A Buyer’s Guide to Dog-Safe, Competition-Quality Dog Discs.
To be successful in any sport, you need quality equipment that falls within an established set of standards, is best suited to the athlete, optimized for the conditions, and safe to use.
K9 Frisbee is no different. Fortunately, the only thing you need to play the game of K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch with your dog is . . . a Frisbee!
A Little History . . . And Frisbee Trivia.
Regardless of manufacturer, all dog-safe competition discs are modeled after the Frisbee® Fastback introduced by Wham-O in 1970. The Fastback was a revolutionary flying disc with a wind-tunnel-tested wing-shaped profile, a distinctly curved shoulder, and a top plate with a unique series of air turbulence-inducing rings that help create lift – called the “Rings of Headrick” after the Wham-O’s design engineer Ed Headrick.
With improved stability and speed, Fastbacks became the first “professional competition” disc and the standard design for all K9 Frisbee organizations.
Today there are several flying disc manufacturers who make a range of Fastback-style discs specifically designed for canine frisbee competition play. Unfortunately, you’re generally not going to be able to find these in pet stores and will have to order them online. Below we’ll give you links to the most common competitive disc manufacturers, but first let’s talk about what constitutes a dog-safe, competition-quality K9 Frisbee.
What’s a “Dog-Safe” Competition Disc?
When selecting a K9 Frisbee disc, there are a couple things you should consider with the most important being your dog’s safety, second being aerodynamics.
- Dog-safe discs are made from non-toxic plastic that either a.) allows the dog’s teeth to easily puncture the disc without cracking, or b.) resists punctures with a more durable, but heavier bite-resistant plastic.
- Dog-safe discs all have a gently rounded lip on a reinforced rim for the dog to safely bite.
- Dog-safe competition discs tend to weigh between 110 and 145 grams.
- Dog-safe competition discs can be no bigger than 9” (228mm) in diameter.
- Smaller and lighter 6” to 7” diameter discs with the same dog-safe characteristics are available for Tiny Dogs and puppies.
The floppy, soft rubber discs sold in pet stores by brands like KONG® and fabric discs like the ones made by Chuckit™ are also considered dog-safe and they’re approved for K9 Frisbee Worldwide League play. With unstable aerodynamics, they’re not considered competition-quality dog discs and are not allowed by most other Disc Dog Organizations.
Un-safe, Unapproved Competition Dog Discs.
If your plastic disc doesn’t look and feel like a Frisbee Fastback, chances are it’s neither safe or approved.
Ultimate Frisbee discs are too big, heavy and not allowed in competitions.
Never play with a golf-disc as their rims are too sharp and the discs are too heavy. An errant throw with a golf disc can easily crack a dog’s tooth. That’s not fun. Also, avoid Aeorobie-type ring discs which are too sharp and dangerous for your dog.
WARNING: The cheap, thin, hard-plastic toy discs found in pet stores or online will crack and shatter creating sharp shards. They can cut a dog’s mouth and, if ingested, injure a dog internally. If you have one at home, throw it away.