’s helped train many of our green dogs at practice, giving even the more challenging ones a solid, confident partner to run with. In tournaments, she’s run for multiple handlers, always steady, doing her job, and teaching new handlers the ropes — from starting to passing.

Vandal is a true staple of our team, and we love every moment we get to share the lanes with her.

The Unorthodogs had a blast attending the Mariners' Bark in the Park game! Great weather, great company, and so many good dogs 🩷

We are so proud of Atlas for being awarded the Georgia award at this weekends Run Free Flyball Club. Here’s the nomination that describes him perfectly:

Atlas is a 5.5 year old golden retriever/husky mix. He is fluffy, goofy and amazingly sweet. His golden retriever side shines through his boundless friendliness, while his husky side adds a dash of independence and mischief.

He has dry eye that requires daily medications four times a day and occasionally requires goggles for his sensitive eyes. While his housemate trained with intensity, Atlas prefers rolling around in the grass and greeting every person he meets with an enthusiastic wooo and wag.

Retrieving toys didn’t interest him and his attention was easily diverted. The idea of training - let alone competing in a structured sport like flyball -seemed unrealistic. But leaving him behind while his housemate went to practice seemed unfair.

To help Atlas stay focused, the team had to follow strict guidelines:

- No direct eye contact – eye contact would break his concentration.
- No calling his name – he had to move through the course independently.
- Minimal verbal cues – extra noise would throw off his rhythm.
- Careful placement of props – spacing had to accommodate his zigzag style.
- Patience – the process wasn’t about speed but letting Atlas navigate in his own way.

The team was mostly successful, some days better than others, it was hard to resist his charm, even the strictest of handlers have a hard time enforcing the rules when he flashes his happy grin.

He trots into practice with no intention of working but happy to perform. Against all expectations, Atlas started training in early 2023, and after months of embracing his own rhythm, he made his flyball debut in the spring of 2024.

His style is uniquely his own, zigzagging happily, gliding over jumps at his own pace. He may not be the fastest or the most precise competitor, but Atlas embodies the heart of the sport. His boundless joy, his goofy charm, and his gentle loving spirit reminds us that winning isn’t just about being the best - it’s about being unapologetically yourself.

We love junior handlers and can’t wait to watch this kiddo and his minions racing! Charlie is showing the adults just how to wrangle these terriers!!!