It's a bird...it's a plane...it's a flying frisbee dog!
Have you seen this on TV?
A dog races out, makes a spectacular leap and snags the flying disc from the air.
Grinning, the dog races back to his owner, eager for the next throw.
You can also find these fun-loving dogs at your local park, no less enthusiastic but with varying degrees of skill.
This fun sport has many names: dog frisbee, disc dog, frisbee for dogs, canine frisbee, pet frisbee or canine disc.
It's an activity that appeals to the general public as well as people involved in dog sports.
One of the advantages of this sport is its simplicity. All that's needed is a level playing area, a dog, and a flying disc. (Frisbees for dogs comes in many types and sizes, by the way.)But why would you want to teach your dog to play frisbee? Here are several reasons: It's a fantastic way to keep your dog physically healthy and mentally alert. Frisbee is great for a dog's eyesight, as it helps him track (follow) and focus on a small moving object. It promotes camaraderie and teamwork between the owner and his frisbee dog. It's an excellent way to exercise big dogs (like Golden Retrievers) in the city. It allows a less-athletic owner to stand in one place and still help his dog get lots of exercise. It's one of the most popular family activities because men, women and children can compete on equal terms, or just watch the fun together. Playing frisbee with your dog may help curb his destructive behavior by giving him an outlet for all that extra energy. Here's the best reason of all: Dogs love it!
Disc dog is very exciting for dogs because it engages the instinct to chase and capture small moving objects -- the dog's natural prey drive.
It's a bigger challenge than chasing a tennis ball because it can hover in the air a long time and even reverse directions.
Why is the Border Collie such a popular frisbee dog? It's been bred for generations to herd sheep. But in our modern world, these smart dogs have been relocated to the city and their job has been eliminated. (Gosh, does that sound familiar?)
Struggling with a major case of frustration, they try to herd anything that's handy: kids, cats and cars.
Frisbee to the rescue!
It doesn't take him long to figure out that this is a job he's good at!
You can see it written all over his face: "Out of my way! Frisbee dog coming through!"
He's in full-on mode at the frisbee field, so he can actually rest quietly when he's home because he's not full of pent-up energy. Whew! What a relief for everybody!
Do you have a Golden Retriever that wants to keep chasing tennis balls long after your arm has turned into a wet noodle?
Try throwing a frisbee instead!
You don't have to throw it as hard or as frequently to keep him on the move. It might take a little practice to smooth out your frisbee throws, but once you both get the hang of it, you're off and running.
It's true that certain physical types have an advantage in competition.
But all dogs are welcome--purebred and mixed breed dogs alike.
Does your dog like to play fetch with a stick or tennis ball?
He can easily be transitioned to catching frisbees.
Is your dog involved in other dog sports?
Agility and flyball dogs have become awesome frisbee dogs as well, and vice-versa.
If you don't have a dog yet and want a frisbee dog, the most reliable way to find one is to visit your local animal shelter or humane society.
Why? Because almost all shelters will allow you to take a dog out into a grassy area and see how the dog responds to you -- and a frisbee. Some of the best frisbee dogs in the world have been rescued from animal shelters.
The basics of disc dog are simple enough. Throw the disc, dog catches disc, dog returns disc. It's the details that get complicated. First of all, there's the just-for-fun hobby disc dog who likes to frolic in the water, like this one.
But for the serious competitors, there are two basic types of competition: Freestyle and Distance/Accuracy.
Freestyle can be very showy, involving a great deal of creativity.
It may involve spectacular vaults off the knees, back, or chest of the handler.
Routines may involve throwing multiple discs, requiring rapid returns or dropping one disc in favor of the next.
Depending on the event, the length of a routine might be anywhere from 90 seconds to three minutes.
It may even be choreographed to music.
In distance/accuracy competitions (or "throw and catch"), the handler throws discs from any location and doesn't wait for the dog to retrieve them. The judges count the number of catches made in 60 or 90 seconds. Points are awarded for showmanship, execution and leaping ability.
The sport got its start in the early 1970s. The definitive moment came on August 5, 1974 when Alex Stein, a 19-year-old college student from Ohio, and his dog, Ashley Whippet, jumped the fence at a nationally broadcast baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds.
Stein had with him a couple of flying discs, which he threw for the dog.
Ashley astonished the crowd with his disc catching, as he ran up to 35 miles per hour and leaped 9 feet in the air to snag the frisbees.
The stunt was so novel that the game was stopped and Joe Garagiola continued to announce the frisbee disc action on the field.
Finally, after eight minutes, Stein was escorted off the field.
The nationally televised exhibition of Ashley's skill launched the sport's fame.
Disc dogs are still popular attractions at sporting events as half-time entertainment. They've performed at countless football, basketball, baseball and soccer halftimes, as well as at amusement parks, county and state fairs, and pet festivals of all kinds.
Disc dog clubs organize and promote the sport on a local level, and work with national organizations to run events. They're often active in local humane societies, animal shelters and dog rescue centres, putting on demonstrations to help raise money and awareness for such groups.
Clubs offer newcomers a way to learn more about the sport and get some pointers on how to throw a frisbee.
They provide canine disc enthusiasts an opportunity to get together and play frisbee with their dogs, both for fun and competition.
It also gives them the chance to share their love of dogs and enjoy the friendships made along the way.
Do you have a dog with more energy than he knows what to do with, and a desire to chase and/or retrieve things? Great!
Drop by your local frisbee dog club and learn how to have some extraordinary fun with your furry friend!
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