Is your dog a pro when it comes to the game of fetch? Maybe you should give canine disc a try! By Lauren McKellar.
The sport of canine disc is not a new one, having originated in the 1970s in America, but it certainly has experienced a growth in popularity in the land down under during recent years. Founded in Australia by Damian and Karen Noud in 2003, the governing body was originally named the Australian Canine Disc Association and was primarily focused in Brisbane with a group of approximately 20–30 members.
However, in 2012, a change occurred. “We formed a board of directors and renamed the group Canine Disc Australia,” Allison Britton,
president, says. “Since then, we’ve boomed ahead. We’ve taken it from a small member base to 220 members. A huge improvement from the 20–30 it was.”
What is canine disc?
Canine disc is exactly what you think it is — basically, a more organised game of Frisbee. “If you’ve got a dog and a Frisbee, then you can play canine disc,” Allison says.
Of course, it isn’t quite as casual as what you might be used to at home. There are different formats played in canine disc, each with a specific set of rules and point systems. “There’s throw and catch — that’s pretty self-explanatory. You throw the Frisbee and the dog catches it and brings it back,” Allison says. “The further you throw, the more points you get if the dog catches the Frisbee on the full and brings it back.”
There’s also a freestyle canine disc session, where one person and one dog are out on the field with up to 10 discs. The trainer will go through a routine with the dog, set to a soundtrack of the participant’s choosing. “The really good teams will try to choreograph their routine to the music and, as a judge, I think that’s pretty cool,” Allison says. “You might get extra points for knowing your music and your music should cue you in your routine for where you’re up to.”
There are heaps of other games played in the sport, including time trials, blackjack, fast 50 and more. Most of these are based on the American version of the sport, but some of the games, including double up, have been innovated by Allison and the board and given a truly Aussie twist.
For more information, visit caninediscaustralia.com.
Discover more pawsome dog sports in PETS magazine here.
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