How can owners get a young puppy interested in retrieving a disc?
Begin by engaging with your dog by rolling the disc on the ground. Continue this activity again and again until the puppy begins to chase and play with the disc. The most important aspect of this early development is praise and positive reinforcement that translates into your pup's understanding that retrieving the disc is a desirable activity.

Next, pull and tug on the disc when they come back to you and once again praise them while doing this. Along with rolling a disc on the ground you can also begin rolling tennis balls and other toys. Anything that can introduce them to the chase and retrieving aspect is a positive interaction.

From there, try releasing the disc on command before moving on to the catching phase. Simply toss the disc starting with short throws, a few feet away, allowing your pup to catch the disc.

Then, you can move into longer throws where your dog is putting together all of the steps learned to accomplish this fun game of fetching, catching and releasing the disc.

Again, the game should be fun and positive reinforcement should always be given to keep your pup engaged and rewarded for a job well done. You can teach an old dog new tricks so you may apply these same steps to a mature dog.

Does my dog need to be very fit?
Disc throwing is a fun way for your dog to stay healthy and fit. Always bring water and provide shade for your dog. Your dog will go forever trying to please you, so be careful to not over do it and stop occasionally for a breather. Dogs that are overweight should begin slow and build up their endurance.

Many dogs retrieve balls but are afraid of large, hard flying discs. Are there better products out there? What type of flying disc is best for training and why?

Hard plastic discs have been used in competition for years. While hard plastic discs are great for humans, they can be dangerous to dogs. When using a hard disc, dogs often puncture the plastic creating sharp edges that in turn cut dog's mouths. Catching a "line drive" can often present quite a blow to your dog, startling them. Bloody gums and tongues are frequent side effects of using a hard plastic disc.

Fabric discs have become the most popular flying discs for training. Products like Ruff Wear's fabric flying Hover Craft™ are safe, easy to throw, durable, and fly long and straight. Fabric discs are gentle on the dog's mouths. They are easy to catch and allow your dog to enjoy the game of catching and fetching a disc in a healthy, safe and enjoyable manner.

Besides running and catching a disc what other activities can be incorporated into disc dog training?
The advanced level of disc dog training and competition is called freestyle. Freestyle routines involve many different elements such as music, complexity, difficulty, and catch to throw ratios. These routines are judged at competitions and range from one to two minutes.

The most advanced moves are body vaults. Trainers sometimes launch their dogs 10 feet into the air-jumping off their back, chest and knees. Advanced body vaults are very dangerous and can be very harmful to your dog. Learning vaults takes years of practice and should never be done when the dog is a puppy. To learn more about vaults consult a professional disc dog trainer. Many other elements-different throws and disc rotations-are fun for you and your dog to learn.

Part 2 - For Competition

Many adult dogs love retrieving a disc but I want to train him for competition. How can I get started?
There are many books, organizations, and Internet resources that can help you progress into competition with your disc dog. Some of the traditional tricks done during disc competitions are body vaults, standard back flips, and disc tosses. Many different disc throws can be learned by purchasing beginner disc-throwing videos. If you are interested in routines at the competitive freestyle level, look for videos of past competitions. These videos will give you great ideas of how to incorporate your moves together with your dog, as well as keeping up with the latest maneuvers. Another great opportunity to learn is by attending local competitions, watching competitors and their dogs, and seeing examples of what is to be expected during competitions. Most competitors are very approachable and enjoy sharing their experience with newcomers.

What are judges looking for in a disc dog competition?
Most events are open to beginner through advanced competitors. Competitions have two disciplines, distance and freestyle.

Distance competition involves a one to two minute throw and catch session. Scores are given for the catch distance and the accuracy of the toss. Additional points can be awarded for obvious jumps and launching efforts made by the dog. Some events have bonus squares where competitors can receive additional points for catches made in those areas.

Freestyle utilizes a different scoring system for virtually every event. Consistency and completion of difficult maneuvers will net high scores. Practicing and performing a well-choreographed routine is the best approach for consistent scoring in freestyle.

Remember, the interaction between dog and human should be most important. You could win the biggest competition in the world and your dog would never know the difference unless you express your appreciation. Don't get caught up in disappointment or discouraged about a bad performance. You and your dog are there to have fun and get some good exercise. Keep in mind, judged events can be political and sometimes frustrating. Go to an event with the idea that you and your pup are there to have fun.