Maverick and David in Fullerton Skyhoundz Competition and Yes, he did catch this!

It all started with a couple of friends, an Anaheim Ducks Hockey game and an idea of starting a Disc Dog club. While exchanging ideas and making plans Bill Eicher and I almost missed the entire game. That club started out with a dozen friends and the intention of creating a fun and informative club for everyone. It began as the Canine Disc Masters and later evolved into the current club known as Disc Dogs of Southern California.

While serving as the first club President I also assumed the role of “Greeter” and welcoming committee to anyone daring enough to venture into one of our “Fundays” outings.

In the early days, all the club members enjoyed showing off their talents and chatting with new people, making sure that "everyone" always felt welcome. I think one of the most exhilarating things I experienced was helping new people to make their first actual toss and catch with their dog, that feeling never left and now I get to do it on a larger scale.

A few of years ago I was approached by Patty Thurner (with Dog Services Unlimited) about teaching a Dog Frisbee Class. At first I was a little intimidated, “Could I actually do this?” I asked myself. I’ve never won a Major Competition (although it might happen soon, with Maverick) but then I sat down and started to write up a class outline and realizing that the average student I would have in my class wouldn’t care what I’d accomplished in the past, they just wanted to learn how to play Frisbee with their dog, and that I knew I could show them.

Fast forward three years, I now teach Disc Dogging a few times a week and have 3-1/2-hour Workshop on the week-ends and 6-week classes during the week, all my classes are geared towards my students abilities.  I get all types of people and dogs coming out. I’ve seen beginners to advanced handlers and everything from Miniature Pinchers to Labra-doodles. I have been surprised more than once by dogs that I felt would never chase a disc actually catch one. I also pass out flyers to all my students with information regarding upcoming events, disc dog websites and where to purchase Frisbees and equipment.

I’ve had quite a few students turn out to compete in-fact at the first event of this year, a Skyhoundz Local in Fullerton California, we had a total of 15 entries (including mine), and finished in 1st, 2nd, 6th, 8th 11th, 14th, 16th 23rd and 26th in the Sport/Beginner class. 1st, 4th, 12th, 16th and 19th in the Intermediate Class and Maverick tied for 5th in Open Freestyle and (1st in the "let's go pee on the big tree during our T&F competition" class) for 10th overall in the Open class! Not a bad showing considering it was only his 1st ever Open-class Freestyle Competition and the fact that he was only 16-months old at the time. With the exception of one or two people, we had students and family and friends lining the entire right side of the field! I was one proud teacher!

For my more advanced level students I get some outside assistance from one of the sport's best, 7-time World Finalist, 1996 World Champion & 2005 Incredible Dog Challenge Winner, Pon Saradeth. We offer a 3-1/2 hour Seminar limited to four (Handler & Dog) teams. Pon goes over everything from teaching you many of his seemingly unlimited number of different types of throws to evaluating you, your routine and your dog’s abilities. You’re almost guaranteed to be a better competitor after taking this class.

For a little more personal one-on-one training, I’ll have my student come out to my Training Facility, located a few miles south of Riverside, California, It features a well-lit (for night work) 60-feet x 170-foot long Frisbee Arena, a 24-foot x 48-foot Bounce Pad (made of 1-inch thick high density rubber playground tiles) for Freestyle practice and AKC Regulation an Agility course.

I think one of my favorite memories about introducing new people to the world of Competition Frisbee goes back to the time I encouraged a good friend of mine to go out and try his hand at Freestyle. He only had a few different throws and a couple of tricks, but with his willingness to play with his dog far overcame any rational thinking. He happily signed up, competed with the all the gusto and enthusiasm of a newbee and was easily the crowd favorite. He was hooked that day, he became obsessed and got better and better (and more comical) eventually starting his own Canine entertainment company, and finally went to work for one of the biggest names in Canine Entertainment, his name? Tom Clements! We still laugh about it every time we talk.