Competitive canine disc combines a number of elements that recreational Frisbee does not. For example, dogs are scored on the number or Frisbees they catch versus those they miss, the number of Frisbee catches made in a give time period and the complication of the move. Handlers throw the Frisbee under their legs, behind their back, or even throw more than one Frisbee at one time to raise the level of competition.
There are several formats of competition, including the catch and retrieve in which a dog must catch and retrieve one Frisbee as many times as possible within a timed period, usually one minute. Theres also freestyle, sometimes called free flight, when a routine is performed to music. In this format accuracy is what the judges are looking for. In long distance, the dogs are given two tries to make the longest catches.
Canine disc is governed by the International Disc Dogs Handlers Association (IDDHA). There are several national competitions each year, including the Alpo Canine Frisbee Disc Championship and the Quadruped. In addition, there are professional Frisbee teams that tour the country giving exhibitions at fairs and dog shows.
