How to get your Dog into Frisbee

Disc Dog is a fun sport where handler and dog put together a routine including jumps in the air, vaults off of the handler's back, and flashy freestyle moves; all with Frisbees!!

Playing Frisbee with your dog is an awesome way to bond, have fun, and burn of some energy. There is nothing cooler than to see your best friend smiling and content after a wonderful Frisbee session.

So, how do you teach your dog how to catch a Frisbee? Check out our How to video below, and read some of our tips to find out how. Frisbee tips 1. Rollers!!- Rollers are an excellent way to get your dog interested in the Frisbee!! If your dog can chase and catch a ball out of midair, then they can definitely learn how to catch a Frisbee. When doing rollers, you roll the disc out on its side. This motion excites your dog's prey drive, and they will take off after it! Not only do rollers get your dog interested in the Frisbee, but it also teaches them how to properly grasp the Frisbee.

2. Get it!!- After getting your dog interested in the Frisbee by doing rollers, you can now teach your dog how to take the Frisbee from your hands. Hold it at your dog's nose level, and encourage your dog to get it. Once they take it, let them know how proud you are of them. After they are successfully getting the Frisbee at nose level, start to raise it higher, and slowly bring it down while encouraging your dog to get it. This sets up your dog to catch the Frisbee in a safe manner as it is flying down. Repeat this step until your dog is successfully going for the Frisbee.

3. Run away Frisbee!!- If your dog doesn't seem too interested in the Frisbee, don't worry, there are many games to help build their drive. Tie the Frisbee to a lead, or rope, and run away from your dog. You can also have someone else hold your dog while you run away with the disc on a lead while encouraging your dog to come get you. Once they start getting excited, have your helper let them go, and run with the disc on a lead. This is kind of like practicing for lure coursing. If these two techniques don't work (or if you still want to play more fun games with your dog) you can play "Fire!!" Jesse absolutely loves this game! For this game you need 2 people, 2 Frisbees or more, and your dog (We play with 2 people, and 2 dogs, the dogs want to get the Frisbee more when they realize the other dog wants it, but don't play with 2 dogs if they don't know each other well). Have the people stand a few feet away from each other (you can add distance once you get the hang of it). Throw the Frisbee to the other person, and have them catch it. Do this a couple of turns. If you aren't good at catching the Frisbee, that's okay, this is an advantage for your dog. Let your dog get the Frisbee when playing, it will keep them very interested (If you are good at catching, pretend to miss, while trying desperately to get the Frisbee. Your dog will try and race you to get the Frisbee before you do!!) Make sure to have fun!

4. Short distance throws!!- Now that your dog is really interested in the Frisbee, you can start doing short distance throws (kinda like tosses). Have your dog come around (go around your body position), then toss the disc out in front of them while encouraging them to get it!! Remember, it is key to throw it in their running path. Even if they go for it and miss, tell them how proud you are of them!! They did great!!!! Don't get discouraged, you will only discourage your dog, just practice a bit more, and you will have a Frisbee dog in no time!! Soon, your dog will start to look back over their shoulder at you to see where you are going to be throwing the Frisbee. I am so proud of my little disc dog, Jesse =o)

Your time is the best gift you can give your dog, so go out there and have FUN!!

Mighty Dog Newspaper AD/Coupon!

Today Jesse appeared in the Sunday Paper for an Advertisement/Coupon for Mighty Dog!! Here is my Mighty little man smiling with the Ad: Back in April we did a Photo Shoot with Mighty Dog, and Jesse did such a fantastic job! He got to do a ton of different Mighty poses, and had such a blast greeting all of the camera people and photographer. The Ad will be running in the Sunday papers, so keep your eyes out for Jesse =o) He truly is a Mighty Dog!

Billboard Jesse!!

This past weekend we saw Jesse on a Billboard for Circle K!!

Jesse stars as "Buster" to advertise for Circle K's non-sweating Thirstbuster cups. Head on over to your local Circle K to see more Jesse =o)

We saw 3 Billboards in Tucson, and saw Jesse 4 times in Phoenix on the electronic Billboards.

Jesse's Newest Trick: Double Dutch!

In just 3-4 sessions (5-10 minutes each) Jesse learned how to Double Dutch!! My little man just keeps on amazing me:

Clicker Training ROCKS!

~Heather and Jesse~

Mighty Dog Suprise Package!

Jesse received a suprise package from Mighty Dog that included 2 pictures from the photo shoot he did back in April, a DVD that included the audition videos, the Mighty Dog Nation trailer, Mighty Dog Nation: The Movie, and a letter from The Mighty Dog Team. The pictures turned out great; Jesse looks really Mighty in the picture on the rock. ^-^ Here Jesse is with his package: This was such a great suprise, thank you Mighty Dog for sending us the pictures and the DVD!!

Jesse's Circle K Commercial!

Jesse and I filmed a Commercial for Circle K on February 9th, 2010. The commercial aired yesterday (I believe for the first time) We had a BLAST on set! There were so MANY people, cameras, lights, and noise, but Jesse did absolutely fantastic, I am SO proud of him!! =o) In the commercial Jesse plays a dog named Buster. The commercial is for Circle K's new Thirst Buster "Non sweating" cup. So here is the finished product. They even decided to use Jesse's hand stand in motion. ~Heather and Jesse~

Zoom Room: America's Best Dog Trick Winner!!

Jesse entered a trick video into Zoom Room's America's Best Dog Trick Contest, and he won 1st Place!! Today his prizes came, which include: Toys from West Paw Design(1 Huck, 1 Hurley, 1 Tux, 1 Bumi, and 1 Zisc), along with a $1,000 check!! For the first round of voting, the public voted on the entries, and the top 5 vote getters go into the finals, and are considered the Finalists; then the judges judge the entries. The judges choose the winners based on originality, creativity, and precision. They chose Jesse as the Grand Prize winner!! Here is my little man with his Award and Prizes ^-^ Great job Jesse, I am so proud of you little man!!

Thank you everyone SO MUCH for voting for Jesse, and your wonderful comments, we couldn't have made it in the top 5 without you!!

A Jack Russell Christmas!!

We hope everypup has a Terrier-ific Christmas this year!!

~Heather and Jesse~

Happy Thanksgiving & Mighty Dog Commercial

We hope everyone has a terrier-ific Thanksgiving tomorrow, filled with delicious turkey and pumpkin pie!! Don't forget to watch The National Dog Show on NBC, right after the Macy Day Parade. The Mighty Dog Commercial will be airing twice, and Jesse will be in it!! =o) We can't wait to see it on national television!Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving tomorrow, and don't eat too much turkey ;o) ~Heather and Jesse~

Animal Planet's America's Cutest Dog

Jesse is on Animal Planet's new show "America's Cutest Dog"!! They used quite a few clips of him, and Zak George said a very sweet comment about him too =o) Here are some screenshots from the show, and Jesse's clips!! =o)

Jesse is included on Animal Planet's Top 10 Cutest Dogs playlist!! You can check it out by following this link =o) (He is number 7: Doggie Hand Stand)

http://animal.discovery.com/videos/top-10-cutest-dogs/

Pup in the Paper! October 13th, 2009

Jesse's done it again, he was in yesterday's issue of The West Valley View!! The day after we appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, we got a call from Rich Ott (from the West Valley View), saying he saw us on Letterman and was interested in doing a story on us =o) I sent in a picture of Jesse in NYC, and one of us sitting in David Letterman's chair on The Late Show, and they were featured in the paper! So here are some pictures of my little star and his paper ;o)

You can download and read the full article at http://www.westvalleyview.com/

So sorry we haven't updated about our trip to New York City, or replied to all of our e-mails, we have been super busy! We will try and update as much as we can, but are headed out to California next week =o)

Stay Happy and Healthy!

~Heather and Jesse~

Mighty Dog Nation: The Movie Filming and Commercial!!

Meet Mighty Dog Jesse!! Star of Mighty Dog Nation: The Movie premiering in 2010!

Filming for Mighty Dog Nation: The Movie!!

September 18th, 2009 was the filming shoot for Mighty Dog Nation: The Movie!! It was so much fun, and I am so proud of my little Mighty Dog Jesse =o) The camera crew came to our house the day before to meet Jesse, go over some of the scenes, and do a walkthrough of the house, and boy were there TONS of people! Jesse was super excited to greet them all, and did the Budkin-dance =o) He even performed some of his tricks for them. They were all super friendly, and we couldn’t wait to get started with the taping! So the next day, the local production crew came to our house a few hours earlier to set up in our garage, and to meet Jesse (they didn’t come the previous day). I did some last minute grooming on Jesse, and then we were ready to start the filming!

The first scene we decided to tape was Jesse on the bed, looking out the front window watching over the house. So the camera crew set up in the bonus room, and I stood off to the left, and cued him to put his paws up on the window ledge. They wanted him to watch the postman deliver a package. So they had the “postman” on a mark, and cued him to start walking. Jesse put his paws up on the ledge, and watched him go by =o) Then he was supposed to jump off from the ledge as soon as the postman walks out of scene. After we got this scene down, we headed out to the front door to start the filming of Jesse looking for me returning from the store. Jesse put his paws up on the front window seal, and they wanted him to look out and as I returned, come outside to pick-up the package, and bring it inside. So they shot this scene in different sections. Ashley was my double, as I cued Jesse =o) Jesse did absolutely wonderful! Then we shot the scenes of Jesse shutting the door, then dropping a package by “my” feet (double Ashley!). After we got this scene, we set Jesse up on a tape mark so they could get some Head Shots, and Barking pictures. They even got some of Jess taking a bow =o)

Their camera is awesome! I saw some of the shots they took, and was really impressed. I wish I had a camera like that one =o) Then we headed out to the backyard to get some video and shots of Jesse barking at Kaine, as if to say he isn’t afraid of him =o) They did absolutely wonderful! So Kaine got his own little cameo too, Ashley was very happy!! Then they taped Jesse patrolling the yard. He added his own twist to it; when I set him up on his mark and released him, he put his paws up on the gate, and peered out through the bars at the park!! =o) Then he “patrolled” the back gate. They then set up a camera man on the outside of the gate to get a close up of Jesse peering through the gate. He was super cute!

Next they wanted Jesse patrolling around the wood pile, so I asked Jess, “Where are the lizards?” and he went to searching for them!

Jesse took a Mighty Power Nap while the crew set up for another scene. After he rested for a bit, we taped Jesse shutting the front door again so they could have a night scene as well. Then we went back to the bonus room window for a night scene of Jesse looking frantically around for a mysterious creature in the front yard. I was on the outside of the window this time, and Jesse really wanted to get to me, so they got this seen pretty quickly. We took a dinner break and had some pizza. This time ‘lil Budkin didn’t sleep, he chewed on a wholesome hide. They set up cameras in the Bonus Room to do an Interview with me and Jesse. Then once the interview was done, they wanted to tape Jesse’s sound effects. So everyone was cued to be super quiet since they were now taping sound. We went into the living room, and I cued Jesse to speak, then growl, then a lower speak, and we added some grunts and whines in there too =o) Then we headed into the backyard to tape some more sound effects. I cued Jess to perform the same effect inside, and then they wanted Jesse walking around on the rocks by himself. So I lured him around on the rocks for his own feet sounds =o) Once they got Jesse’s sound effects, we headed to the front yard! They were filming a scene of the mysterious night creature, so I sat on the curb watching with Jess in my lap. Then Jess was up! The scene they needed was Jesse running from around the house to scare off the intruder. They lit the area with a fake street lamp, and put a palm in the view. It looked really cool! So I set Jesse up in the shadows, and cued him to come running out, and he had to stop and look around. It took a few takes, but Jesse did it =o) Then they taped him looking regal, with the light reflecting on his face and him looking intensely into the distance. He sat up on his own, and they loved that! Then they wanted Jesse to walk backwards into the shadow he came from. Then they wanted him to do some tricks on the rocks, so he twirled and did his beautiful Motion! (Hand stand walking). We finally finished taping everything, and they were very impressed with Jesse. I was super impressed with how wonderful he performed with all the people, and cameras. My dad took a picture of some of the crew at the end of the day. Most of the crew already left, but there were still lots for the group shot! Ashley took a picture of the crew set up in the garage. They had a ton of equipment! By the end of the taping, Jesse and I were EXHAUSTED! The whole day Jesse was alert, and didn’t want to miss anything. He kept looking at me as if saying, “Ready to Work! What’s next?” That's a Jack Russell Terrier for ya!! =o) But I wouldn't have it any other way ;o) We curled up on the couch, and fell asleep =o)

I am so proud of my little Mighty Dog Jesse, and can’t wait to see the commercial which will be airing on Thanksgiving Day, and the Movie which will be premiering in 2010! =0) Everyone was so nice, and we had such a wonderful time. We had so much fun working with everyone!

~Heather and Jesse~

P.S. Jesse and I didn't have much time to rest before we were flown out 3 days later to New York City to perform on the Late Show with David Letterman! Jesse performed his suitcase trick for the segment "Stupid Pet Tricks" I am going to be updating Jesse's website about our trip to New York City, and will be Blogging on here about it soon too =o) We had so much FUN!

The Late Show with David Letterman

Jesse is appearing on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight for the segment "Stupid Pet Tricks" Make sure to keep an eye out for him! We are still in New York, and are having a wonderful time =o) I am so proud of Jesse, he did fantastic!! =o)

Petsmart Poster Pup!!

Jesse and I were walking around Petsmart, and boy was I suprised when I saw my little man on the Advertisements!! Petsmart used three different shots, and they are super adorable! Here are the wonderful shots they used:

The gorilla shot is so cute! and I adsolutely love the picture where he is bowing with the duck =o)

Here is Jesse with the advertisements (they aren't as clear since the battery kept dying on us!)

Jesse did absolutely fantastic at the photoshoot back in June, and I am so proud of him =o) Now the store associates call him famous when we visit Petsmart, and he was even recognized from the paper! So we showed off some of his tricks, and they were very impressed ;o)

We have been practicing for our the Mighty Dog taping (which is coming up very soon!), and Jesse has got his part down pat =o) He just keeps amazing me with his talents and personality. We'll keep you posted!

~Heather and Jesse, the Petsmart Poster Pup!~