Let the frisbee fun begin!
I don’t know about you, but in my mind, frisbees and dogs go together like peanut butter and jelly! If your dog likes to run and jump, then frisbees are the right toy for them. But, frisbee can be more than fetch. To help you mix up the frisbee game, here are some frisbee tricks to teach your dog.
Getting started
Choose the right frisbee
Using the right size and type of frisbee is very important.
The first frisbee I bought Isla was way too heavy and large for her. I thought she would grow into it, but she never did. I later bought a light, small fabric frisbee, which has worked perfectly for teaching her tricks.
This may seem obvious, but something I like about light frisbees is that they don’t fall as quickly when thrown. This makes it easier for Isla to learn tricks because she has more time to react to when I throw the frisbee. If the frisbee is a light fabric or rubber, it’ll be easier for your dog to catch, and therefore easier to learn tricks!
Introduce the frisbee
If your dog has never seen a frisbee before, then you’ll want to show them that its a fun toy to play with. You can start by playing tug-of-war or fetch and get your dog super excited about this new toy.
Even now, Isla likes to play a bit of both when we’re doing tricks. It’s a quick way to pique her interest and can be a nice break between learning sessions.
Teach your dog to jump
Jumping comes more naturally to some dogs than others. You may find that your dog is already jumping for toys, in which case, you can skip this step.
If your dog is reluctant to jump, you can teach them with the help of a treat or favourite toy.
Start by holding the treat or toy above your dog, just out of reach. Then ask them to jump by using your command word of choice (I say the word “up!”).
If your dog is hesitant to jump up, you can try directing them instead to jump up on a low chair, or surface.
If you let your dog up on the furniture at home, you can also try pairing the action with your word of choice, and they’ll pick it up in no time.
Once they’ve mastered this skill, you’re ready to start teaching some tricks. As note, there are probably official names for all of these tricks, but I definitely just made up my own here. Feel free to re-name them, as you please!
Let the tricks begin! 3 tricks to try with your dog
1. Mid air catch
The mid air catch is a good first trick to learn. You can have your dog start by sitting a few feet in front of you, then show them the frisbee.
Once you’ve got their attention, throw the frisbee in the air in front of them, saying a release command at the same time (such as “Ok!” Or “Go!”).
This may take several tries, but eventually, your dog will come to expect the throw and catch the frisbee.
2. Jump and grab
The jump and grab involves your dog jumping up to grab a frisbee from your hand.
I start this trick by asking Isla to sit facing me. I then hold out the frisbee in the air with one hand.
Remembering our jump command word, start with the release command, then ask them to jump up for the frisbee. You can encourage them to jump for the frisbee specifically by wiggling it in your hand, so that your dog is tempted by it.
If your dog is hesitant to jump high, you can also try lowering the height of the frisbee, then increasing the height as they get the hang of the trick.
3. Backwards catch
The backwards catch can yield different results, depending on your dog’s energy level and jumping abilities.
Start by asking your dog to sit a few feet in front of you, facing towards you. Next, show them the frisbee.
Throw the frisbee lightly, above their head so that it goes past them and forces them to turn to catch it. When you release the frisbee, make sure to say your release word, so that your dog doesn’t continue waiting!
This trick was actually harder for me to pick up than Isla. Reason being, you have to make sure you throw it just out of reach, so that your dog has to jump up or turn and jump to catch it. Otherwise, they’ll just catch the frisbee as they normally would.
I hope these tips help you with your training! Frisbee tricks can be so much fun and they’re an excellent way to expend energy, so I definitely recommend giving them a try.
Happy training!