Disc Dogs Offer High Flying Spectator Sport in Liberty Field and Spectators Are Welcome

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_{By Pauline Masson –} When driving along South First Street, if you happen to look towards Liberty Field and catch a glimpse of a row of vehicles and pop-up tents at the east end of the field and see a flurry of uncertain motion out on the grass, you are probably seeing one of the most engaging free spectator sports to arrive in our town.

I dare you to not feel a little jolt of excitement when a man or woman standing at the edge of the grass flings a frisbee high into the air out over the grass and the dog at his or her side takes off, never losing eye contact with the flying disc, dashes out ahead of it and as it descends catches in in mid air before it hits the ground. 

At least, that is the goal and that’s what happens more than half the time. The happy dog is rewarded whether he/she catches it in mid air, makes contact before dropping it, or picks it up after it hits the ground and returns it to the owner.

It’s called disc dog and it is one of the coolest activities to take up residence in Liberty Field park. You can watch it, at no charge, on most Saturdays between April and October. 

The St. Louis Disc Dog club (STLDD) held its Big Q, qualifying meet here June 18-19. The club schedules it use of Liberty Field for seven months, April to October when owners and dogs practice before judges.

Pecking away at computers, STLDD judges awarded points for achievement that were recorded in a database to verity which dogs are ready to compete in the World Championship of disc dogs in the Skyhoundz Classic in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The 50-member STLDD club practices and competes with approximately 200 dogs in Liberty Field. 

In competition each team is awarded points from judges for the dog’s skills and the handler’s skills. In the event of a tie, the team that makes the most catches will be the winner.

Although  Troy Mool, STLDD president says Australian Shepards, Border Collies and Australian Cattle Dogs are favorite choice for owners wanting to join the sport, their members field a wide range of breeds competing in freestyle flying disc

Last weekend 17 qualifiers were listed in the qualifiers data base during two days of Liberty Field qualifying competition.

Giant pet lover Purina says disc dog is a captivating sport. On its Dog Challenge website Purina says that any dog in good condition that can run and jump with ease can learn the sport with a few treats for rewards. They say freestyle flying disc is one of the easiest incredible dog challenge events for owners to try on their own. Purina offers training techniques on the site.

Mool, who has captured a dozen world championship in various categories is a little more cautious. He says any happy dog can usually master the sport of catching a flying disc with six months to a year of training,

But he stresses that the more training the dog gets, the more skill the dog achieves. He and his Australian Shepard Jazmin had worked together for five years before capturing their first  DiscDogathon Spot Landing Open World Championship in 2017. Jazmin went on to win in ten different world championship competitions.

Now Mool is working with Fuze, a three year old Australian Shepard mix. In addition to the run and catch, Troy and Fuze wow audience in the free style competition, where Fuze vaults off Troy’s back to grab the disc in mid air.

As Purina’s web page says. It’s incredible.