I bought Keeda a flying disc today, deciding that we should try our hands (and paws) at some  Disc Dog action. Keeda took to the flying disc (I’d like to call it a Frisbee, but it isn’t) immediately – as a chew toy, not so much a toy to catch. I knew it would take a bit of practice and training for us to get to the point where she’s actually catching the disc in mid-air, so I’m not giving up hope.

Keeda may not be so great at catching flying discs yet, but she is excellent at catching other toys like tennis balls, her favorite chew toys, or her beloved sock.

Dogs love a game of catch. When your dog is a puppy, stick to a light, easy game as excessive jumping isn’t healthy for their developing joints. And by the time your dog is fully developed it’ll be on its way to becoming catch champion of the world…or at least of your household.

A friend of mine recently asked me how you teach a dog to catch a ball in mid-air. Such a simple concept can seem quite difficult for some dogs to learn.

• First, find a toy that you know your dog can grab in its mouth comfortably, but isn’t small enough for your dog to choke on. You can even use a piece of material or sock that you don’t mind getting chewed up. Socks are lighter and won’t fall to the ground quite as quickly as a proper dog toy would, giving your dog more time to react and catch the object.
• Then, make sure your dog likes the toy. If it isn’t one of your dog’s regular toys already, let it hold it in its mouth, maybe play a little tug of war with your dog using the toy, throw the toy for your dog to chase.
• Hand the toy to your dog from your hand a few times and praise the dog each time it grabs the toy in its mouth. Then, begin to lightly toss the toy from a couple of centimetres away, like a handover with just a second of air time in-between. Keep the praise going each time your dog grabs the toy.
• When your dog can catch the toy as you’re lightly tossing it from a few inches away, continue increasing the distance and begin to throw the toy up more so than across to your dog. From here it’s just a matter of continuous praise when your dog gets the toy and making the throws more challenging for your dog. You can associate a command with the action by saying “Catch” or whatever cue you want to use as you throw the toy into the air.
• Remember to keep the game fun for your dog. Make the sessions short and sweet, a few 5-10 minute sessions per day should be enough.