On the surface playing Frisbee with your dog may seem like just a bit of fun, but this activity actually holds other benefits as well.
1. Certain breeds are accustomed to an active lifestyle, so, when they are forced to remain idle, they tend to create interesting diversions to entertain themselves. Unfortunately, their idea of fun may be something that you consider to be destructive behavior. Playing Frisbee with your dog may help to curb some of your dog's destructive behavior by giving your pup an outlet for all of his pent-up energy.
2. Playing Frisbee will also provide both you and your dog with a bit of exercise. This is a great way to help your pet keep in tiptop condition.
Herding dogs are more adept at fetching a Frisbee, but other breeds can certainly be taught. There are even different discs on the market that are suited to different types of dogs. If you want to begin training at an early age, then you should look into purchasing a miniature disc for your puppy as a regular-size disc would be much too large for his tiny mouth.
Frisbee. It's What's For Dinner
Your first step toward molding your dog into a Frisbee-catching-master should be to replace his regular food dish with a Frisbee. Flip the disc over and serve up some chow, but be sure to remove the disc as soon as your dog has finished eating. The last thing that you want is for the Frisbee to become a chew toy. Your dog, who will come to associate the disc with supper, will gladly chase after it when you start tossing his "food dish" through the air.
Didn't Your Mother Tell You Not to Play Indoors?
Well, for this next step you are going to have to go against mom's advice. Take a seat on the floor and start rolling the Frisbee a few feet along the ground. Next, encourage your dog to chase after the disc. If your dog obeys, then be sure to provide ample praise. If your dog doesn't go for the disc don't become discouraged. Never become angry or frustrated with your dog during his learning experience. It is vital to the process that your dog view this as the greatest fun that the two of you could ever share. Just keep trying. He'll get it eventually.
From Fetching....
Now you are going to teach your dog to return the disc to you. Play your usual game of roll the Frisbee, but this time call your dog's name and tell him to come back to you with the disc. Even if the dog returns with out being told, this step must not be skipped as it teaches your dog to retrieve the Frisbee. There are additional steps that you might need to try if your dog doesn't bring the disc back to you when called.
1. Tempt your dog to return by offering another Frisbee in exchange for the one he's got. After you have rolled the first Frisbee and your dog has picked it up, call his name, tell him to bring the Frisbee to you, and show him that you have another disc. Your dog will most probably come running for the other Frisbee. Roll the second disc and repeat this process.
2. If your dog proves to be a little stubborn, then you may have to resort to using a training lead of about 30 feet. After you have rolled the first Frisbee and your dog has picked it up, call his name, tell him to bring the Frisbee to you, and then gently pull him back toward you. If your dog drops the disc while being reeled-in, then stop pulling him toward you. Get up, retrieve the Frisbee yourself, and begin the rolling process over again.
....To Catching
When your dog has mastered bringing the Frisbee back to you without the offer of another disc or the aid of a lead, then it is time to move outdoors as he is now ready to begin learning to catch the Frisbee. Care needs to be taken at this point that you do not actually throw the Frisbee at your dog. Some dogs may not try to catch the Frisbee and will, instead, be hit by the disc. This will cause them to become fearful of the disc and then training them to play with it will become a very difficult task.
Stand a few feet away from your dog and toss the Frisbee into the air. While doing this say "Catch". Repeat this process until your dog completes the task. Be patient as this process may take months for your dog to accomplish. When your dog finally manages to catch the disc be sure to provide a reward and a lot of praise.
You are now ready to move onto the next and final step. If you are right-handed, then take a position on your dog's right. Those who are left-handed should simply reverse their position in relation to their dog. From this position throw the Frisbee a short distance in front of you. When you dog becomes adept at catching these short throws, then you can progress to throws of a greater distance.
Congratulations! You now have a Frisbee catching buddy. Take your playmate out to the park and show off his new skills. Don't surprised if the two of you draw a crowd of very impressed onlookers.
About The Author
Heather Wallace is a writer whose work has been published in national, regional, and online publications. Additionally, she has written articles as a newspaper correspondent. Visit http://www.fetchingsites.com/SitStay.html to learn how to turn a bad dog into the perfect pooch in record time. Also, sign-up for a free weekly newsletter jam-packed with dog obedience training tips.
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract... Read More
Anyone wanting a new kitten should be a cat lover.... Read More
When looking for the best dog food - consider Life's... Read More
What if you want a Boxer, but cannot stomach the... Read More
When selecting the best dry food for your dog, why... Read More
If you've ever watched as a cat "flipped" over fresh... Read More
As I listen on my long drive to my grandpa's... Read More
The shutting and opening door trick can be taught to... Read More
I would like to address some of the statements I... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
If you are looking for tips on breeding tropical fish,... Read More
A dog that is feeling pain can often be highly... Read More
The first thing to do when searching for a lost... Read More
Allergies to dogs can strike anyone at any age, yet... Read More
PROBIOTICS - The Good Bacteria - Does your pet have... Read More
Buy or Adopt - That is the question.If you intend... Read More
What Is ParvoParvo is a serious viral disease that can... Read More
If you have a hard time in summer imagine how... Read More
You may be hearing more talk these days about "Essential... Read More
Did you know that arthritis affects one in five dogs... Read More
Some people are so attached to their pets that they... Read More
Understanding where horses come from has been a long road... Read More
Puppies can be so exasperating! They know what we want,... Read More
Dog careAccepting responsibility of your new pet friend is truly... Read More
Reading a pet food label, how difficult can it be?... Read More
Hamsters are soft, furry and small. They make wonderful pets... Read More
Which kind is your pet? The pooch who is the... Read More
"Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs,... Read More
Obesity is one of the greatest health concerns facing dogs.... Read More
The answer is "no" if you are the type who... Read More
So you're thinking about trying cichlids. A good choice. In... Read More
We have a long history with domesticated animals and even... Read More
Dogs are believed to be descendants of wild wolves. They... Read More
Flowerhorn Cichlids Flowerhorn cichlids is a hybrid cichlid that was... Read More
Once other animals such as cattle, sheep and goats became... Read More
Weaning puppies is a perfectly natural process. Mamma dogs have... Read More
Guide for training a dogSo you can use a guide... Read More
Part1: There is Actually a "Wrong" Way to Crate TrainCrate... Read More
Itch, itch. Scratch, scratch, scratch. Does that sound familiar? Hopefully... Read More
Boarding, Breeding, Training & Showing Stables:1. You need to fill... Read More
Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with... Read More
Are you thinking about dog obedience school? Do you know... Read More
Hamsters are soft, furry and small. They make wonderful pets... Read More
Dogs make great loyal pets and are always pleased to... Read More
After years of practicing both conventional and holistic medicine for... Read More
The cat population is astronomical. Most experts agree that average... Read More
One of the most difficult hurdles that any new puppy... Read More
Because it is intelligent and energetic, a Westie terrier is... Read More
* Lock things up that could cause harm* Keep the... Read More
You've seen them in movies and on TV shows, and... Read More
Peeing on the carpet, knocking you down, or stealing dinner... Read More
Find a vet, if possible, who specializes in small animals... Read More
While a bird is an easy pet to care for,... Read More
I get a lot of horse training questions about stopping... Read More
Kittens communicate in a very distinct way. Did you know... Read More
In horse training or natural horsemanship, Approach is nothing more... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
IntroductionA long time ago, before evolution turned the primate into... Read More
Throughout the course of my life, I've encountered my own... Read More
Many chronic diseases commonly seen in pets result from immune... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
Cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters, but that... Read More
Did you know that dog toys are actually good for... Read More
As our horses enjoy a longer life and many live... Read More
Your local grocery store is chock full of food and... Read More
Pet |