Disc Dog’s Y-town Club competing in Austintown

By BILLY LUDT

bludt@vindy.com

AUSTINTOWN

On Aug. 5, 1974, Alex Stein and his dog, a whippet named Ashley, hopped the fence at Dodger Stadium during the seventh inning stretch. Rushing the field, Stein tossed a flying disc to Ashley, who ran and caught the disc in his mouth.

The unplanned performance was given play-by-play commentary from the Dodgers’ announcer, was recognized by an employee at game-maker Wham-O and ultimately put the sport in the spotlight.

Stein was promptly escorted out of the stadium and arrested for rushing the field with Ashley, but 43 years later, disc dog competitions are popular – and contributing to that legacy is Ohio Disc Dog’s Youngstown Club.

“It’s just a really awesome bonding experience with your dog,” club member Jessica Driscoll said.

Ohio Disc Dog’s Youngstown Club plays in its fourth week of competition this week at Austintown Township Park. The club contends in K9 Frisbee Toss & Fetch League’s fall season, a five-week competition, pitting it against canine flying disc teams from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia.

Ohio Disc Dogs began when club founder Mark Vitullo wanted to compete and compare scores with a friend from Michigan who had a flying disc club. What started as two clubs about three and a half years ago now fields clubs from 43 cities across the world.

Vitullo attributes the league’s popularity to its reach on social media.

“What’s nice about this sport is that it doesn’t take a lot to play,” Vitullo said. “I call it the cheapest dog sport. All you need is a dog and a Frisbee.”

Vitullo’s German Shepherd, Lulu, was a world champion in the US Disc Dog Nationals World Finals Toss and Fetch competition in 2012. They have trained for and competed in disc dog competitions seriously for about eight years.

The field of play is 50 yards, marked with lines every 10 yards. Dogs must catch the disc tossed by the handler as many times as they can in a minute within the marked boundaries.

A catch within the first 10 yards is worth zero points; between 10 and 20 is worth one point; between 20 and 30 is worth two points; between 30 and 40 is three points; between 40 and 50 is five points, and an additional half point can be earned if all four of the dog’s paws are off the ground while making a catch.

“It’s very easy to learn, but it’s difficult to master,” Vitullo said.

“Usually the person has the hardest time throwing the frisbee well. It’s just as much on the person to be successful.”

This fall season will run to Sept. 14, and Toss and Fetch’s winter league begins Nov. 4.

But, Vitullo said, anybody who is interested in playing can compete in the last two weeks of the season.

“People do things here to help them be successful in the league,” Vitullo said.