Disc Training
Training >>Disc Training>>Basic Training
A Word About Discs
What type of discs are used? NOT the hard, brittle discs found at most pet stores or given away as promotional items. These are dangerous and can easily injure your dog, never use them.
The official type of disc used in this sport is made from a softer plastic. Examples are the Hero Disc, Wham-O Fastback and Hyperflite K10. You will find variations within these discs for cold weather play, puncture resistance, etc. The Aerobie Superdisc is used but it is not widely accepted at most major competitions.
Adding The Disc
If your dog has never seen a disc before some find it helpful to feed out of it. When first introducing the disc to your dog slide it back and forth on the floor and encourage him to chase and get it. If your dog is already a fetch monster you can start rollers.
Roll the disc on its side along the ground. Entice your dog to chase the roller and get a feel for grabbing it while in motion. You can also flip it upside down and slide it across the floor. Praise away when the dog chases it down. Don't expect your dog to catch the disc in the air, just teach him to retrieve it from a roller or slider and load on the praise. Once your dog is reliably fetching and returning the disc the next step is catching.
Catching
Get the dog excited about playing with you and the disc. Start with a "take". Hold the disc and let the dog take it from your hand, praise. Continue working with takes, praising all along. Once the dog is comfortable doing this you can start letting go of the disc right before the dog gets there, keep loading on the praise.
Now add low short throws away from your dog. Never throw directly at the dog since a hit at this stage could create mistrust of the disc. Do make sure you start catch training using short throws. You will build distance over time and only after the dog is successfully catching.
At dog level, toss the disc ahead of him a couple of feet and praise any attempt at a catch. If missed, don't let him pick up the disc, you want the catch to be the reward. Continue practicing and praising at this level until your dog is consistently catching. Now you're ready to extend the throw distance.
Go slowly, adding a few yards at a time and loads of praise to build a solid catch foundation. Don't be discouraged if your dog doesn't make an airborne catch. Some dogs take many months to establish the coordination needed to catch the disc in mid-flight while other dogs find its just not their style. Once your dog is catching or attempting to catch those distance throws you're ready for Toss & Fetch.
Jumping
Care should be taken when training your dog to jump. When a dog leaps, it should land properly. You can use a hula hoop to help force the dog to get their rear up in the air during a leap and land in a forward motion. Remember, never encourage young dogs to jump excessively. Here are some recommended articles on jumping.
Routine
While you and your dog are tearing up the Toss & Fetch field, its never too soon to put together a routine and start working on Freestyle. Just make sure your dog is physically ready and vet checked for aerial moves. Start by writing down the various throws & moves you know onto index cards. Put throws with your highest catch success at the beginning and your newer throws near the end. Next group a few moves together, leaving space for disc management (disc pick up) and go practice them together. This will help you dictate where the dog will be coming from, how each move flows into the next and how many discs are needed for each sequence.
From here you can rearrange as needed. Practice alone, practice with your dog, just practice! Get the flow of each sequence down, then start grouping them together into a 90 second routine. For music, pick a song you can jam to that is family friendly and up beat. Bring a labeled copy to competitions.
Remember...
- Practice with your dog on a safe surface, never concrete
- Keep your training sessions short
- Always end play before your dog does
- Always end on a good catch or positive note
- Keep your dog wanting more
- Always have fun with your dog
- If you're cranky, stop and play disc later
- Always provide water and shade
- Put the discs away when done
- Don't encourage a dog under 18 months to leap