TN Traveler: Canine acrobatics, costumed humans highlight international disc dog competition

DECATUR, Ala. – Just about every dog owner has tried to get the family pet to play fetch. The obedient canines that will retrieve a stick may progress to chasing – and sometimes catching – flying discs.

Dogs that are really good at catching flying discs and that have owners with competitive streaks can do more than show off at family reunions or local parks. They can become competitors, serious competitors called disc dogs, that travel to events such as the UpDog Challenge Canine Disc International Finals in Decatur, just south of the Tennessee state line. The throwing, chasing and jumping goes on for five days, April 2-6.

Jack Frahle, his wife (whose ironic first name is Kat) and four friends started UpDog Challenge in central Florida in 2014.

“Disc dogging grew out of playing fetch with our dogs in the backyard. We started UpDog to get more people playing the sport. We developed levels of games, starting with very easy tasks that quickly grow more challenging. Our motto is ‘Play, Achieve, Expand,’” Frahle said.

Indeed, the competitive games are far more than flinging a disc and seeing whether a dog can catch it, although two of the 12 games have that as their foundation. They are Far Out and Throw and Go. 

Far Out is exactly that – a throw for distance. Frahle said he’s seen throws that fly for 100 yards or more. Throw and Go is more precise because the dog must catch the disc in a targeted area. 

Time Warp delivers even more action. Its goal is to get three catches within 60 seconds, which might sound easy, but there are twists. One throw is up to 10 yards, one throw is from 10-20 yards and one throw is to a targeted area. 

“Speed counts, too. Top teams can hit those three throws in less than 15 seconds,” Frahle said.

Another game called Frizgility adds three obstacles for the dogs to navigate, but the big show simply is called Freestyle Showcase that Frahle says is analogous to figure skating or gymnastics. 

Costumes and music are incorporated in two-minute routines that demonstrate throwing skills, canine acrobatics and tricks. Dog owners and dogs both must be in top form.

Approximately 100 teams from across the U.S. and Canada registered for the Decatur event, which will be at Point Mallard Park. Frahle expects more than 300 human and more than 530 canine competitors. Action will be on six fields measuring 50 x 20 yards.

“You’ll see poodles, corgis, mixed breeds, German shepherds, Labrador retrievers – just everything. Some breeds do seem more naturally adept, especially herding dogs such as border collies, Australian cattle dogs and Australian shepherds,” Frahle said.

Admission is free. Spectators are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs but are asked to leave their own pets at home. Daily competition begins around 9 a.m. and concludes between 3 and 5 p.m., depending on the day. April 3, 4 and 5 are the big Freestyle Showcase days.

Enjoy Tom Adkinson’s Tennessee Traveler destination articles the second and fourth Friday every month. Adkinson, author of “100 Things To Do in Nashville Before You Die,” is a Marco Polo member of SATW, the Society of American Travel Writers.

TRIP BASICS

Point Mallard Park is about 120 miles south of downtown Nashville via I-65. Take Exit 334 to Alabama 67. Information sources: UpDogChallenge.com, DecaturCVB.com and  NorthAlabama.org