Retrieving a stick? Don’t. This is because the wooden particles can splinter and injure the mouth and throat of dogs. The modern dog is dedicated to trendy sports and goes for Frisbees! These flying discs, which became popular as beach toys, have a curious history of origin: their predecessors were discarded cake moulds. Since the 1950s Frisbees have been commercially produced and have spread from the USA as a popular game and sports equipment all over the world. Dogs, naturally fond of throw toys, quickly appreciated this – especially when playing with “their” humans. One throw is enough and your furry friend will chase after the tempting flying objects which move quickly through the air thanks to their gyroscopic movement and aerodynamic effects. Playing Frisbee with your pet is even an official dog sport under the name “Dog Frisbee” or “Disc-dogging”.

Compared to dog balls a dog Frisbee, or a comparable ring-shaped object, places different demands on the movements and agility of the dog. The animal must calculate the trajectory of the rotating disk, follow it continuously and jump and grab it from the air by precise snapping before it falls to the ground. This also requires special material characteristics for Frisbees for dogs and similar dog throw toys: contact with the dog jaws is essential here, while normal Frisbees are safely caught by hand as sports equipment for people.
Well known dog toy manufacturers have developed Frisbee discs and throw toys for dogs accordingly. A high-quality dog Frisbee is bite-resistant, made of shatterproof material such as natural rubber, nylon or rubber and is slightly flexible. This minimises the risk of injury to the dog.

By playing with a wide variety of throw toys, dogs train their endurance as well as their responsiveness, coordination and speed. The fun of playing together also strengthens the bond between you and your animal. Throw toys and Frisbees for dogs are suitable for all dogs who enjoy the exercise. Particularly agile and nimble breeds such as Border Collies, Poodles etc. will get their money’s worth. But there are also a few exceptions:

• Puppies and very young dogs should still avoid jumping and abrupt changes of direction, because these could possibly damage their joints that have not yet been fully developed. The dog should be fully grown and the muscles should be correspondingly strong.
• Dogs with joint disease and hip dysplasia should also refrain from play of this kind and enjoy themselves in a joint-friendly manner.
• Heavy dogs such as St. Bernards are also not suited for the excitable jumping in Dog Frisbee or Disc-dogging.
• Dogs with extremely short muzzles like pugs etc. often suffer more from breathing problems – all the more during sporting activity. Dog Frisbee possibly does not give these dogs much joy.

In general, dog Frisbees etc. are suitable for any healthy adult dog in a good condition that likes retrieval games. The size of the animal is practically irrelevant. First, show the animal the disc. Let it give it a sniff and bite at it. Don’t forget to praise! In order to familiarise the animal with the principle, it is best to simply roll the disc over the ground first. The dog will probably try to grab the new throw toy immediately as it rolls. Make sure to praise it in an over exaggerated manner when it brings the disc back to you. As soon as the retrieval works you can start with the first throws.
It is best to not throw the toy too far and with a relatively flat throw to start with. This way, the animal slowly learns about the flight characteristics and learns to grab the dog Frisbee from the air. Then simply vary according to your mood! Typical game styles include, for example:

• Fast-paced hunting game: a Frisbee glides through the air and flies evenly over long distances. It has completely different flight characteristics than a ball, so the dog is chasing a flight object that is moving for a longer time, at least if the throwing technique is correct.
• Surprise tactics: Switch between a dog Frisbee and a dog ball to train the coordination skills of the animal overall. Your dog will be happy about the variety!
• Fun on and in the water: a Frisbee is a classic toy for the beach. Your dog will certainly like to fish a floating dog Frisbee from the waves.
• Play in the dark: A luminous dog throw toy can be found even when darkness sets in. This extends the play time with your dog on darker days.
• Disc-dogging: This dog sport is a freestyle and catch game sport over various distance.

In other words, there are practically no imaginable limits. However, make sure that you have enough space to play – preferably on level terrain without stumbling possibilities. If the animal is completely focused on the toy obstacles and potholes may mean a risk of an accident!
Also observe how the dog behaves. Does it get out of breath? Or is it over-excited by all the fun? Then take a break in good time so that the animal can calm down and take a breather.
By the way, there are throw rings and Frisbees for dogs from well-known brands such as AniOne, Hunter, Kong and Trixie. And at MAXI ZOO you can buy high-quality throw toy for dogs conveniently and cheaply online!