Frisbee Fun for You and Your Dog With Clicker Training

Teaching your puppy or dog to play Frisbee is a fun game and wonderful bonding activity for you and your pet. There are lots of videos showing dogs doing all kinds of tricks with a Frisbee, but how did they learn to do them?

One of the best ways to train your dog to enjoy playing Frisbee is with clicker training. If you have used a clicker for obedience training, you can use the same skills to clicker train your dog to catch a Frisbee. Before you start, be aware that dogs should be at least 12-14 months old before they are physically mature enough to jump and catch mid-air without possible injury. Frisbees made especially for dogs are best; they should have rounded, soft edges and be light enough to catch.

1. Start by sitting on the floor with your dog and rolling the Frisbee. Tell your dog to “catch” and when he catches it, click and treat.


2. To train him to return it to you, basic fetching skills are required. Roll the Frisbee on the ground, tell your dog to “fetch,” and encourage him to return to you. When he comes back with the Frisbee, click and treat. This may take a few days, so be patient.


3. When your dog has learned to fetch and return it to you, try using a second Frisbee to roll immediately after he brings the first one back to speed up the game. Click and treat after each returned Frisbee.

Now it’s time to start throwing the Frisbee in the air. Always throw the Frisbee away from the dog so he will not get hit in the face and become afraid of the Frisbee.

1. Throw the Frisbee just a short distance in the air and tell the dog to “fetch” or “catch.” When he catches the Frisbee, click and treat.


2. Give your dog a chance to become proficient in fetching the Frisbee thrown a short distance before throwing it farther. Every time he catches the Frisbee and brings it back, click and treat.


3. You can also clicker train your dog to drop the Frisbee when he returns it to you. Tell him to drop it, then click and treat.

Remember that clicker training is positive reinforcement. Never reprimand your dog for not doing what you ask; just keep working with him until he finally understands what you want. It may take your dog several weeks to get this all figured out, so give him time, lots of encouragement and praise, and you’ll both learn to love playing Frisbee. And once your dog learns the Frisbee basics, you can start working on all those cool tricks!

Teach an Old Dog New Tricks – With a Clicker!

Whether you have adopted an older dog that needs some behavior modification, or you just want to teach your adult dog some new tricks, rest assured that mature dogs can be clicker trained. Just as people continue learning throughout their lives, so do dogs.

Video: Teaching an Old Dog

Clicker trainers suggest that older dogs may be a little slower in learning what clicker training is all about. An adopted dog may need to unlearn old behaviors as he is learning your new desired behaviors. And older dogs have developed interests, such as sniffing the ground or chasing other animals, that may distract them from clicker training. So just have a little patience as your dog tries to figure out what you want and becomes familiar with the click-and-treat method. The more skills and tricks he learns with the clicker method, the faster he’ll be able to learn.

Adopted dogs need to know basic obedience skills to have a harmonious relationship with their new owner. If your older dog has not learned sit, come, stay, down, and heel, you can teach him with clicker training. However, he may have had negative training experiences and will not want to pay attention to you. To get your dog’s attention, watch the dog and pay total attention to him until he looks at you. Click and treat. Repeat this several times, and your dog will be ready to focus on you and clicker training.

Retraining an older dog can be challenging, because they are not only having to learn what not to do, but also learn what you want them to do. With time and patience, you can successfully retrain your dog by clicker training. Instead of reprimanding him for behaviors he has learned in the past, use positive reinforcement clicker training to teach desired behaviors. For example, if your dog wants to jump on your bed to sleep at night and you want him to sleep in his own bed, do not reprimand him for jumping on your bed. Instead, lead him to his bed and tell him “down” and “stay.” When he does, click and treat. Each time he comes to your bed, calmly lead him to his bed and tell him “down” and “stay.” Repeat the click-and-treat training as many times as necessary until your dog understands he’ll be rewarded for staying in his bed but he won’t be rewarded for jumping on yours.

Be consistent and confident, stay positive, have patience, and above all, have fun training your older dog new skills and activities. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

Health and Well-Being Benefits of Clicker Training

Make your dog a healthy, happy, contented dog with clicker training. Hundreds of thousands of trainers and dog owners use clicker training to teach their dogs acceptable behaviors, obedience, and tricks. Through this positive reinforcement method, your dog will enjoy the training experience and will learn to trust you. Here are some of the ways to gain the health and well-being advantages that clicker training can bring:

• Dog owners who use clicker training report that their training helps forge a strong bond with their dogs. Less anxiety means happier dogs and happier owners!


• Good obedience behaviors, developed using clickers, can help protect dogs by teaching them how to act in various situations. For example, teaching a dog to stay on the sidewalk and out of the street can help assure the dog will not stray into traffic or chase vehicles and be harmed.


• Clicker training never involves punishing your dog or hurting his neck with a control collar, so your dog will not associate training and behaviors with fear. That means less physical pain or other harm to the dog while also reducing anxiety.


• Separation anxiety can result in dogs acting out, howling, or destroying property. Advanced clicker training techniques can strengthen the bond of trust and respect so that the dog can look forward to the owner’s return ... and maybe a treat as well!


• When dogs learn tricks, they engage in more coordinated physical exercise. Tricks such as “bowing,” “begging,” or “rolling over” can improve a dog’s flexibility and stamina.


• Good behavior during walks means more walks, more exericse, and more fun for dog and owner both. Clickers can make the training easy and successful.

Dog discipline need not be about hitting and shouting any more. Clicker training helps a dog become a happier, healthier member of the family!