Springtime Disc Dog Basics

By: Melissa Heeter, Purina Incredible Dog Team
Canine Frisbee disc World Champion

Over 2 decades ago I happened across a pet fundraiser in one of my local parks. It was a fundraiser for a humane society which offered fun games for pet lover’s to participate in like, a local disc dog tournament. After entering the tournament and seeing how much fun my dog had and from the day the canine disc came into my dog’s life his destructiveness disappeared. Boy was I thankful to have found a challenging way to tire my dog out. As the old adage says, a busy dog is a tired dog, but a bored dog can be a bad dog that might create a game which you may not like.

Little did I know that day would become the first day of my new dog training, performing, and competition career. So, get your dog and any toy and try these exercises. An official plastic dog disc is my disc of choice.

Familiarization

Feeding and watering your dog out of a canine disc can teach him that the disc is fun, friendly, and one of his interactive toys. You can also place his food in the disc and slide it a couple of feet and let him track it and then eat it. You might just be surprised that he might pick it up and bring it back to you. If that happens obviously praise and reward the dog with a pet.

Make sure your disc choice is an official competition disc or made of material like rubber or fabric for familiarization.

Teach your dog “Fido, Get It” by sliding or scooting the upside down disc or roll it on its edge (like a wheel) into a corner or down a hallway. This will ensure that your dog has a better chance of understanding the game is to bring the disc back to you.

Before scooting it or rolling it focus your eyes on the disc and touch the disc yourself with your other hand before letting it go. Make sure to give your dog lots of encouragement, saying “Fido, Get It”. In the beginning always roll or slide the disc away from your dog’s face making sure they see it leave your hand. Never throw a disc directly at the dog in the beginning; you don’t want to frighten your dog with the disc! The goal is to teach your dog that the get it, bring it, drop it, get it again is the game. So, the faster you throw the disc when he returns it the quicker your dog learns the process as getting to chase it again is the reward for fetching it.

Ground/Retrieving Training

Now, roll or slide the disc outside on the ground in the same fashion. The quickest way to succeed is to attach a long leash to your dog's collar for retrieving training (letting it drag on the ground, so you can help bring your dog back to succeed). Start with the “Get It” game – roll it or scoot it and after he chases down the disc call him, “Fido, Come”.

If he gets the disc and tries to possess it (taking it away), pick up the leash and gently bring him back with the leash to your beginning spot and repeat “Fido, Come” as you are walking back to original starting spot. Start over and roll the disc again saying “Fido, Get It” and wait until he gets in his mouth or touches the disc somehow, then say, “Fido, Come”. If this doesn’t work, gently lead him back to you encouraging him to get the disc again by exciting him by moving the disc around in the air or on the ground and start over.

In the beginning if your dog is not interested at all only test him by rolling the disc 3 times outside. Then do something different with your dog and then come back to this later. You may also want to change your toy to a tennis ball, or rubber ball or material bumper.

Once your dog has mastered the “Get It” game for 1 – 2 weeks, then try cutting the leash in half, until there is no leash left and he gets the idea of retrieving with the disc.

Here is how to create interest for your dog to want to play with you and your disc. If your dog loses interest try playing keep away with a friend while your dog watches. When your dog shows interest float or roll a disc past him allowing him to intercept the disc. Give your dog lots of praise for each attempt. Never allow your dog to chew on the disc like a chew toy by himself. If he won’t drop it bring out a second disc and play the trading game by rolling or throwing the second disc.

Takes and Mid-Air Catches

With your dog in a sit, while you are standing sideways – so your dog can pass you, encourage him to leap up and take the disc out of your hand and say “Fido, Take It”. If you have a young dog under the age of 8 months then kneel on the ground and do this exercise.

Once your dog can “Take It” on command out of your hand, then start with your dog in a sit and say “Fido, Go” throw the disc about 5 feet away from your dog’s face, (adding a little floating flight to the disc, so the disc moves up and out). Make sure the throw is in a straight line away from his face, making sure he sees the disc leave your hand the entire time.

The key to success is teaching the dog to love the game of “Get It, Bring It, Drop, It, and “Get it, again. Slowly increase your throw lengths when your dog becomes proficient at the last distance. Always, make sure that your dog has eye contact with you and then on the disc before you release it.

It is important to praise generously for successful efforts or even good attempts. Never scold a dog for failure to catch the disc, just do not say anything if the dog does not catch it and start over.

Remember, canine disc play is a team effort! So, in your dog’s beginning learning phase, be patient, positive and practice will always make perfect. Don’t forget that when training your dog the goal is to get your dog to repeat the desired behavior, so keep it fun.

So, now that you and your dog have the basic disc dog skills don’t forget to come on out to the Southeastern Purina Incredible Dog Challenge and watch the experts’ demonstrate their amazing canine athletes in this Olympic style dog sporting event offering Dog Agility, Freestyle Flying Disc, Dock Diving and Jack Russell Racing. The free event is open to the public and is a great way to support responsible active pet ownership. Who knows you just might take home some great training tips by watching the professional teams compete in each sport and have your own backyard champion.

So, mark your calendar on April 1-2, 2011f or the Southeastern Purina Incredible Dog Challenge at Centennial Olympic Park downtown Atlanta, Georgia.

Important Notice

• Never leave the plastic disc out for your dog to chew on; it is a team sport, so pick it up and take it away when you are finished playing

• Check with your veterinarian before starting any physically demanding sporting activity with your dog to make sure your dog is healthy

• When outside find a flat grassy area free of obstacles, and debris

• A 5 minute walk is a great way to warm up your dog and a 10 minute walk is great for cooling down your dog’s muscles

• Keep your dog’s workouts short

• Never play so many times that your dog stops the game

• Bring fresh water to refresh your dog if he gets thirsty

• Be prepared to promptly clean up after your dog, this demonstrates responsible dog ownership

• Keep your dog on a leash when not training, to avoid the possibility of unfavorable encounters

• Never play with more than one dog at a time as they will both try to go after the same disc