Dog Frisbee: Fun and games for dog and owner
Anyone looking for a change of pace from fetching should try throwing a Frisbee for their dog. In this dog sport, the dog catches a flying Frisbee disc.
What is a dog frisbee?
Dog Frisbee is simply explained: playing Frisbee with a dog. The human throws the Frisbee, the dog catches it in the air and brings it back. This is a dog sport. It originated in the USA in the 1970s, where dog frisbee competitions quickly became established.
In the USA, these activities are known as “disc dogging”. One of the most famous Frisbee dogs was a Whippet- a male dog named Ashley (1971-1985) who appeared with his owner without permission during the break of a baseball game.
Who is dog Frisbee suitable for?
This dog sport trains endurance, reaction time, and speed. The shared fun strengthens the bond between you and your four-legged companion.
Generally speaking, Frisbee for dogs is suitable for all dogs that enjoy exercise. However, there are a few exceptions.
For which dogs is Frisbee not suitable?
You should probably not play dog frisbee with the following animals:
- Puppies and young dogs: Jumping and abrupt movements could damage their joints. Therefore, your dog should be fully grown before playing Frisbee.
- Dogs with arthritis or hip dysplasia
- Heavy dogs like the Saint Bernard. They are not suitable for dog frisbee due to their body structure.
- Short-snouted dog breeds. Some dogs (e.g., pugs) have extremely short snouts. They have this condition and therefore often suffer from breathing problems. If this is the case, they probably won’t enjoy playing with a Frisbee.
Which dogs enjoy playing Frisbee?
Basically, you can try throwing a Frisbee with any healthy dog. Agile and nimble breeds like Border Collies and poodles are particularly well-suited. They often enjoy this dog sport very much.
Reading tip: If dog frisbee is too action-packed for you or your dog, you can simply practice fetching.
How to prepare for dog frisbee
Are you itching to get out on the field with your dog and start playing? Give yourself some time to prepare for your shared sport. It’s best to practice without your dog first – unless you’re experienced at throwing a Frisbee.
First step: Practice throwing
Otherwise, the rule is: practice throwing correctly first. Only with proper throws will you give your four-legged sports friend a chance to catch the disc in the air.
Dog training should be done exclusively with a Frisbee disc for dogs. These are somewhat more flexible, so they can easily withstand contact with the dog’s teeth. Even if the disc breaks in the heat of the moment, the plastic won’t splinter.
Ideal training ground: Flat meadow
Once you’ve got the hang of handling the dog-friendly Frisbee, you’re ready to go: Find a nice meadow where you’ll be as undisturbed as possible. Ideally, it shouldn’t have any holes, so you don’t accidentally crash-land.
In public areas without fences, your dog should reliably obey the recall command. A concrete courtyard is unsuitable. The ground should have good cushioning to avoid putting strain on the joints.
As with any strenuous dog sport, it’s best if your dog’s last meal was three hours or more ago. This helps avoid the risk of dangerous gastric torsion. and nausea.
Four steps to your dog’s Frisbee
Once you feel comfortable with the Frisbee and have scouted out a suitable training area, the actual training can begin. It’s best to proceed in four steps.
Learn to play dog frisbee in four steps.
Step 1: Introduce your dog to the Frisbee. Show him the disc, let him sniff it, and let him bite it. Then praise him.
Step 2: Roll the Frisbee along the ground. If your dog chases after it and brings it back, praise him enthusiastically. If he reliably retrieves the Frisbee, you can attempt your first throw.
Step 3: Don’t throw the disc far at first. It must fly as low as possible so the dog can catch it. The dog will now learn to catch it in mid-air.
Step 4: Now you can vary the game as you like. Keep throwing the Frisbee and give your four-legged friend the chance to really let loose.
Schedule breaks
Important: Playing Frisbee is fun – your dog should definitely show that. However, if you get the impression that he’s getting overexcited, be sure to take a break.
Especially, very athletic dog breeds tend to become uncontrollable during play. Once they develop this habit, they find it difficult to calm down later.
Dog Frisbee as a competitive sport
Do you and your four-legged friend love playing with a Frisbee and are looking for new challenges? Then competitions might be of interest to you. However, these involve much more than just retrieving the disc from the air. There are three different disciplines:
Freestyle
This discipline is suitable for coordinated two- and four-legged participants. Within two minutes, they must present the most impressive choreography possible to a piece of music.
The fact that teamwork requires considerable skill from both humans and dogs is already evident in the number of frisbees allowed. The team may use up to seven discs.
Mini Distance
On a limited playing field, the motto for sixty seconds is: throw and retrieve! For each Frisbee disc caught in the air, the human-dog duo receives points – depending on the throwing distance.
Long Distance
In this discipline, only length counts. The human is allowed three throws of the Frisbee. The longest throw that the dog successfully catches in the air is scored.