WELCOME TO DISC DOG!

Step 1: Get Your Dog Excited About Disc

Every dog's journey is a little different. Some take to disc immediately, others need some coaxing. The most important thing is to keep it fun and low-pressure.

The #1 beginner mistake: Throwing the disc in the air right away and expecting your dog to catch it. Most dogs aren't naturally wired to track flying objects but they ARE wired to chase things along the ground!

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Here's where to start:

• Roll it, don't throw it. Roll the disc along the ground like a wheel. This taps into your dog's natural prey drive and gets them chasing it excitedly.

• Celebrate every win. When your dog grabs it, cheer like crazy!

• Keep sessions short, upbeat, and always end on a positive note.

• Work on bite work. Practice tugging, giving, and dropping the disc on cue. Pawsitive Vybe has excellent free bite work videos on YouTube (linked in the Video Resources below).

• Introduce air throws gradually. Once your dog is engaged and doing bite work, start with very short tosses, almost a handoff, and slowly increase distance from there.

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Step 2: Choose Your First Disc 

Not all discs are created equal, and the right choice depends on your dog's size and style. Many disc doggers use one of the following brands but the most important thing is to make sure the disc you use is safe for your dog! ​

• Hero Disc USA  

  • These discs are also very durable, dog-friendly, long-lasting, and versatile. 

• Hyperflite 

  • These discs are dog-friendly, durable, stable, great for tugging and rollers. 

• Fabric discs such as the ChuckIt Paraflite. 

  • These discs are great option for puppies and new dogs. They are soft on the teeth but can be easily ripped up and don't fly well in very windy conditions. ​

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Want to dive deeper into disc types, weight, wingspan, stability, and how wind affects your throw? See the FAQ section below.

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Step 3: Practice With The Club

Once you become a paid MNDDC member, you'll get access to our Minnesota Disc Dog Club Training Group on Facebook. We host free casual playdates where disc doggers of all skill levels get together to play, observe, and grow. It's not private lessons — it's a community showing up and learning together. Members also post training tips and videos multiple times a week throughout the disc dog season. 

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Step 4: Attend Your First Event
You don't need to be an expert to compete, you just need a dog with some engagement and an enthusiasm for chasing disc! In many events, rollers even count as throws, so you can compete early in your journey. If big competitions are not your thing, check out our Toss & Fetch League. This is a smaller weekly league that meets several times throughout the year and is a fun way to get started in disc. 

How to sign up:

• Follow our Facebook page or register on our website to get notified about upcoming events

• Registration forms typically open 1-2 months before each competition or league.

• Check the Competition Formats page to learn the rules of each game before you sign up

• Have questions? Reach out to us! We remember our first competition too and are very happy to welcome you and your dog. 

Tip: Sign up early. The sport is growing fast and events can fill up!

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