[MikeLisko]

I'm trying to get my dog to catch a frisbee in the air but he waits until it hits the ground.

But this is what he will do...

with a tennis ball...
pick it up when I skip the ball on the ground
lets the ball hit the ground once and then flies through the air and catches it

with a "floppy disc"...
run and pick up a rolling disc
run and track the disc while in flight

He always retrieves both the ball and the disc.

He won't take anything out of my hand though. He'll sit and wait for me to throw.

Any suggestions?

[Lunareclipse]

cover it in peanut butter.

[Todd]

mmmmm. I'd just keep trying. Eventually he'll probably get it. Has he ever attempted to catch it in midair? Is the frisbee hard? If it is of hard plastic is may hurt him to catch it in midair. If you catch him in the act of catching the frisbee in midair praise him and reward him with a treat. He will associate catching the frisbee in the air with a reward. Just keep trying and be patient. Good Luck!

[Lunareclipse]

Todd are you really in Columbus Ohio? I live in Marion Ohio.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by MikeLisko

I'm trying to get my dog to catch a frisbee in the air but he waits until it hits the ground.

But this is what he will do...

with a tennis ball...
pick it up when I skip the ball on the ground
lets the ball hit the ground once and then flies through the air and catches it

with a "floppy disc"...
run and pick up a rolling disc
run and track the disc while in flight

He always retrieves both the ball and the disc.

He won't take anything out of my hand though. He'll sit and wait for me to throw.

Any suggestions?

Totally forgot to ask, but what breed of dog is this. Though fetch is something that nearly any breed can comprehend the art of catching flying objects is not. There are some breeds more inclined to go this route or to this degree when it comes to fetching as instincts can many times come into play with their desire to catch flying objects.

[MikeLisko]

Originally Posted by Todd

...Has he ever attempted to catch it in midair? Is the frisbee hard? ...

No he'll wait for it to hit the ground. We just went out and he took the disc from my hand a few times but just gave up on that. If he picked up a rolling disc cleanly I would give him a special treat.

The disc is one of those "floppy discs" so it's soft and I got the smaller version, probably 6" across.

He'll drop his head down with his ears back if I hold the disc over his head, same thing if it is in flight.

Originally Posted by Yogi

Totally forgot to ask, but what breed of dog is this...

He (Buddy) seems to be a Boston Terrier/Chihuahua mix. He's a rescue dog. The shelter said he was 10 months old when we got him, the vet says probably 2 or 3 years because of his teeth. I'll go with the vet.

He catches the tennis ball after it bounces once and catches food in his mouth. He has no problem jumping at catching the ball or food.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lunareclipse

Todd are you really in Columbus Ohio? I live in Marion Ohio.

Yes I am. Your from Marion? Pretty cool! How far is that from Columbus? 45 minutes???

[Yogi]

sounds like it is somewhat afraid of something flying over him.
Chihuahua's as well as Bostons as not noted for fetching frisbee's. Chi's generally do not play with hard objects due to small mouths and it does hurt them. Tennis balls have a soft surface so less intrusive on the mouth and teeth.

[MikeLisko]

Originally Posted by Yogi

sounds like it is somewhat afraid of something flying over him.
Chihuahua's as well as Bostons as not noted for fetching frisbee's. Chi's generally do not play with hard objects due to small mouths and it does hurt them. Tennis balls have a soft surface so less intrusive on the mouth and teeth.

That's why I got the little Floppy Disc. It was recommended by my father who has a straight up Boston Terrier. He got him when he was a puppy and he loves the frisbee. I'm a little jealous.

My dog can run like hell but has some serious anxiety issues with things over his head, squirrels, other dogs, birds, whistling, my wife in a fur coat, etc...

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by MikeLisko

That's why I got the little Floppy Disc. It was recommended by my father who has a straight up Boston Terrier. He got him when he was a puppy and he loves the frisbee. I'm a little jealous.

My dog can run like hell but has some serious anxiety issues with things over his head, squirrels, other dogs, birds, whistling, my wife in a fur coat, etc...

sounds like he has a natural fear of flying objects. When the ball bounces first, he sees it which may interpret as not a flying threat. Also, being part Chihuahua the concept of jumping and taking something out of the air is somewhat foreign as he is not a member of the terrier family which instinctively will chase just about anything airborne or on the ground.

[Woolsy]

Originally Posted by Todd

If you catch him in the act of catching the frisbee in midair praise him and reward him with a treat. He will associate catching the frisbee in the air with a reward.

This is also what I would recommend for you to do. Start with a softer thing than a frisbee, which you did with a floppy disk. Don't throw far or high at first and try to practice your dog with catching things in a short distance. After he successfully that thing then give him a treat as a reward. I wish you good luck with whatever method you are going to use.