Story by Morieka Johnson
After the winter months, the nice weather gives you and your dog the chance to enjoy the great outdoors. Most dog owners enjoy tossing a stick or a tennis ball with their pet, but the sport of disc dog takes fetch to the next level.
Also known as “Frisbee dog,” disc dog challenges pets to catch and retrieve discs thrown by their handlers at 10-yard intervals.
April kicks off high season for Atlanta disc dog lovers. In addition to filling local dog parks, the Atlanta Dogwood Festival spotlights the sport beginning April 13, followed by spring flings hosted by the Brightside Dog Training and Boarding facility on April 22 and April 28. There’s also no shortage of courses around metro Atlanta for those who want to observe the action. Ask your local training facility to recommend a disc dog or dog sporting course near you.
Judges award points for the best five catches in a 90-second period, with extra points for catching the disc mid-air. During a competition, judges also evaluate dog-human duos based on technique, athleticism and the dog’s drive to make each catch. In the freestyle options, dogs and handlers perform to music. No routine is the same.
Although lighter, more athletic dogs tend to excel at the high-flying leaps required to catch a disc, any dog is welcome to participate. During one demonstration by Greater Atlanta Dog and Disc Club members, a Corgi’s contagious energy stole the show. Unlike many dog competitions that feature highly trained, four-legged pros, disc dog competitions frequently include a timeslot for novices to join the fun.
“Just come to a competition, we’ll give you a disc,” says Troy McConaughey, president of the Greater Atlanta Dog and Disc Club. “You’ve probably been around the show rings where it’s really uptight. We’re 180 degrees opposite of that. We have fun with our dogs.”
Before getting started, McConaughey notes that disc dog is a team sport with two key functions: tossing and fetching. If the dog drops a disc during competition, the handler must run to retrieve it. In Georgia’s notoriously hot spring and summer months, dogs and handlers both need to be fit. Keep outdoor practice sessions short and make sure dogs can have plenty of water.
McConaughey also notes that all Frisbees are not created equally. Some plastic discs break apart easily when held in a dog’s mouth. McConaughey recommends purchasing ones specifically made for dog activities, and notes that Roswell-based company Hyperflite produces competition-style discs in addition to sponsoring Skyhoundz disc dog events internationally each year.
Along with having the right gear, dogs typically do better in the sport if they have completed a basic obedience course. Kim Dowis of Jabula Dog Academy has spent more than 20 years training dogs and their handlers. Her six-week sports prep course focuses on the relationship between dog and handler, while teaching dogs body awareness, cultivating confidence and providing mental stimulation. Dogs also learn to sit and wait their turn as handlers observe other duos in action. These foundational principles prepare teams to excel in a range of activities beyond disc dog.
“Frisbee [events], a lot of times, are centered around festivals, so you’ve got kids playing in the bouncy houses and things like that,” Dowis says. “We work on relationship building to help the dog understand that no matter what environment they are in, they need to focus on you and work with you.”
McConaughey agrees that observing other dog-human duos in action is key to excelling at disc dog. He suggests connecting with a meetup group or disc club to learn the basics. In Atlanta, there’s no shortage of options available. Dowis adds that word-of-mouth referrals from trainers can help track down a nearby prep class.
“The dog community is extremely friendly — go watch a competition,” McConaughey says. “[Atlanta] is one of the best places in the world to be right now when it comes to dog sports.”
Insider tips
To learn more about disc dog competitions, follow the Greater Atlanta Dog and Disc Club on Facebook or check out the United States Disc Dog Nationals World Qualifier at 2 p.m. on April 13 at the Atlanta Dogwood Festival in Piedmont Park. The tournament kicks off at 11 a.m. on April 14. dogwood.org/Disc_Dogs
Kim Dowis' dog sports prep class at Jabula Dog Academy is $250 for six weeks. 32 N. Avondale Road, Suite C, Avondale Estates. 404-499-9340. jabuladogs.com
Morieka Johnson is an Atlanta-based dog blogger and host of “SoulPup: Tips and Tricks for Dog Lovers,” available at SoulPup.com.
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