How to Train a Dog With a Frisbee

Playing Frisbee with your dog is a fantastic way of ensuring that even the most energetic pooch gets all the exercise it needs to stay healthy, trim, fit, and able to come back indoors without tearing apart your home in the hopes of burning off more energy. Better yet, this kind of play exercises your dog but does not tire you to such an extent that both pooch and human will soon snooze on the sofa when returning from the outing to the park. Dogs do not automatically take to catching a Frisbee and returning it to you and a bit of training is required to teach the dog how to play the game. If you are ready to learn how to train a dog with a Frisbee, simply follow these uncomplicated steps and before long you and your canine companion will join the ranks of those who have come to enjoy this most agreeable pastime.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 Identical Frisbees
• Favorite dog treats

How to Train a Dog With a Frisbee

1. Introduce your dog to the Frisbee. Some dog owners have found that when dogs associate the disk with something they love intensely, they are more apt to chase it in flight.

2. Turn over the Frisbee and place your dog’s favorite treats into the open disk. If the dog was hesitant before, it is sure to now eagerly approach the Frisbee and eat the treats offered.

3. Play a bit of backyard catch. This is done when the dog is not afraid of the disk any longer. Simply roll the Frisbee along the ground and encourage your dog to chase after it. Command it to fetch. When your companion canine obliges, lavish it with praise and—of course—a treat or two in the Frisbee.

4. Call your dog back to you after it fetches the Frisbee you rolled on the ground. At this juncture you no longer reward simply running and catching the Frisbee, but instead you reward the return of the disk after it has been caught by your dog. This should not take too long for the dog to catch on to.

5. Play backyard catch again, but speed up the game play. As soon as your dog catches the Frisbee and turns to you, produce the second, identical Frisbee and urge your dog to bring the first one to you. When it complies, roll the second one. Keep alternating the Frisbees.

6. Graduate to actually tossing the Frisbee into the air. As you train a dog with a Frisbee, the step from rolling on the ground to flying in the air is monumental, so be prepared to spend some extra time on this until your canine companion gets it right every time.

7. Increase the distance of your throws gradually. Continue to command your dog to fetch and bring the disk back to you. The odds are good that you will not need the second disk any longer, but take it with you just in case. Remember that for each successful catch and return, you must lavish praise on your dog!

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient. Depending on your dog’s disposition, playfulness, maturity, and overall enjoyment of play, the process may take from two days to two weeks. The more patient you are, the more enjoyment you and your dog will share in the future.
• Dogs that are a bit slow on the uptake with respect to returning the Frisbee and that are not swayed by the second Frisbee may need to be led by a training leash. Attach it to the dog’s collar and gently tug on it after the dog catches the Frisbee and stands waiting for you. Call its name while tugging on the leash. Eventually the animal will connect the call with the expectation of bringing the Frisbee to you.
• Do not express anger, frustration or disappointment at your dog’s failure to immediately take to chasing the Frisbee. If the dog connects the Frisbee with unpleasantness it is less apt to approach it in play.
• Never throw the Frisbee at your dog. If it fails to leap in time it could get hurt by the edge of the disk and suddenly the Frisbee is no longer a means of enjoyment but a harbinger of pain. Needless to say, the odds are good that the dog will no longer want to play.

Resources

• When your canine companion is ready to take its love for the Frisbee to the next level, there are plenty of local clubs that offer tournaments and exercises that are a bit more challenging. An example is the DallasDogNDisc.com website.
• Take a look at the YouTube.com website for some amazing videos featuring dogs in action with Frisbees.