Dog disc championship heads to Naperville

It all started at a Dodgers baseball game almost 38 years ago.

That’s when Alex Stein and his dog, Ashley Whippet, ran onto the field and interrupted the game to display Ashley’s ability to jump 9 feet in the air and run 38 mph to catch a Frisbee.

Stein and his dog elicited cheers from the crowd, and the players let them go on for eight minutes before Stein was arrested — but not before catching the attention of Irv Lander, who worked for Wham-O, the company that manufactures Frisbees.

Thirty-eight years later, Ashley’s feats have turned into a full-fledged sport.

The 2012 Naperville Disc Dog Championship, sponsored by the Windy City K9 Disc Club, returns to town at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 27, at Naperville’s Riverwalk Park. Registration for participants begins at 8:30 a.m.

Sunday’s event has a distinctly local feel, coordinator Tom Wehrli says, and will feature roughly 30 competitors competing in three divisions: novice, intermediate and open. Canines and their owners will put on two-minute routines.

Those competing in the open division can earn points toward the UFO World Cup Series.

Wehrli said the competitors are judged on drive and athleticism of the dog, ingenuity of the thrower in the tricks used, sequence and flow of the routine and a comprehensive opinion from each judge. The categories are judged on a 10-point scale.

Some of the best dogs for the sport are Australian shepherds, border collies and Australian cattle dogs.

“It’s got to be a high-drive, high-energy dog,” Wehrli said.

The variety of tricks is important in competitions. Dogs may catch multiple discs or jump off or over various parts of their owners’ bodies.

But the performance relies on more than the dog, Wehrli said.

The owners also must be able to throw well and use a variety of throws. These can include backhand tosses; airbrush throws, which involve slapping the disc and spinning it instead of throwing it; throws done by rolling the disc off the finger or thumb; and even throws done with the feet.

“Some people have never heard about the sport, but once they see it the first time, they make an effort to come and see it or watch it on TV,” Wehrli said.

Wehrli himself has traveled to Japan, South Korea, Amsterdam and Switzerland for competitions.

“Because of a piece of plastic and our four-legged friends, we’ve had the honor of traveling the world,” Wehrli said.

He said the sport ultimately is good for the health of the dog and the bond between animals and owners.

“It’s the love of the animal, the bond you’re going to get at the end of the day,” Wehrli said. “It’s got to be in your heart.”

Wehrli has adopted all of his award-winning dogs from shelters, specifically the Naperville Humane Society. He encourages others to do the same, and he said a large portion of dogs in the competition are also from shelters.

“If it inspires them to go get a puppy from the shelter, then it’s all worth it,” Wehrli said. “One more dog is saved.”

Dog owners can begin to train their dogs by playing low keep-away and getting the dog used to catching and chasing objects.

“Most of it is going out in your yard and getting a feel of throwing a good Frisbee,” Wehrli said.

Some dogs’ ears will perk up when they hear the word “F-word,” as Wehrli put it. They’ll know exactly where in the house the Frisbees are kept.

“The best reward for a Frisbee dog,” Wehrli said, “is to catch another Frisbee.”

If you go

What: 2012 Naperville Disc Dog Championship

When: 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 27; registration at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Naperville Riverwalk Park

Cost: Free to watch

Info: (630) 355-2777