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DS340: Disc Dog - Handler's Choice

  • Overview
  • Syllabus
  • Prerequisites & Supplies
  • Sample Lecture
  • Testimonials & Reviews
    • Registration
      Apply for a scholarship

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DS340: Disc Dog - Handler's Choice

Course Details

Disc dog is an amazing sport that has a variety of elements suitable for any toy-driven dog. This hybrid “handler’s choice” course will allow each team to work on the aspects of disc dog that suit them best but will also contain a basic foundation curriculum with lectures and videos as well. All lectures will be released and the beginning of the course and can be worked on as needed. Handlers can choose a variety of topics including but not limited to foundation flatwork, jump drills, tricks, strategy for games and disc throwing.

This class is suitable for dogs that have toy drive. Handlers may choose to work on drive building if needed. This class is suitable for students that have taken DS310: Flying Disc – Foundation to Flips as a continuation course but it is not required.

Teaching Approach

There are lectures available to work through that are comprised of written descriptions of the exercises as well as short demonstration videos. Handlers can pick and choose what to work on and can work on aspects of disc dog that are not included in the curriculum. Sara will develop individual plans for problem solving or routine building as needed.  

Sara BrueskeInstructor: Sara Brueske

Sara Brueske (she/her) has been training dogs for over 15 years, and has experienced a large variety of breeds and sports during that time. Having graduated as a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner ... (click here for full bio including Sara's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

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Week One

  1. Intro to disc
    1. Different games
  2. Throws
    1. Backhand/roller
  3. Flatwork
    1. Go around
    2. Drive building
      1. Tugs/takes/multiple discs
  4. Tricks
    1. Dog Catch

Week Two

  1. Throws
    1. Vault throws
  2. Flatwork
    1. Through
    2. Leading the dog
  3. Tricks
    1. Stalls

Week Three

  1. Flatwork
    1. Cuing the drop
  2. Tricks
    1. Adding disc to dog catch

Week Four

  1. Flatwork
    1. Zig zags
  2. Drills
    1. Overs

Week Five

  1. Tricks
    1. Linear vaults
    2. Rebounds
  2. Drills
    1. Pendulums

Week Six

  1. Tricks
    1. Flips
  2. Drills
    1. Around the worlds

Prerequisites & Supplies

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No class requirements, however dogs that have existing toy drive are best suited for this course. 

Sample Lecture

More

When you think of throwing a disc, you are probably thinking of a backhand throw.  This throw is categorized as a “catch low” throw, your thumb is on the top of the disc and your fingers are on the bottom.  You are going to grip the disc with a tight, secure grip along the edge.  As with most disc throws, the spin is generated by a snap in your wrist, think of the action caused by starting a lawn mower.  You will be standing with your throwing shoulder facing your target, reach with the disc towards your opposite side.  Then throw by leading with your elbow with a final snap at your wrist just prior to releasing the disc.  The disc should be released with a slight “hyzer” angle, meaning the far edge should be at a slight downward angle.

Rollers are a useful tool that should be utilized to help teach new or young dogs to grab a rotating disc.  They can also be used strategically in all of the UpDog Games to give an edge over competition.  I use them as a high value reward when training new behaviors to my disc dogs. 

The goal is to roll the disc along it’s edge on the ground.  Because of it’s low placement and high speed, it can encourage even low drive dogs to give chase.  Hold the disc in a “catch low” grip, thumb on top and fingers underneath.  With your palm facing up and the disc vertical, snap your wrist and release the disc perpendicular to the ground.  

Novice Backhand Exercise:

Practice throwing a backhand to various pre-determined lengths.  10 yards, 20 yards and 30 yards.

Advanced Backhand Exercise:

Focus on getting the disc to hover where you need it to.  Placing that disc in the appropriate spot can help you show off you dog, or can just secure their catch.  Place a chair at pre-determined lengths (5 yards, 10 yards and 15 yards), throw so that the disc hovers and then lands in the chair (it's ok if it bounces out!). 

Testimonials & Reviews

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A sampling of what prior students have said about this course...

So glad I took this class at gold - Sara took my overwhelming amount of ideas and made them all simple to work on. For the more advanced exercises I was working on she broke them down in video form for me and then referred to lecture material when I needed to go back a few steps. Honestly wouldn't hesitate to take this at gold again.     


This was an excellent course with an excellent instructor! Sara is great  


I really love that FDSA offer disc courses. I imagine they aren't your bread and butter, but please (if possible) continue to offer them. It is a growing sport and there seem to be few quality places to learn. Sara is an excellent instructor! I never felt bad that we weren't getting something quite right, and I always knew what to work on next. I learned a ton from her and look forward to continuing in the sport. I would take this class again to continue to improve. Thank you!        


Thank you so much Sara! I really enjoyed my time learning a bunch of stuff in an area I had very little exposure to :)   


Sara did an excellent job breaking down steps for all handling tricks to be trained and very clear instruction overall. I really liked the positive environment she created.


This was our first gold class and we had a total blast. We had zero disc experience and Sara guided us through the raindrops, always customizing to our level, cheering us on and ensuring success and progress. I'm gold for life now! We would LOVE to see more disc classes on the schedule.     


The lessons were all really clear and adaptable for us, a complete beginner and young dog. My dog loved this and we have so much more to work on going forward. Thanks!

Registration

There are no scheduled sessions for this class at this time. We update our schedule frequently, so please subscribe to our mailing list for notifications.

Registration opens at  10:30 am Pacific Time.

DS340 Subscriptions


Gold

Silver

Bronze
Tuition $ 260.00 $ 130.00 $ 65.00
Enrollment Limits 12 25 Unlimited
Access all course lectures and materials ✔ ✔ ✔
Access to discussion and homework forums ✔ ✔ ✔
Read all posted questions and answers ✔ ✔ ✔
Watch all posted videos ✔ ✔ ✔
Post general questions to Discussion forum ✔ ✔ ✖
Submit written assignments ✔ ✖ ✖
Post dog specific questions ✔ With video only ✖
Post videos ✔ Up to 2 ✖
Receive instructor feedback on
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Find more details, refund policies and answers to common questions in the Help center.

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