Teach a Dog How to Catch a Frisbee

Many dogs love to play with Frisbees, although most dogs don't know how to catch a flying disc. With a little patience and the following steps, you and your pet can learn to do this fun and rewarding activity.

  • Note: this article assumes your dog already knows how to fetch a ball or similar object. If not, start with Teach a Dog to Fetch. It also assumes that you know how to throw a disc. If not, start with Throw a Frisbee Backhand and Forehand.

Steps

  1. Buy a minimum of 2 *dog* discs. Human discs ("frisbees") can injure your dog. Look for the brands Hyperflite, Hero or Aerobie. These discs are specially designed to reduce risk of injuring your dog. There are discs for destructive dogs (the Hyperflite Jawz) and soft floppy discs as well (the Aerobie Dogobie). The Flippy Flopper is a soft fabric disc available at most pet stores. The Kong Flyer is also a good choice.
  2. Get your dog to get excited about the disc by associating it with very positive things. For example:
    • Use the disc as a feeding dish for a week.
    • Rub hot dog on the disc and praise your dog for going after it.
    • Play tug gently with the disc. Always let your dog win. Don't rip the disc out of your dog's mouth.
    • Reward any behavior that shows "drive" to get the disc. This means that even if your dog jumps up and grabs the disc out of your hand without waiting for you to offer it to her, this is positive!
    • Never tell your dog to 'DROP' the disc. Always use a second disc to entice your dog to drop the one in his mouth, on his own. Remember, always encourage your dog's drive to have and get the disc.
  3. Throw "rollers". Instead of throwing the disc in the air, throw it so that the disc rolls on the ground like a wheel. This helps your dog transition from fetching a ball to retrieving a disc. Dogs love to chase discs this way. It helps them learn to "target" the disc and pick it up.
  4. Throw the disc in the air and alternate with rollers. Begin with short, slow throws, and be very careful to avoid hitting your dog with the disc. In the beginning, your dog will likely let the disc hit the ground before retrieving it. It may take 100 or more throws before your dog grabs it out of the air for the first time. Be patient!
  5. Encourage your dog's drive to get the disc. Eventually your dog will get used to the flying disc, learn how to track it in the air, and eventually will want the disc so badly ("DRIVE!") that she won't want to wait for it to drop to the ground and will instead grab it out of the air. This is the moment you've been waiting for! Congratulations, you now have a Disc Dog!
  6. Prepare to be amazed.

Young Dogs

  1. Teach grabbing. Bend over slightly and hold frisbee in your hand, horizontal to the ground, at the height of the dog's mouth. Then let him grab it with his mouth while you are still holding on to it. Say "drop it" then take the frisbee from his mouth immediately. Now praise the dog graciously by saying "good boy (girl) and repeat the process again a few more times.
  2. Teach running and grabbing. Now do the exact same exercise, only move your body in a circle away from the dog, keeping it at the height of the dog's mouth. As the puppy grows, you will be able to stand up while doing this exercise.
  3. Teach jumping and grabbing. Now that you are standing up, hold the frisbee a little higher than the dog's mouth and horizontal to the ground, so he has to jump up to grab it. After a while, release the frisbee right before your dog jumps up to grab it. Try turning in a circle with this exercise as well.
  4. Advance to the steps above for older dogs. If you are training a young pup, you may need to repeat all the above many times before it is ready to chase the frisbee.



Tips

  • Remember that patience is the key to success and don't give up on your dog!
  • Remember that all breeds and all sizes of dogs can become disc dogs.
  • If your dog puts holes in the discs quickly, get Hyperflite Jawz discs.
  • Remember you can get puppy sized discs for small dogs.
  • Repeat each step before moving forward. This insures that the dog has a firm understanding of what to do.
  • Do not let the dog win because they will think they are the boss, but don't rip the frisbee out of their mouth just teach them the "drop it" command.

Warnings

  • Don't use an Ultimate Frisbee disc. These discs can cost up to $20 and will be ruined by a dog's teeth. They are also VERY hard on the dog's mouth.
  • If you find yourself getting angry or frustrated, take a break. The only thing your dog will learn while you are angry is fear.
  • Don't use a hard plastic Frisbee, like the ones sold at most pet stores. These discs cut the dog's mouth and can shatter when the dog catches them
  • Don't let your dog chew on the disc.
  • If your dog doesn't stay with you, then work on recall ("come") before working with a disc.
  • Don't let dogs under 1 yr old jump for a disc. It is very hard on their joints. Stick to "rollers" - throws where the disc never leaves the ground.

Things You'll Need

  • A Dog
  • 1 - 5 discs
  • A wide open space, preferably fenced.
  • Patience and a willingness to spend lots of time with your dog.

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