Mariska Pretorius (27) recently joined Lowveld Canine Coaching, bringing her dogs, Flynn and Carbon, along to introduce the fast and energetic sport of flyball to the region.

She soon realised there were few opportunities for canine sports in the area and decided to share her love for the activity.

With the help of her mentor, Liesl Twyman, Pretorius brought in the necessary equipment to present classes to a high standard. She is grateful to GSD Steelworks, which believed in her vision and helped build the equipment.

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National success

In 2024, Pretorius and Flynn competed in the Flyball Nationals and won the title of South African champions. Her dream is to establish a team in Mbombela that can represent Mpumalanga at the national event, but she also wants a team that can have fun with their dogs.

“According to me, there is a void in Mbombela in terms of canine sports. A lot of people do puppy or dog coaching, which is incredibly important, but there is a big opportunity to make people more aware of the variety of canine sports and allow owners to see their dogs’ true potential,” says Pretorius.

Flyball is a sport that holds multiple advantages for both dog and owner.

“It doesn’t just stimulate them physically, but also strengthens the bond and trust between a person and their dog. It also helps the development of essential skills like core muscle strength, hind-leg awareness and co-ordination,” says Pretorius.

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Future dreams for the community

She hopes to one day not only see an increase in dog-friendly spaces in Mbombela, but also host informal and friendly competitions in which the community can participate. According to Pretorius, she would want to establish a dog park, training ground and small restaurant that can serve as a safe environment where people and their dogs can spend time together.

Pretorius values quality time with her dogs. She lives by the quote, ‘Your dog is only a small part of your life, but to your dog, you are their whole life’.

“It gives me such motivation to spend as much time as possible with them,” she says. “We only have limited time with them, so why not fill it with adventures, new experiences and memories that we can enjoy?”

For more information about canine coaching and training, email hanlie@lowveldcaninecoaching.co.za.

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