Canine Disc Sports

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The sport got its start in the early 1970s, paralleling the rise in  popularity of Frisbee sport. 

The definitive moment came on August 5,  1974 when Alex Stein, a 19-year-old college student from Ohio, and his  dog, Ashley Whippet, jumped the fence at a nationally broadcast baseball  game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds. Stein had  with him a couple of flying discs, which he threw for the dog. Ashley  astonished the crowd with his disc-catching, as he ran up to 35 miles  per hour (56 km/h) and leaped 9 feet (2.7 m) in the air to snag the  disc. The stunt was so novel that the game was stopped and Joe Garagiola  continued to announce the flying disc action on the field. Finally,  after eight minutes, Stein was escorted off the field and arrested. The  nationally televised exhibition of Ashley's skill did much to fuel  interest in the sport. Stein worked with Irv Lander and Eldon McIntire to create the Frisbee  Dog World Championship for people and their dogs. Even today, Stein and  McIntire continue to contribute to the sport. 

  Part of the popularity of the sport is its accessibility. All that is  necessary to enjoy it is a level playing area, a dog, and a flying disc.  

Also, a little imagination is an extra plus for Freestyle competition. 

It is estimated that over one million dogs play flying disc in the  United States alone, though only a small percentage participate in  organised competitions. Canine Disc Clubs can be found all over the  United States, Europe, Asia, Canada and Australia. 

The first club was  the Dallas Dog and Disc Club, founded in the mid-1980s by Ron Ellis. 

 Canine Disc clubs organise and promote the sport on a local level, and  work with the national organisation – Canine Disc Australia LTD to run  events. 

They offer new-comers a way to learn more about the sport, and  are a great place for the experienced competitors to give back. 

Disc dog  clubs can be found throughout Australia. The first club was the  Brisbane & Region K9 Disc Club, founded in 2003 by Damian &  Karen Noud. 

 Not all dogs immediately understand the concept of the game. 

A dog may  not instinctively know to turn and chase after a disc that is thrown  over its head. To begin, the disc should be rolled along the ground on  its vertical edge and the dog encouraged chasing it for a short  distance. 

Not all dogs know how to catch a Disc, to start the disc  should be thrown straight to the dog at a short distance.  Once he knows  how to catch, it can learn the additional concept of running to catch  the disc. 

The disc should be thrown at increasing heights, gradually  throwing the disc higher, until it finally goes over the dog's head.  At  that point the dog instinctively follows the disc all the way around.