Frisbee

Frisbee – As people have urbanized, the majority of their dogs have become primarily companion animals. Their actual working tasks have ceased (along with mental and physical exertion), which is why they were originally bred.

Frisbee

It’s essential for us to engage our dogs in some activity because for them, performing work and being actively involved in activities are essential, and it’s also crucial for their overall health. Frisbee can be an excellent game for this purpose.

For urban dogs, the opportunities for satisfying their need for exercise are quite limited. If we want to provide the best possible life for our dogs in every aspect, we must ensure that they get adequate exercise and activity.

There are countless ways to achieve this. Dog schools offer numerous opportunities for sports and activities. However, for those who cannot attend organized classes, one of the newest sports, dog frisbee, offers an excellent option. At first glance, it might seem strange to call tossing a plastic disc a sport, but in the following, we’ll see that it is not only an excellent pastime and game but much more as well. Can even be pursued as true competitive sports in the world of frisbee.

Frisbee and fetching skills

Dogs’ fundamental attribute is their fetching ability, meaning most dogs can tirelessly retrieve a ball or any object thrown by their owner. This quality forms the basis for why frisbee provides an excellent play opportunity for our dogs.

The game originated from overseas and has been practiced there for over a decade, even hosting world championships. However, for numerous dogs, this is the best way to get their daily exercise.

Frisbee

One of the significant advantages of frisbee is that it doesn’t require much, just a cheerful, agile dog and a frisbee designed for dogs.

This is essential because the dog disc is made from a material that doesn’t break and doesn’t harm the dog. Frisbee can be practiced wherever there is enough space for throwing. The essence of the game is for the dog to catch the frisbee while still in the air and bring it back to its owner.

Most dogs soon realize that the game is even more exciting if they jump up and catch the frisbee in mid-air, leading them to perform acrobatic tricks. This makes the game excellent for organized sports activities alongside daily exercise.

Variations

There are many variations of frisbee sports, but the two most well-known variations are:

• One is the distance competition, which takes place on a 40-meter long course divided into lanes with different point values. The farthest lane is the most valuable. The game is timed, and within that minute, the goal is to throw the disc as far as possible, with the dog catching it in the air and returning it.
• The other category is freestyle. Here, in one and a half minutes, various playful, acrobatic jumps must be performed, often with musical accompaniment, resembling a dance or figure skating routine. The magic of frisbee lies in the fact that it can be played with any dog that enjoys running, jumping, and from a few minutes of play to competing, it’s always a pleasant experience for the dog to spend time with its owner.

Frisbee – How to Teach Catching

1. Start by dragging the disc on the ground to pique the dog’s interest and make it want to chase it. If the dog doesn’t show interest, become even more excited yourself, move the frisbee away from the dog as if you don’t want to involve it in the game. Run around with it, throw it to yourself, show the dog how much fun you’re having, and that you’re not trying to include it in the game.
2. Once you’ve managed to pique the dog’s interest, slide the frisbee upside down on the ground and let the dog catch it.
3. If the dog consistently brings back the frisbee, then roll it vertically on the ground for them.
4. Next, teach the dog how to go around you. This way, you’ll have enough time to throw the frisbee without the dog rushing you. If you’re right-handed, the dog should go from your right side to your left. Start by turning together with the dog (leading with the frisbee) so that it understands what you want from it. Turn clockwise.
5. Once the dog understands, it will soon be able to go around you without you turning with it.
6. If you’re left-handed, the dog starts on your left side and goes to your right. Start by turning together with the dog (leading with the frisbee) so that it understands what you want from it. Turn counterclockwise.
7. Once you’ve reached this point, it’s time to teach the dog to catch the disc!
8. Hold the frisbee in front of the dog, and as it catches it, give the command: “fetch!” or “yours!”
9. If this works, then throw the frisbee a bit towards the dog and give the command just before it catches it.
10. Start increasing the throwing distance and use the command to help the dog learn the timing of catching the disc.

Helpful Tips for Frisbee

• Keep practice sessions short! It’s better to practice three times for five minutes each with your dog in a day than doing 15 minutes at once.
• If the dog gets tired quickly, don’t use the frisbee to make the dog spin. Use a ball or another toy.
• The frisbee should be a special toy. Never leave it in front of the dog’s nose to play with on its own or chew.
• Don’t lose your patience during practice. Even if you don’t show it outwardly, the dog can still sense your tension. You don’t want the dog to associate negative experiences with frisbee.
• Be patient and have fun!

Working with our dog is essential for a good dog-owner relationship.

Whatever sport you do with your dog, it’s a good idea to use supplements to help alleviate the increased physical strain.
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