Dixie Flyers Flyball Facebook Page
Contact Club owner, Jeanne Harem: jeanne_harem@hotmail.com
The Dixie Flyers club, based in Birmingham, AL, was organized in Jan 2011 by Jeanne Harem and 8 other founding members. Our mission remains the same – to be a club that is all-inclusive, allowing any family dog with a desire to play to enjoy the sport. Although there is indeed a healthy spirit of competition, no dog that loves the sport is turned away.
The tone for the Dixie Flyers was set at our founding: Love the sport, love your dog, love your team. That tone has attracted many members over the years, seen by the fact that members, born in every decade since the 1940’s, now hail from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Indiana and Florida, with one vagabond RVer. Dixie Flyers are truly a family and we live by our motto, “Dixie Flyers Rock!” Whether it’s for a celebration, a time of loss, or a job to be done, Dixie Flyers come together.
We welcome new members interested in the loud and fast-paced sport of flyball. Introductory lessons are given by Jeanne in her training building outside Birmingham. Her success as a trainer is a result of her experience, her creativity, persistence, and the ability to see every dog as an individual. We transform family dogs into family athletes. Optimum dog health is fairly effectively maintained by avoiding Jeanne’s dreaded pronouncement, “Your dog is fat!”
Team members gather weekly for practice sessions. Here, green dogs, Iron Dogs (newbies and 10-year+ veterans), and all levels in between, along with their handlers, hone their skills and deepen their friendships. Commitment to practicing is reflected in competing consistently. Four of our Dixie Flyer dogs have achieved the 100,000-point Hobbes Award, with several more closing in on this title. The Dixie Flyers have also regularly been Regional Regular and Multibreed Champions.
Dixie Flyers travel out of state to support other clubs hosting tournaments and host five tournaments a year locally. We try to make these tournaments fun for our competitors by having a particular theme complete with decorations, a photo booth, and of course, great southern hospitality. Recently, we have opted to provide lunch for all competitors in lieu of awards, allowing all competitors time to enjoy each other outside of the lanes.
If this article has piqued your interest, contact the Dixie Flyers on our Facebook page (Dixie Flyers Flyball) or contact Jeanne directly at the links listed above.