Disc dog Totally Explained

Everything about Disc Dog totally explained

Disc dog is the more generic name for what is commonly called Frisbee dog. In disc dog competitions, dogs and their human disc throwers compete in events such as distance catching and somewhat choreographed freestyle catching. The sport celebrates the bond between handler and dog, by allowing them to work together. The term "disc" is preferred because "Frisbee" is a trademark (held by Wham-O) for a brand of flying disc.

History

The sport got its start in the early 1970's, paralleling the rise in popularity of Frisbee sport. The definitive moment came on August 4, 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 her 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 flying disc action on the field. Finally, after eight minutes, Stein was escorted off the field and arrested. Competitions also often feature the dynamic freestyle event, which consists of short routines choreographed to music with multiple discs in play. The less common long distance events have various formats, but generally the longest catch wins.
Divisions in frisbee dog events are usually based on the skill and experience of the handler. Men and women generally compete in the same divisions for all disciplines, although the long distance category is sometimes divided by gender.

Toss and fetch

Short distance events go by many names, including Toss and Fetch, MiniDistance, Throw and Catch, and Distance/Accuracy. The concept is generally the same. Contestants have 60 seconds to make as many throws as possible on a field marked with increasingly longer distances.

Skyhoundz

In 2000, Skyhoundz took over the World Canine Frisbee Disc Championship event for one year. Since 2000 Skyhoundz has run its own championship event, known as the Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship.

The UFO

The UFO organization runs the UFO World Cup Series. The series is a "points series", similar to World Cup Skiiing or NASCAR. The series culminates in World Cup Final. In 2006 the UFO also ran the AWI World Championship in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Other disc dog organizations

The US Disc Dog Nationals (USDDN), which has clubs organizing events in the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Canada, and Australia, holds a championship series known as the USDDN Finals and US Disc Dog International Finals. Other competitions are sponsored by the Quadruped, the International Disc Dog Handlers' Association (IDDHA), the Flying Disc Dog Open and the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge.

Benefits

Dogs of all kinds can play Frisbee. Many World Champion disc dogs have been mixed breed and some were originally rescued from shelters. Dogs from animal shelters and rescue groups can excel at catching flying discs and may even find the activity helpful in overcoming past trauma. Problems that lead to a dog being abandoned, such as hyperactivity, aggression, and destructive or neurotic behavior, are often attributes that can be positively channeled into a sport like flying discs. Sometimes these dogs simply need a consistent job to keep them busy and give them purpose. Many Frisbee dogs also "cross-train" in other dog sports, including dog agility, flyball, sheepdog trials, and obedience.

Popularity

Part of the popularity of the sport is its accessibility. All that's necessary to enjoy it's a level playing area, a dog, and a flying disc. Also, a little imagination is an extra plus for Freestyle competition. It is estimated that over one million dogs play flying disc in the United States alone, though only a small percentage participate in organized competitions.
Disc dogs are also popular attractions at sporting events as half-time entertainment. Going clear back to Ashley and his 8th inning performance in 1974, Frisbee dogs have performed at countless football, basketball, baseball and soccer halftimes. They are many times found in amusement parks, county fairs and pet festivals of all kinds. There are a very small handful of trainers who even make a living doing these shows.

Disc dog clubs

Disc dog clubs organize and promote the sport on a local level, and work with national organizations to run events. They offer new-comers a way to learn more about the sport, and are a great place for the experienced competitors to give back. Disc dog clubs are usually active in local animal charities, helping to raise money and awareness for such groups. Disc dog clubs can be found all over the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The first club was the Dallas Dog and Disc Club, founded in the mid-1980's by Ron Ellis.

Disc dog training

Not all dogs immediately understand the concept of the game. A dog may not instinctively know to turn and chase after a disc that's thrown over its head. To begin, the disc should be thrown straight to the dog at a short distance. Once a dog knows how to catch, it can learn the additional concept of running to catch the disc. The disc should be thrown at increasing heights, gradually throwing the disc higher, until it finally goes over the dog's head. At that point the dog instinctively follows the disc all the way around.

Disc Competition in Nintendogs

Along with 2 other contests, this was included on Nintendogs for Nintendo DS, under the name Disc Competition. You practice for this competition in the empty park under "walk". You can not practice in the park with other dogs. Use your stylus and hold the disk in the middle of the screen. Then slowly move the stylus forward and pull it away from the screen. Your dog will either chase it or not move at all if he's tired. Gradually increase the distance of the disk until your pooch wins the championship trophy. But keep practicing, or else Fido will forget how to catch a frisbee!

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