This is a day that every dog owner waits for – When they can finally take their furry friend to the dog park and spend a delightful afternoon playing Frisbee.
What if we told you that day isn’t far enough?
All you require is the patience of a saint, access to a Frisbee toy, and a very eager pup.
Read this blog to learn how you can teach your dog to play Frisbee.
What do you need to play the Frisbee game?
1. A canine-friendly Frisbee
A flying disc made especially for dogs is different from the ordinary hooman Frisbee.
Hard flying discs are made of solid plastic material. They are easy to throw and can go a long distance, though they may be hard on your pup’s jaw.
Soft-flying discs are lightweight and slightly flexible. These are made of flexible rubber, soft plastic, or nylon and are gentle on your Fido’s teeth, though they may not go very far.
So how do you know which one is good for your dog?
- It should be easy for you to throw
- Your pup can easily pick it up from the floor
- It is gentle on your Fido’s jaw
- It can withstand wear and tear from constant rough play
2. A large open space
If you are starting to train your young puppy to play with a Frisbee, you can do it in your backyard or in an empty room in your house.
You can take Fido to a bigger area as he grows up, such as a dog park.
Make sure he has a soft surface like grass, mud, or carpeted indoors. Hard surfaces can injure his joints while running and jumping.
What are the different ways to get your dog to play Frisbee?
Do you have everything you need? Great!
Let’s get started with teaching your dog to catch a Frisbee.
Step 1: Introducing your dog to the Frisbee
a) Get your dog comfortable playing with a Frisbee.
Place the Frisbee in the palm of your hand and show it to Fido.
Let him take his time to sniff and inspect it. When he gets curious enough, place the Frisbee on the ground in front of you. Let him get familiar with it using his nose, paw, and mouth.
b) Turn it into a high-value toy.
Sometimes your dog may not show interest in the new flying disc at first. To make it more valuable for him, you can try feeding him his favorite dog treats and kibbles from the disc.
You can also smear a high-reward treat like peanut butter on the Frisbee and let him lick it.
Step 2: Teaching your dog to grab a Frisbee
a) Teach him to grab it with his mouth
Hold the Frisbee in your hand and bring it near Fido’s face. Offer it to him as you would a treat. Communicate to him that you want him to hold it in his mouth.
Let go of the Frisbee as he closes his jaw around it. When he successfully holds the disc in his mouth, shower him with praises.
b) Teach him to jump and grab the Frisbee
Hold the Frisbee a little higher than your dog’s height.
Drop it lightly towards him and instruct him to catch it. Reward him with praises if he tries to catch it or even pick it up with his mouth.
Soon your pup will be jumping to catch the drop mid-air!
As he gets better at this, walk a few feet away from your furry pal and send the Frisbee towards him. This will teach him to jump and grab from a distance.
Step 3: Teaching your dog to chase a Frisbee
a) Roll the Frisbee on the ground
Place the Frisbee vertically on the ground and roll it towards Fido.
Encourage him to go after it and bring it to you. He should follow it and grab it with his mouth. It is okay if he brings it to you after it falls flat on the ground.
Now roll the Frisbee in other directions, away from him.
This is to make your puppy understand that he can retrieve it from any direction.
b) Start throwing the Frisbee.
Walk a few feet away from him and alternate throwing and rolling the Frisbee in different directions.
Every time he chases and brings the Frisbee back, shower him with praise and tell him that he got it right.
Step 4: Teaching your dog to catch a Frisbee
a) Take it outside
For this step, take your pooch to visit a dog park. You can also do this in your backyard if it is large enough.
b) Show your dog how to play Frisbee.
Stand a few feet away from Fido and throw the Frisbee toward him. Encourage him to jump and catch it.
Next, change directions and gradually increase the distance so that he can chase it.
Your pup will soon be running after the Frisbee and catching it mid-air.
You now have a Frisbee dog. Congratulations!
Conclusion
Training your dog how to play Frisbee can be a gratifying experience. You get to spend precious time bonding with your pet, and you also have a lifetime of fun games to look forward to.
All you need is a suitable Frisbee, open space, and your canine partner.
By being patient and making progress with tiny steps, you can turn Fido into that Frisbee dog you can’t wait to show off.
