Training Your Dog to Catch a Frisbee: Impress Your Friends and Neighbors by Teaching Your Dog this Athletic Ability!

I have an Australian Shepherd named "Sydney" that is getting up there in years, but when he was younger, he was a Frisbee chasing fool. I would take him to the local park and within just a few minutes of playing, we would have an audience. Of course, people always had questions about Sydney, but the number one question asked was how I had trained him to catch a frisbee so well.

You see, Sydney didn't just run and catch a Frisbee. He was professional and I thought several times about entering competitions with him. I varied things up to keep his interest, but it usually went something like this.

I would put him in a "DOWN" position, and then tell him to "WAIT". I would then turn my back on him and walk across the field to the other corner on the same side of the field. (This in itself amazed a lot of people). I would ask, "READY"? Then I would launch that Frisbee towards the middle as far as I could and Sydney wouldn't budge until I said "GO!"

Then he would make a mad dash, and depending on how he was situated in relation to the Frisbee, he would either leap and snatch it out of the air, or if he was under it as it came down, he would literally use his nose to bonk it back into the air a few times before catching it. Without saying a word, Sydney would then proudly bring the Frisbee back to me and drop it at my feet, ready for the next throw.

I could take several Frisbees and throw them one at a time in rapid order in different directions, and he would catch each one, drop it, and go for the next one. He was so focused on the Frisbee that nothing besides my voice could get his attention. He's old now. His hips bother him and he tires easily. But to this day, he loves it when I take him out to play. Of course, now all I can do is toss a soft flying disc a few yards away and watch as Sydney does a slow lope, picks the Frisbee up off the ground, and happily returning it and dropping it at my feet.

So how did I teach him to do these things? There are a number of techniques, some may work for your dog, and some may not. Some breeds just aren't interested in the game. Here is how I trained Sydney.

We got Sydney as a puppy, so that made the process much easier. But I believe he would have learned just as willingly as an adult dog, and I have taught older dogs in the same manner in the past.

1) Instead of feeding your dog in a regular dog food dish, feed him from a Frisbee. Make it a big deal. You want to tie his instinctive eagerness for food with the wonderful container that it arrives in. You can also play by putting the Frisbee upside down several yards away, and put a small treat in it. Make him wait, then tell him to go get the Frisbee. Use the word "Frisbee" as often as you can so that he will associate the word with the toy, even if he just gets the treat but leaves the Frisbee.

2) Every single time you do anything with that Frisbee, make it a special event by using your tone of voice and body language to show him you are excited about it too. If outdoors, toss it gently in the air above you and catch it yourself several times. Do this as often as possible. It gives him an idea of what you want him to do.

3) Start slowly by just rolling the Frisbee like a wagon wheel across the ground and encouraging him to chase it. Again, when he returns it, reward him with lots of praise, and tell him to DROP IT. If he chases it down but doesn't bring it back, that's okay for now so praise him anyway.

4) NEVER play "tug of war" with the Frisbee or chase after him. If he decides to keep it, let him. Just end the game right there and then and walk away. No yelling or berating him. Just stop everything. Soon he will figure out that it is much more fun to play with you than by himself.

5) Along with #4 above, make sure to teach him to DROP the Frisbee at your feet. The DROP command should be part of every dog's repertoire of commands, but that is for another article. You want him to drop it at your feet for two reasons. First, it is easier on you because you just have to bend over and pick it up. Second, by dropping it at your feet, it gives you a chance to wipe (or shake) off any doggy drool.

6) If you can't throw a Frisbee, here is the time for you both to be learning. Start off by just tossing the Frisbee a few feet away and encouraging him to bring it back to you. Don't forget the praise and excitement. As he gets better, you can start lengthening the distance of your throws. Soon, you will find yourself throwing that Frisbee pretty well. At some point when he has the concept down, your dog may actually throw you a disgusted look when your Frisbee throw is a flop and gives him nothing to do but retrieve it for you so you can try again!

7) A word about flying discs. I refer to them as "Frisbees" because that is the brand I always use. You will want to always have a couple on hand that are identical. Using a hard flying disc like a Frisbee can be dangerous because they can hurt your dog's gums and teeth. Here you have to use some common sense. There are a number of soft flying discs made especially for dogs. But I found a couple of problems with them. First, they are often more expensive than a Frisbee. Since they are floppy, you can't wagon-wheel roll them across the ground. Last, those discs are actually harder to throw properly, and they just don't go the same distance as a hard disc. Of course, you don't want to use a 150g Professional Model Frisbee to train your puppy or smaller dog. A Frisbee that large and heavy is more likely to knock your dog off his feet. Remember that "fun" factor?

8) Finally, remember that you are responsible for your dog's health. Sydney would have chased Frisbees all day until he collapsed if I had let him. I always brought plenty of water, and even taught him to drink out of a bottle. Take frequent rest breaks. Try to play on grass when possible, and in an area where shade is available. Watch to make sure he hasn't cut himself in the mouth or twisted a leg or foot. This is great exercise for your dog, and it helps him to bond with you. Give it a try! If all else fails, there is still the tennis ball.