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Disc Dogs Basics

More than one million dog and handler teams are estimated to participate in the sport of disc dogs, from a guy playing in the park with his dog to professional teams that perform during the halftime of professional sports. A very small percentage of that million compete in sanctioned events, but the number is growing all the time.

A significant portion of disc dog teams use the sport as a fun way to keep the dog conditioned and trained for other dog sports like agility, dock dogs, flyball, and the like.

Disc dog competitions generally include the standard distance toss-and-fetch event and a dynamic freestyle event, and sometimes a long-distance event is added. The team consists of one handler and one dog who work together to complete the requirements for each event.

The toss-and-fetch event is also called MiniDistance, Distance/Accuracy, or Throw and Catch, but the concept is always the same. The disc dog team has 60 seconds to complete as many toss and catches in a row (with a single disc) on a field marked with increasingly longer distances, up to about 50 meters. The dogs are awarded points for the distance of the throw but mid-air catches warrant extra points.

Freestyle events are considered the highest level of competitive accomplishment for disc dog teams. Freestyle routines are generally from 90 seconds to three minutes long and are choreographed and rehearsed to perfection prior to the event. The routine is set to music and tend to include spectacular flips, rapid multiple catches, and athletic vaults off the back of the handler...all of which serve to make disc dogs very popular with spectators.

Freestyle disc dogs are judged in a variety of categories including canine athleticism, degree of difficulty, and showmanship. The competitions are generally divided into classifications based on the handlers’ experience. There are no gender divisions in any event except, sometimes, the long-distance category.

Check out the AthleticDogs.com store for disc dog products!