The popular canine sport of disc dog requires a human and a dog to work as a team. The dog relies on the human for accurate throws of a frisbee and the human relies on the dog’s athleticism to catch every throw.
Maryland dog trainer Gabby Scott competes in disc hound events. However, the initial reasons she started training for the event were just luck. “I arrived early for a dog training class I attended with my Aussie-mix eight years ago,” says Gabby. “The instructor was practicing tricks with another trainer between lessons. It was so cool to see dogs working with such enthusiasm. They were happy just to catch a disc.
Best Dogs for Disc Dog
Gabby says most dog lovers get into disc because they have a dog that wants to play fetch and be an active partner with their humans. Her Aussie mix, Gus, preferred swimming and hiking to fetching, so she sought out a playful second dog and found Taco, a Miniature American Shepherd. “I asked for a puppy that wasn’t scared and always had a toy in its mouth, and that’s what I got,” she says.
The Taco breed is one of the most popular breeds currently in the sport. As is common in most canine sports, herding breeds lead the pack in popularity, along with mixed breeds. Gabby says the dog breeds you typically see are:
However, you can also find:
“Your dog doesn’t need to be registered with a kennel club to play, he just needs to like Frisbees,” she explains.
Disc Dog Training
You might think the most important factor for a disc dog is chasing and catching the frisbee, but Gabby points out that owners really need to focus on engaging with their dogs in this sport. “The fact that the dog knows the game is only fun when he plays it with you, his owner, outweighs the desire to have the disc,” she says.
Creating that desire can be easy, according to Gabby. Above all, she recommends making reading with the disc a rare thing. “Never leave discs in the garden or in the house,” she says. “Keep records out of sight until it’s time to play. Next, keep play sessions exciting and highly upbeat, and keep them extremely short.
Disc Dog is all about having fun with your dog playing their favorite game. Teach the basic cues of the game using a soft, dog-safe cloth or puppy-sized plastic disc. Teach your puppy to do the following with the disc:
Short as in one to three minutes at a time. The first sessions may consist of practicing shooting with one disc, while having a blast with the fun, then moving on to another disc, and so on. It creates the desire to pull and play, while learning the signals to drop the toy and move on to another. Practice short throws at first, then progress to more difficult maneuvers and longer throws. As always, be sure to practice proper warm-up and cool-down routines to keep your dog’s muscles and body fit for the hunt.
Do not use a flimsy plastic dog disc as it can break easily and injure your dog. Instead, use a dog-friendly disc like Hero Disc USA’s Superhero 235, made from durable, flexible, puncture and bite resistant plastic. $16.99.
Disc Dog Gear
You don’t need fancy equipment in Disc Dog. In fact, everything you need can be carried in a small drawstring bag to the local park. Gabby insists on not using plastic discs, as these can break easily. Instead, she recommends dog-safe discs like those made by Hero Disc USA.
How to Compete in Disc Dog
The easiest way to start participating in Disc Dog events is to find a Toss and Fetch league near you. In this event, dogs have 60 seconds to make as many successful catches as possible, with bonus points awarded for catches made in the air. The leagues meet once a week for five weeks each “season” and compete against other leagues around the world.
The AKC is now offering a Disc Dog while partnering with the UpDog Challenge. This event offers a variety of challenges and ways to build teams while earning performance titles for your mixed-breed or AKC-registered dog.
