Frisbee is a great game to play with your dog - it’s interactive, it burns lots of energy and it uses your dog’s brain as they track and catch the flying disc.
While some dogs are natural fetch fanatics, others need a little more patience to teach the game. But with some gentle encouragement and our top tips - you can show your dog just how fun frisbee play can be!
Read on to learn the 4 progressive steps to teach your dog to play frisbee.
Step 1: Build interest in the frisbee
Start by encouraging your dog’s interest and enthusiasm in the frisbee before building up to throws and catches. If you use a soft dog frisbee, you can start by enticing your dog to play tug. This will build your dog’s desire to want the frisbee which will make them more driven to chase and catch it as you progress the game.
It’s important to use a soft disc rather than a plastic frisbee for this as it’s gentle on your dog’s teeth and won’t cause damage.
Step 2: Roll the frisbee
Once your dog’s excited and engaged in tug play with their frisbee, you can progress on to encouraging them to chase it.
Start by rolling the frisbee a short distance from you and encourage your dog to retrieve it. This rolling movement simulates prey and motivates your dog to chase the frisbee.
Once your dog’s got the frisbee, hype them up to race back to you for a rewarding game of tug (which they already love!). This reinforces returning to you with the frisbee - so you don’t end up with your dog running away with it!
Beginning at a short distance helps your dog retain and build their enthusiasm, so that when you progress to further throws, they have the drive to go the distance.
Step 3: Practice catching the frisbee
Now your dog has drive and excitement for tugging and chasing the frisbee, we want to teach them to catch it. Start by holding the frisbee at your dog’s eye level and encourage them to grab it - reward with a game of tug.
Next start tossing the frisbee a short distance and praise your dog heavily for any catches. When your dog successfully catches the frisbee - go wild and make sure they know they’ve done an awesome job! Don’t rush this step - learning to catch a frisbee in motion is very different to fetching a ball that’s landed!
Keep your tosses short so your dog doesn’t have to track a long distance throw whilst also learning the skill of catching. Again, a soft frisbee is the best choice for this as it won’t hurt your dog when it makes contact with their mouth.
Step 4: Fly the frisbee
Once your dog is eagerly and confidently catching your frisbee tosses, you can start increasing the distance.
If you're new to frisbee play - this may take some practice for both of you! Try angling the disc down slightly as you throw it to achieve a straighter, more predictable glide.
Be mindful of the height of your throw as a lot of jumping and twisting in the air can have a negative impact on your dog’s joints. Work on throwing the frisbee at a height that’s only a short leap for your dog and play on soft surfaces like grass to reduce impact.
The best frisbee for dogs
The best dog frisbees are made from soft, flexible materials - so they don’t hurt your dog when they catch them. Ideally you want one that’s made from bite resistant material so it doesn’t get damaged during tug play.
A lightweight dog frisbee will fly better and be gentler for your dog to catch - plus they’re more portable for taking on days out to the park or the beach.
Some frisbees float which makes them great for water loving dogs who love to fetch and swim. They can also be used to help water shy dogs grow in confidence if they love playing frisbee.
Do frisbees hurt dog’s mouths?
Plastic frisbees can hurt when caught at speed and also have the possibility to chip your dogs teeth. If your dog is left to chew on a plastic frisbee it can shatter or develop sharp edges so it’s important to remove the frisbee when you’re not actively playing together.
Can puppies play with frisbees?
You can absolutely introduce your puppy to the joys of frisbee play but please choose a soft frisbee so you don’t damage your pup’s teeth. Your puppy’s joints are still developing so play on soft surfaces like grass or carpet and keep play low impact.
Ready to get started?
The key is to take it slow and keep it fun. Build the excitement, reward every win, and before long you'll have a frisbee enthusiast who can't wait for their next frisbee flying session.
